Capital Campaigns

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Milwaukee Ballet gratefully acknowledges all donors who contributed to our Capital Campaigns for our new production of The Nutcracker and for the building of Baumgartner Center for Dance

New Nutcracker Campaign: 2022-2023

Plans for a new production of The Nutcracker began as an extension of the Capital Campaign to build the Baumgartner Center. The campaign was paused with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 but was relaunched as a new $5 million campaign in 2022.

With the support of many individuals and organizations through the various phases of the campaign, we:

Engaged a team of world-class designers to create magical new costumes, sets, and props.
Contributed to our “Give Back to MKE” fund to further community engagement initiatives related to The Nutcracker, such as sensory friendly performances and subsidized student matinees.
Established a Legacy Fund to provide a stable and continuous source of investment income to preserve and sustain The Nutcracker and Milwaukee Ballet for generations to come..

Thank you to those who contributed to bringing the new Nutcracker to life on stage in December 2023!

Our Donors

PRODUCTION DESIGN SPONSORS ($500,000+)

Robert Dohmen, Costume Sponsor
Herzfeld Foundation, Lighting Sponsor
David & Julia Uihlein, Scenic Design Sponsor
Mary Vandenberg & Keith Mardak, Music Sponsor
Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes & John W. Mellowes, Production Design Sponsor

LEGACY SPONSORS ($200,000 - $499,999)

Donald & Donna Baumgartner
Stanley Kritzik
Susanna & Justin Mortara

‘GIVE BACK’ SPONSORS ($100,000 - $199,999)

The Bradley Foundation
Tony & Andrea Bryant
Anne & Tom Metcalfe
We Energies Foundation
The Windhover Foundation

PRINCIPAL SPONSORS ($25,000 - $100,000)

Anonymous (2)
Clair & Mary Baum
Lois & Richard Pauls, Drosselmeyer Sponsor
Peck Foundation Milwaukee, Ltd., Puppets Sponsor
Michael & Mary Burke Ryan, King Rat Sponsor
Sue & Allan “Bud” Selig
Jan Serr & John Shannon, Sugar Plum Sponsor
von Briesen & Roper, s.c., Snow Queen Sponsor

SOLOIST SPONSORS ($10,000 - $24,999)

Jennifer Abele, Featured
Baird, Featured
Jane Bell, Oasis Sponsor
Charter Manufacturing Company, Lion Sponsor
Sue & Tony Krausen, Trumpet Sponsor

ENSEMBLE SPONSORS ($5,000 - $9,999)

Jason & Heidi Bemis, Ensemble
Linda Benfield & Steve Wallace, Soldiers
Bucyrus Foundation Inc., in honor of Mary Ann LaBahn, Ensemble
Kay & John Crichton, Ensemble
Catherine L. Davies, Snowflakes
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
- Peter & Joan Bruce
Elizabeth & Charlie Haas, Flowers
Hinsdale Dance Academy
Jewish Community Foundation
- Suzy B. Ettinger Fund
Kelly & Karina Noyes, Party Guests
Jill G. Pelisek, Swans
William & Margaret Raasch
Riverwater Partners, Tannenbaums
John & Audra Rumpf, Ensemble
Craig Young & Sharon Busey, Mice

FRIENDS OF THE NUTCRACKER

$2,500 - $4,999

Kathy Averbeck, in honor of Karina Noyes
Chris & Krista Boyce
Cheryl & Stuart Carron
Christine & Tom Irgens
Richard & Sarah Kimball
Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Dr. Suzanne Martens
Gregory & Susan Milleville
New Haven Ballet
Town Bank, A Wintrust Community Bank

$1,000 - $2,499

Nicole Andersen
Barb Baltz
Matt & Kellen Bartel
Jay & Sara Baumgartner
Lisa & Bob Collins, in honor of Grace Reynolds
Kathleen Allen Crocker
Tyler Curran
Christine Czernejewski, in honor of Jack Mangi
Sarah & Peter Damsgaard
Buffy & Steve Duback
Kristy & Ian Elfe
Amanda & Stephen Elliott
Engage Dance Academy
Christine & David Foley
Tim & Sue Frautschi
Elizabeth & Frederic* Friedman
Renee & Chad Griswold
Bernadine Hoeft
Mike & Mary Ignatowski
Andrew Jones & Amy Schmidt Jones
Kendra Scott, LLC
Dr. Dean & Mary Klinger
Rebekah & Thomas Kowalski
Thomas & Jane Lacy
Anne Martino
Gregory & Susan Milleville
Ann Neely
The John Oster Family Foundation
Neil & Erica Riegelman
Molly & John Thiel

$500 - $999

William & Barbara Boles
Amy & Dennis Connolly, in honor of Julia Connolly
Kristi & Michael Draver
The Effective Communication Coach
Lori Erickson & John Bell
Tasha Hamilton
Richard Hariman, in honor of Robert & Lily Hariman
Melissa Hayden
David & Christie Melby-Gibbons
AnnMarie & Wayne Kraszewski
David Krier
Robert Lyon & Gabrielle Davidson
Sarah Thomas Pagels & Jesse Pagels
Nancy & David Putz
Jeffrey & Wende Raasch
Austin & Heather Ramirez, in honor of Susanna Mortara
Barbara C. Steinmetz
Keri Sarajian, Rick Stratton & Family
The Walters Family, in honor of Grace Walters
Rebecca Wanek
Mark & Anne Weitenbeck

Baumgartner Center for Dance

Baumgartner Center for Dance broke ground in 2017 and opened its doors in September 2019 thanks to generous support from our Building Capital Campaign Donors. 100 families and organizations raised more than 26 million dollars to build the Baumgartner Center for Dance. Our heartfelt gratitude is given to all of the donors who made this vision a reality, with extra special thanks to Donald and Donna Baumgartner for ensuring the future of our facility.

Learn more about our facility and construction journey below

Our Donors

Anonymous (2)
Ben and Molly Abrohams in honor of Donald and Donna Baumgartner
Argosy Foundation
Astor Street Foundation Inc.
Baird
Barb & Aaron Baltz
Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation
Clair & Mary Baum
Donald & Donna Baumgartner
John P. Baumgartner
Mr. & Mrs. James D. Bell
Linda Benfield & Steve Wallace
Mark & Victoria Benskin
Eric & Aliah Berman
Lori & William Bonifas
The Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony W. Bryant
Stuart & Cheryl Carron
Catalyst Construction
David & Ruth S. Coleman Foundation
Kathy, Margaret & Randy Crocker
Sarah & Peter Damsgaard
Ms. Jacqueline Davis
Michael & Margaret DeMichele
Robert Dohmen

The Dohmen Family Foundation, Inc.
Steve & Nancy Einhorn
Jeff & Kelly Fitzsimmons
Nancie Flaxman
Foley & Lardner LLP
Kari & Bill Foote
Tim & Sue Frautschi
Elizabeth & Frederic Friedman
Sandy Golden
Greater Milwaukee Foundation – Anonymous Fund
Greater Milwaukee Foundation – Joan and Peter W. Bruce Fund
Joe & Adriana Griffith
David Grill
Barry Grossman & Gail Lione
Glen & Claire Hackmann
Katie Heil & the Heil Family Foundation
Herzfeld Foundation
Sally Baumgartner Jarrar
Jewish Community Foundation – Clarice S. Turer Charitable Fund in honor of Nita Soref*
Joshua & Megan Jeffers
Andrew Jones & Amy Schmidt Jones
Matt & Kathryn Kamm
Sarah & Richard Kimball