This baseball season, Associated Bank and the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation have been teaming up to benefit Housing Resources, Inc. (HRI) through a program called “Hits for Homes.”
How Hits for Homes works
For every Brewers hit recorded during home games, from June 24 through the season’s conclusion on October 4, Associated and the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation will donate $250 to HRI, up to a combined $100,000 for the season.
Throughout the season, hits and corresponding donations have been tallied on the Associated Bank Check Deck Screen, located above the Associated Check Deck in left-centerfield. Donations to HRI will be used to provide emergency and essential home-repair grants in the counties HRI serves.
On-field check presentation
Capping off a successful, impactful program, Associated joined HRI and the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation before the Brewers’ September 18th game at Miller Park. Together with the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation, Associated presented a $100,000 check to HRI for grants in low-to-moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods in the Milwaukee community.
Its affordable home-repair grants are designed to assist homeowners who experience financial distress and deferred maintenance on their properties in Milwaukee County, Ozaukee County, Washington County and Waukesha County. HRI’s support, in turn, helps stabilize families, facilitate neighborhood improvements and empower people to live their dream of successful homeownership.
“Associated is a proud member of the Milwaukee community, and our partnership with the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation offers an opportunity to enhance our collective giving in Milwaukee,” said Christopher Piotrowski, chief marketing officer. “We recognized a need in our community, and the funds we raise will help ensure that the individuals served by HRI have access to essential home-repair assistance.”
“Thanks to organizations like Associated Bank and the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation, we are able to help many families,” said Trena Bona, HRI executive director. “We are excited about and grateful for this partnership,”
Miller Park tool drive
In addition to financial contributions, Associated partnered with the Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation for a tool drive at Miller Park on September 15. Fans were invited to donate new or gently used tools in exchange for free tickets to that evening’s Brewers home game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
In sum, the tool drive raised 157 much-needed tools for HRI’s Tool Loan Center, which is open to local homeowners who wish to do their own home repairs and maintenance but either cannot afford tools, do not have room to store tools or only need tools for one-time use. HRI also loans tools to community organizations to do neighborhood clean-ups, beautification or maintenance projects.
“We recognize and support a need to empower homeowners to maintain their homes and improve the quality of life in our community,” said Piotrowski. “This tool drive will help to replenish the HRI Tool Loan supply and help Milwaukee homeowners restore and maintain their homes, while stabilizing and reviving neighborhoods.”
“Brewers Community Foundation appreciates partnering with Associated, particularly as it relates to the critical need of housing,” said Cecelia Gore, Brewers Community Foundation executive director. “Corporate partnerships with quality nonprofits assure that needed resources support individuals and organizations that are having a significant impact on our community.”
Photo caption: (Pictured, left to right): Christopher Piotrowski, chief marketing officer, Associated Bank; Eduardo Herrera, CRA residential loan manager, Associated Bank; Joan Enters, coordinator, Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation; Trena Bond, executive director, HRI; Tracy Polk, rehab specialist, HRI; Denise Ward, Milwaukee home repair client, HRI.