MPC: Milwaukee's Philanthropic Community

What if your next night at the theater included a sunset, a picnic, and a stage nestled in the heart of nature?

On this episode of #MPC, we’re joined by Dustin Martin, Artistic Director of Summer Stage of Delafield, an outdoor theater company bringing performing arts to life in Lapham Peak State Park. Dustin shares how this unique nonprofit blends storytelling with the natural beauty of Wisconsin to create an unforgettable, immersive experience.

We dive into what sets Summer Stage apart, from its “tailgating for theater” culture to the magic and unpredictability of performing under the open sky. Dustin also offers a behind-the-scenes look at balancing creativity with environmental stewardship and producing high-quality theater powered largely by volunteers.

SUMMER STAGE OF DELAFIELD
Summer Stage of Delafield is a nonprofit outdoor theater dedicated to uniting the performing arts with the natural environment. Located in Lapham Peak State Park, the organization creates high-quality, family-friendly productions that foster community engagement, artistic expression, and appreciation for nature
Website: summerstageofdelafield.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

40% of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. For many young people, mental health challenges and academic struggles are deeply connected.

On this episode of #MPC, we’re joined by Donelle Hauser, President and CEO of Lad Lake, a Southeast Wisconsin–based organization serving youth and families across the Milwaukee and Waukesha areas. Donelle shares how Lad Lake is helping young people in crisis stabilize, rebuild confidence, and find a new path forward.

We explore the growing youth mental health crisis and why early intervention matters more than ever. Donelle offers insight into how emotional and academic challenges often overlap, and how Lad Lake steps in at critical moments to help youth reset their trajectory.

Through residential treatment, crisis care, alternative education, mentoring, and in-home therapy, Lad Lake meets young people where they are and surrounds them with the support and relationships they need to heal and grow.

LAD LAKE
Founded in 1848, Lad Lake is Wisconsin’s oldest children’s charity, dedicated to guiding the growth of youth and families so they can reach their fullest potential. Serving youth across Southeast Wisconsin with campuses in Milwaukee and Dousman, Lad Lake provides a continuum of care that includes residential treatment, crisis stabilization, alternative education, mentoring, and in-home therapy, all designed to support healing, build life skills, and create pathways to stronger futures.
Website: ladlake.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

In Racine, one free after-school program is helping students catch up and believe in themselves again.

On this episode of #MPC, we’re joined by Darci Green, Executive Director, and Julie Kamphaus, Program Director of the John 23 Education Center in Racine. They share how their free after-school program is helping students build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and develop the resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges.

From individualized learning plans and literacy support to STEM activities and social-emotional development, John 23 goes beyond tutoring by meeting students where they are and walking alongside them every step of the way.

Darci and Julie also highlight the real challenges families face, why community support matters more than ever, and how volunteers and donors can play a meaningful role in shaping the next generation.

JOHN 23 EDUCATIONAL CENTER
The John 23 Education Center serves students in Racine from 4th through 12th grade, providing free after-school academic support and enrichment programming. Focused on building both competence and confidence, the organization empowers students to succeed in school and in life through individualized learning, mentorship, and strong community relationships.
Website: john23educenter.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), home to nearly 18,000 students, is investing in the future workforce of Waukesha County and beyond.

On this episode of #MPC, we’re joined by Robyn Ludtke, the newly appointed Executive Director of the WCTC Foundation. Robyn shares how the Foundation supports students far beyond scholarships through emergency grants, campus food pantries, career closets, and hands-on program investments that help remove barriers and create real pathways to employment.

Robyn also highlights the Foundation’s Forward Dinner, a signature event that brings donors and students together through live demonstrations and personal stories, including Robyn’s own experience as a WCTC student who received critical support during a life-changing moment.

Looking ahead, Robyn discusses WCTC’s expanded focus on artificial intelligence (AI). Their newest facility is an Applied AI Lab, teaching students how to infuse AI across manufacturing, construction, health care, and business operations.

WCTC FOUNDATION
Established in 1977, the WCTC Foundation is dedicated to securing and managing charitable resources to support WCTC's mission of educational excellence and workforce development. Their work aims to enrich the quality of a WCTC education by promoting innovation, enthusiasm and collaboration.
Website: wctc.edu/WCTC/About-WCTC/WCTC-Foundation

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

What started as a farm field has become a place of belonging for families of children with special needs across southeastern Wisconsin.

In this episode of MPC, Zachariah’s Acres is introduced as an Oconomowoc‑based nonprofit whose mission is to connect children with special needs and their families to the miracles of nature so they may know their Creator. Director of Community Impact Emily Enockson shares how the organization began with family events under banquet tents and has grown into a fully accessible campus serving thousands of individuals each year.

Emily explains how inclusive, outdoor experiences foster confidence, emotional regulation, and social connection. She shares how Zachariah’s Acres programs, including school partnerships, hands‑on gardening, and vocational learning, support families of children with special needs throughout the community.

The conversation also explores the role of volunteers, faith, and community support in sustaining the mission, along with what lies ahead as Zachariah’s Acres celebrates 15 years of impact and looks to expand year‑round programming for families seeking connection, respite, and belonging.

ZACHARIAH’S ACRES
Zachariah’s Acres is a nonprofit organization based in Oconomowoc, WI. Its mission is to connect children with special needs, and their families, to the miracles of nature so they may know their Creator. The organization provides inclusive, nature‑based programs, family events, school partnerships, and vocational opportunities designed to create a place of belonging, dignity, and purpose.
Website: zachariahsacres.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

For more than four decades, Zamora Group International has helped develop stronger leaders by focusing on character, communication, and purpose.

In this episode of MPC, we interview Chuck Zamora, founder of Zamora Group International, about leadership, wisdom, and the importance of using your time well. Chuck shares how his journey from teaching to corporate leadership training led him to create Tools of Life & Leadership, a program that brings proven leadership principles to high school students early in life.

The conversation also explores Christian Leadership and Success Strategies (CLASS) and the lasting impact of Chuck’s son, Cory, whose life continues to shape Chuck’s message. His story is a powerful reminder that leadership is rooted in integrity and that everyday matters.

ZAMORA INTERNATIONAL GROUP
The Learning Company was established in 1984 with only one purpose, to simply: “build better people to build better companies.” In 2017 that is still the basis that drives the business with only one minor change and that is, we see ourselves as an organization that “builds better people to build a better world.”
Website: chuckzamora.com

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

For more than 110 years, Wisconsin Community Services (WCS) has quietly supported individuals facing complex mental health and justice‑related challenges.

 In this episode, WCS President & CEO Clarence Johnson shares how community‑based mental health services, justice‑involved reentry support, housing programs, and even driver’s license recovery work together to help people live independently and with dignity.

 Clarence also discusses why WCS’s trauma‑informed approach matters, what staff are seeing on the ground in Milwaukee’s mental health crisis, and how WCS’s first‑ever capital campaign aims to transform its Wisconsin Avenue Community‑Based Mental Health site into a more welcoming, healing space for clients and staff alike.

WISCONSIN COMMUNITY SERVICES (WCS)
WCS is a nonprofit human service organization that addresses the individual and systemic barriers that prevent many in our communities from leading productive and healthy lives. They empower individuals to build skills and overcome adversity, such as substance use, mental health needs, criminal justice involvement, and employment obstacles.
Website: www.wiscs.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: www.ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

What happens to animals when they grow too big, too expensive, or too inconvenient for the humans who bought them?

In this episode, host Jill Economou sits down with Jill Carnegie, founder of Valley of the Kings, and Shirley Combes, a volunteer of more than 25 years, to share the real stories behind lifelong animal rescue.

From former circus tigers whose teeth were removed, to bears saved from a roadside zoo, to farm animals and pot‑bellied pigs surrendered after outgrowing human expectations, the conversation explores how Valley of the Kings became a permanent refuge for animals with nowhere else to go. Shirley also highlights one of the most overlooked animal welfare crises in the U.S., feral and community cats, and why spaying and neutering is essential to preventing suffering.

VALLEY OF THE KINGS SANCTUARY & RETREAT
Valley of the Kings Animal Sanctuary provides lifelong care for exotic, farm, and domestic animals who cannot return to the wild or be rehomed. Founded more than 50 years ago, the sanctuary serves as a permanent retirement home where animals rescued from neglect, abuse, roadside zoos, and private ownership can live out their lives with dignity and care.
Website: votk.org
Facebook: facebook.com/votkbigcats

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

his podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

Nearly one in five adults in Wisconsin lives with a mental health condition, yet more than a third cannot access support when they need it. So where do people go before a crisis hits?

Host Jill Economou sits down with Jennifer Zuelke, Certified Peer Support Specialist, and Melissa Wisniewski, Administrative Assistant at Our Space, to explore how peer support, drop‑in community spaces, and Parachute House fill critical gaps in the mental health system. Jennifer shares her personal journey through trauma, addiction, and recovery, and how lived experience fuels her work today, while Melissa explains why Our Space feels different and why connection and trust are essential to healing.

OUR SPACE
Our Space is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges can thrive. Since 1989, they’ve been a beacon of hope in our community, providing recovery-oriented, person-centered programs designed to foster independence, connection, and wellness.
Website: ourspaceinc.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

Where do you turn when you’re searching for guidance? This week, Sabrina Busch, founder of the new ministry Prayer Haven, shares how her mission to bring faith beyond church walls is transforming communities.

Sabrina shares how Prayer Haven supports people who feel disconnected from church environments, and why obedience, storytelling, and community resources can transform lives. She also explains Prayer Haven’s “Legacy Piece” program, the growing demand for “Bible Boxes” and her long‑term vision for a mobile ministry that meets people in crisis.

Want to get involved, donate, or sponsor a Bible Box?
Search “Prayer Haven Wisconsin” to learn more and support this growing grassroots nonprofit.

PRAYER HAVEN
Prayer Haven’s mission is to help people build a real relationship with God outside traditional church settings by offering accessible faith resources, supportive spaces, and opportunities for personal spiritual growth. The ministry focuses on meeting people where they are and provides tools to help individuals deepen their faith and experience God’s presence in everyday life.
Website: prayerhavenministry.org

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the MPC Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies or organizations do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.