Shorewood Foundation Awards $60,000 in special, one-time gifts to mark its 60th Anniversary

The Shorewood Foundation is distributing $60,000 in special one-time gifts to worthy initiatives to mark the close of its 60th Anniversary year, President Jamie Reeve announced on December 19, 2024.

These special gifts are in addition to the grants already awarded throughout the year. The extra funds will be felt across the community, impacting everyone from children and teens to the vulnerable elderly and newcomers to the village.

“Different from our typical grant-making process, the board identified programs and groups providing critical services and foundational support to a wide-ranging demographic among our community,” Reeve said. “Our goal was to share the holiday spirit while also amplifying the important work being done by each of the awarded grant recipients.”

Programs and groups that received support include:

• The Shorewood Community Network, a grass-roots organization created in recent years by residents to serve Shorewood families in need.  The grant will be used to support Shorewood residents this holiday season and into the new year.  

• The Shorewood Recreation Department’s programming, including the Summer Sounds concert series at Hubbard Park, Youth T-Ball and the Bike Rodeo & First Ride event.

• East Side Senior Services and their direct, hands-on support of Shorewood seniors living independently in the village.

• Community Projects for Seniors’ holiday meals program for residents at the River Park Apartments.  

• The Shorewood Senior Resource Center’s support of seniors over the holidays.

• Technology and education needs at Shorewood’s Atwater and Lake Bluff Elementary Schools.

• Travel funds for Shorewood High School and Intermediate School students whose families have a demonstrated need. The funds will be used to help students afford trips for music, mock trial, debate and other educational and life-enriching experiences.

The Shorewood Foundation was created in 1964 as the Shorewood Civic Improvement Foundation. Through gifts from donors, the Foundation has invested more than $1 million in a wide variety of initiatives from the Farmers Market to the annual Fourth of July Fireworks and Celebrations, high school scholarships, public art installations and myriad other initiatives too numerous to mention. For a more complete list, click here.

Grace Graves Leaves Gift to Benefit Atwater Park

The Shorewood Foundation has received a $10,000 gift from the estate of Grace Mahoney Graves, a former village resident and foundation board member who passed away in March. In keeping with her wishes, the gift will be used for initiatives in Atwater Park.

Grace Graves

It is not the first time the park has benefited from Grace’s generosity. The flagpole, which has stood sentinel there since the early 1990s, was erected to honor her late husband, William, with gifts from his family, friends and law firm colleagues.

“Atwater Park was and is a special place for our family,” said Grace’s daughter, Elizabeth Graves, who recalls countless hours with her family in the park and on the beach below. “And with our father’s memorial there, we want to ensure that it is cared for for years to come.”

“It’s humbling to receive any estate gift,” said Shorewood Foundation President Jamie Reeve. “But it is especially so when it comes from a former Foundation board member whose vision and legacy will now continue to benefit our village for decades to come.”

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, and raised in New York, Grace met her husband in New York where he was a young lawyer and she an executive assistant at the Macmillan publishing company. They lived in New York and Puerto Rico before moving in the early 1970s to Shorewood where they raised their two children, Elizabeth and William “Will” Graves.

Walking along the lakefront was a favorite pastime for Grace, though a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in her 40s would eventually curtail those treks, said longtime friends Diane Buck and Mary Stearns.

“We used to meet early in the mornings at the top of Shorewood Boulevard,” said Mary. “We’d walk to Lake Park and then hustle back to get the kids off to school.”

The trio were members of the Friday Ladies, a lunch group that still meets today.

A collector of vintage Haviland china, Grace founded the Haviland China Matching Service, LTD, in the 1970s to help clients find pieces of favorite discontinued china patterns. She loved going to rummage and estate sales alike, always on the hunt for Haviland.

Grace was one of the founding members of the Haviland Collectors International Foundation, a group dedicated to the study of porcelain and pottery by the Haviland family, and she helped start the Atwater Antiques Show when her children attended school there. She also worked on assembling a wonderful roster of collectors for Milwaukee’s Grain Exchange Antique Show.

When her kids attended Shorewood High School, she worked with other parents to launch The Underground, a vibrant rec department program at the school that offered a place for teens to gather on weekends. In addition, she served on the Shorewood Foundation in the 1990s alongside Diane Buck.

“She was a very quiet person, a great listener. But she certainly told you what she thought,” Diane said.

Grace moved to Milwaukee’s East Side in the 1990s where she continued her work in the decorative arts. She moved her business to the Third Ward and began as a volunteer for the Friends of Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, before becoming a board member for the Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Museums. She also served as a board member on the Transit Plus Advisory Council of Milwaukee, which has a mission to help advocate for people with disabilities and ensure quality transportation.

Grace served on the board of directors for the Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Museums and the Transit Plus Advisory Council until her death.

Shorewood Foundation Marks 60th Anniversary with Oktoberfest Celebration at Hubbard Park

Thank you, Shorewood, for turning out for our 60th Anniversary Oktoberfest Celebration!

What a night – great friends and great food, wonderful music by the incomparable Joe Wray and free meals and activities for the kids.

Many a 60th anniversary mug was hoisted in the spirit of Gemütlichkeit! And special thanks, of course, to Russ Davis, who offered the Hubbard Park Beer Garden at no cost.

The Shorewood Foundation hosted this event to celebrate you – our neighbors, friends and supporters – who have made the work of the foundation possible over the past six decades. You’re what this community and the Shorewood Foundation are all about. Prost!

Shorewood Foundation elects a new leadership team and welcomes three additional board members

From left, President Jamie Reeve, President-Elect Melissa Marschka, Treasurer Alan Purintun and Rebecca Osborn, Secretary; and new board members Natraj Shanker, Megann Hendrix and Joe Popalisky.

Mary McCormick, center, stepped off the board after nine years. Immediate Past President Sadhna Morato-Lindvall, right, remains on the board.

It is a time of transition for the Shorewood Foundation, which has added three new board members, elected a new slate of officers and bid farewell to a long-serving board member.

Jamie Reeve succeeds Sadhna Morato-Lindvall as president of the Foundation. 

Reeve is an 18-year resident of Shorewood and has served five years on the Foundation’s board. He is a senior vice president at Northern Trust, where he is a wealth strategist for bank clients, nonprofit foundations and endowments

He and his wife, Maggie, have two teenagers in Shorewood Public Schools and a recent grad on her way to college this fall.

“We enjoy the walkability of our village and the robust variety of events and programs our community boasts,” Reeve says. “I’m keen to help continue making our village fun and vibrant through our collaborating work at the foundation.”

Reeve maintains a deep connection to his Alma mater, Lawrence University, where he mentors students and is chair of the Vikings Athletics Advocacy Council. He also serves on the board of The University Club of Milwaukee and a member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. He previously served on the boards of the Shorewood HS Booster Club and the Shorewood Swim Club. 

Also elected officers at the organization’s annual meeting were Melissa Marschka (president-elect) Rebecca Osborn (secretary) and Alan Purintun (treasurer.) Purintun had completed his nine-year term on the board, but agreed to stay on this year as treasurer.

Morato-Lindvall, who completed her two-year term as president, will remain on the board, serving on the Nominating Committee and as chair of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Board member Mary McCormick, who joined the Foundation in 2015, completed her board service after three, three-year terms. During her tenure, McCormick served on the Grants and Development committees, and as co-chair of the Development Committee. Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, she also serves on on the board of the Friends of the Shorewood Foundation and plans to spend more time supporting that organization. 

The Foundation welcomed three new board members at its annual meeting, directors who together bring a wealth of experience in business and the law, and a genuine fondness for the community they call home.

Megann Hendrix is an estate planning and elder law attorney who has been a Shorewood resident for 11 years. She will serve on the Foundation’s Grants and Development committees. Hendrix is married with one child at Atwater Elementary School. She is also a board member of the Shorewood SEED Foundation. She says she is eager to continue her work to help make Shorewood a great place to live: “I’m all in on Shorewood – it’s where I live, where I work and where my son goes to school, so I’m extremely invested in this community.”  

Joe Popalisky is a lifelong Shorewood resident who attended St. Robert School, and he and his wife are now raising their three young children here. He will serve on the Foundation’s Special Events and Audit and Finance committees. Popalisky works as a sales manager for Acoustech Supply, a distributor of construction materials; and co-founded PanelTech Acoustics, a manufacturer of acoustical panels. He also manages rental properties in Shorewood and on Milwaukee’s East Side. “We are lucky to live in a village like Shorewood,” Popalisky says. “I deeply value this close-knit community and want to contribute to the impactful work the Foundation does and help make Shorewood an even better place to live.”

Natraj Shanker is an 11 year resident of Shorewood, who served two terms as president of the Shorewood Men’s Club. He will serve on the Foundation’s Special Events and Audit and Finance committees. A retired manufacturing and business strategy consultant, Shanker serves on the boards of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Shorewood Men's Club, Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee and the Badgerland Bluegrass Music Association. Shanker calls Shorewood “an oasis of friendly and accepting community members and lush greenery – when it’s not snowing!”

Friends of the Shorewood Nature Preserve founders Mowbray & Schroeder named July 4th Parade Marshals

Moya Mowbray (right) and Roland Schroeder (second from left) are seen with fellow volunteers at the Shorewood Nature Preserve.

Congratulations to our 2024 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshals Moya Mowbray and Roland Schroeder, longtime Shorewood residents who were selected from among nearly a dozen nominees this year.

Moya and Roland are founding members — and secretary and president, respectively — of the Friends of the Shorewood Nature Preserve, a group of volunteers working to revitalize and preserve the village’s eight-acre natural area along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The couple were nominated by fellow Friends member Helen Bolgrien, who called them “wonderful ambassadors for this hidden gem.”

“Using Moya’s expertise as an environmental educator and naturalist, and their shared passion for protecting and preserving this wonderful property, Moya and Roland tirelessly weed invasive plants, remove trash, clean up the beach, keep trails clear and protect native plantings,” Helen said. “They lead volunteer workdays, spearhead fundraising efforts, organize nature and bird walks, and represent Shorewood and the Nature Preserve at community-wide events.”

Last season, she said, Moya and Roland also designed and planted a demonstration pollinator garden at the entrance of the Nature Preserve to showcase native plant species that grow well in Shorewood’s clay soil.

“With Moya and Roland at the helm, the new Friends Group has worked with the Village, the Shorewood Foundation and other community partners to develop and formalize a comprehensive conservation and land management plan for Shorewood Nature Preserve,” Helen said. “These ongoing efforts will ensure that the Nature Preserve continues to be a vibrant part of Shorewood for years to come.”

Moya and Roland said they are honored to represent the Friends as Parade Marshals, but stressed that the Friends of the Nature Preserve is a team effort of “devoted and talented volunteers.”

“We are grateful for the Shorewood Foundation for supporting our efforts,” Moya said. “And thanks to all who support and improve this treasured space. See you at the Parade and down in the Preserve!

 The Shorewood Foundation also thanks Eastmore Real Estate, which is continuing to co-sponsor our Fourth of July Fireworks this year. If you’d like to make a gift to support this year's Fourth of July festivities, please click here.

Two projects to build community earn funding

The Foundation agreed to fund the top contenders at the Shorewood Foundation's 2024 Shark Tank in February.

The Shorewood Longevity Project

Heather Mansfield

Representing The Shorewood Longevity Project, Heather Mansfield requested funding of $500 for posters and flyers, brochures, and educational materials to help kick off the organization’s campaign to promote health, wellbeing, longevity, and happiness in the village.

“The Project is focused on improving the quality of life for all,” she told the Sharks. The small group’s aim is to help Shorewood businesses, schools, and other organizations get the word out about activities, events and other opportunities they sponsor that focus on improving quality of life and promote healthy lifestyle habits.

“The project is modeled after global communities where people not only live longer lives, but often live better lives -- lives rich with health, meaning, and authentic connection.”

The Longevity Project is scheduled to begin June 1.

The Foundation agreed to fund the top contenders at the Shorewood Foundation's 2024 Shark Tank in February.

The Shorewood Polar Plunge

Vince Vogelsang

B-r-r-r-r! - Vincent Vogelsang and 40 to 50 friends have been venturing into Lake Michigan on New Year’s Day at Atwater Beach for several years. Now with the backing of the Foundation, Vogelsgang and friends are hoping to expand it into more of a community event with a band, coffee kiosk, and other amenities.

“Start the year off with fellowship and stupid fun,” Vogelsgang said in asking the Sharks for $2,000 to help pay for tenting, a lifeguard and other emergency staffing, plus free coffee and hot chocolate at the plunge. Non-swimmers will be invited to watch the silliness from the bluff to the sound of live music.

The Plunge is another “Gentlemen of Shorewood” event. The Shorewood 12 is their charity bike race in the village with planned stops at village merchants. Last summer, 126 riders participated in the 12-hour event on a six mile course.

An evening with David Zucker marks the start of the Foundation's 60th anniversary

More than 300 people came to hear Shorewood’s own David Zucker talk about his new book and his 1980 hit movie “Airplane!”

The Shorewood Foundation kicked off its 60th anniversary year on Thursday, November 2, by welcoming acclaimed Hollywood director, producer and writer David Zucker home to Shorewood to talk about his new book, “Surely You Can’t be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!” Guests watched his hit 1980 film as part of the program, which was followed with a talkback session led by Fox 6 entertainment reporter Gino Salomone.

More than 300 people filled Shorewood High School's Gensler Auditorium, where Zucker entertained the crowd with quips and one-liners and fondly reminisced about growing up in Shorewood and the connection he still feels to the village. It was a night filled with celebration and laughter, and we're grateful to all those who attended.

Earlier that day, Zucker met with around 25 students at Shorewood High School, his alma mater. He also met with a small group of Foundation supporters at his childhood home.

The event was free to attend thanks to the Foundation. Since 1964, the Shorewood Foundation has leveraged your generous donations to make the village a great place to live, work, and raise a family. You’re invited to join us in advancing that work by making a special gift to celebrate our anniversary. Click here to learn more.

Shorewood Foundation welcomes 4 new board members

Four new members joined the Shorewood Foundation in 2023. They are, from left, Karen Maierle, Becky Dubin Jenkins, Frank Cumberbatch and Douglas Armstrong.

The Shorewood Foundation welcomed four new board members this year, directors who together bring a wealth of experience in business and media, and a genuine fondness for the community they call home.

Karen Maierle is a 20-year resident of the village who retired last year after 40 years at MGIC Investment Corp., much of that time spent in sales and marketing.

Since retiring, Maierle has thrown herself into volunteering, helping to staff the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Wauwatosa, mentoring Milwaukee Public Schools students in financial literacy, and educating consumers about the perils of single-use plastics through Plastic Free MKE. And she is eager to bring her skills and passion to the Shorewood Foundation, where she will co-chair the Marketing and Communications Committee with fellow board member Douglas Armstrong and sit on the Events Committee.

“We are very fortunate to have the Shorewood Foundation to keep our community vibrant and provide resources and activities to create an active and inclusive place to live and work,” Maierle said. “I view working as a Board Member for the Shorewood Foundation as an opportunity to give back closer to home and to continue making Shorewood a great place to live.” 

Frank Cumberbatch, Vice President of Engagement for Bader Philanthropies, is a prominent figure in Milwaukee’s business and philanthropic communities. He and his wife, Andrea, have three children – Rachel, Sadie and Nathan – and have lived in Shorewood since 2014.

A native of Trinidad, Cumberbatch describes himself as “a father, husband, coach, foundation executive, and community cheerleader.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oshkosh, where he held the 400-meter record in track and field for nearly four decades and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.

A one-time Milwaukee mayoral candidate, Cumberbatch has held various senior positions in public, private, and philanthropic sectors. And he serves on the boards of several nonprofits, including BizStarts, Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee (SWIM), the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC), YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, and The Opportunity Center.

Cumberbatch is co-chairing the Foundation’s Audit and Finance Committee and will serve on its Development Committee

“I look forward to sharing my experience in philanthropy, government, and business to execute the mission of the Shorewood Foundation,” he said.

Becky Dubin Jenkins has been a resident of Shorewood for more than 17 years, moving to the village in 2006 when a job opportunity for her husband, Chris, landed them here. They are the proud parents of Audrey, who is a Shorewood High School student.

Dubin Jenkins has more than 20 years of journalism, communications and marketing experience and currently serves as vice president for client success at Milwaukee-based Athena Communications, a full-service brand management firm. 

She began her career as a sports journalist after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She spent eight years as a writer and editor for The Sporting News, the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer; MLB.com (Major League Baseball’s digital platform); and USA Today. She then worked for 14 years in higher education, serving as a writer and editor for Marquette University and as executive director of marketing and communications for Alverno College. She thrives in mission-driven organizations and is committed, personally and professionally, to doing well and doing good.

Dubin Jenkins will be a member of the Marketing/Communications and Development Committees. 

Douglas Armstrong is a published author and relative newcomer to Shorewood, moving from Whitefish Bay with his wife, Mary, in 2019.

A journalist turned fiction writer, Armstrong previously served on the Whitefish Bay School Board and Library board. And, once settled in Shorewood, he began searching for new opportunities to re-engage in civic life and to contribute to his community.

“I saw the Shorewood Foundation as an ideal fit,” Armstrong says. “It is an opportunity to work with an organization dedicated to making a wonderful community even greater.”

Armstrong has published three novels with a fourth on the way. He is a member of the Milwaukee Press Club and a past board member of the Council for Wisconsin Writers.

Armstrong, like Maierle, will co-chair the Marketing and Communications Committee and serve on the Events Committee.

“I’m happy to be making interesting and knowledgeable new friends who care about their community,” he said. “And I’m very impressed with the depth and breadth of the foundation’s commitment to stewardship and philanthropy.”

Shorewood Foundation awards 2023 SHS scholarships

Deniz Gungor, left, and Aaryan Paudel were recipients of the Shorewood Foundation’s 2023 scholarships.

Congratulations to 2023 Shorewood High School graduating seniors Deniz Gungor and Aaryan Paudel, recipients of this year’s Shorewood Foundation Scholarships.

Each year, the Foundation awards two $2,500 scholarships to Shorewood High School seniors who epitomize good character, community service and scholarship.

Deniz’s nomination describes him as a strong-willed and hard-working young man, who moved from Turkey to Shorewood his freshman year.

“Completing high school in a foreign country, in a foreign language, is a major accomplishment unto itself; throw in a pandemic, and it’s nothing short of extraordinary,” the district said.

Outside of school, Deniz enjoys playing piano and reading, saying he wants to understand others’ world views. He will attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fall and hopes to study economics.

Aaryan is described as a “thoughtful, intuitive and disciplined” student who excels in the classroom and in his many extracurricular activities. He enjoys solving problems and developing new skills, according to his nomination, even teaching himself computer coding using free, online resources.

“Aaryan is a tremendous asset to our school community,” the district said.

Aaryan plans to pursue a computer science degree at UW-Madison in the fall.

A special thanks to board members for their combined four decades of service to the Shorewood Foundation

Outgoing 2023 board members are, from left to right, Steve Kavalauskas, Rose Spano Ianelli, Saj Thachenkary, Carolyn Curran and Matt Simon.

Five outstanding Shorewood Foundation Board members stepped down in May 2023 after a combined four decades of service. The departing board members are  Steve Kavalauskas, Rose Iannelli, Saj Thachenkary, Carolyn Curran and Matt Simon. Iannelli and Thachenkary are past presidents; Kavalauskas served a decade as the Foundation’s treasurer; Simon led our Audit/Finance for nine years, and Curran served a full term on our Marketing/Communications/Events committee. A sincere thank you to these incredibly talented and dedicated leaders in our community.

Shorewood Foundation welcomes Eastmore Real Estate as a Co-Sponsor of Shorewood’s July 4th Fireworks

The Shorewood Foundation is pleased to announce that Eastmore Real Estate is partnering with the organization to present the 2023 Fourth of July fireworks at Atwater Park. Eastmore's owner Deborah Sobczak is a longtime Shorewood resident whose business owns and manages apartment buildings in Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee’s East Side.

"Our company has been a part of Shorewood for over 50 years and we were looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community we serve. We felt partnering with the Foundation to support the Fourth of July fireworks was a great way to do that," Sobczak said.

Through the generosity of its donors, the Shorewood Foundation has supported the Village’s Fourth of July celebration and fireworks for more than two decades and has been its leading sponsor since 2003. 

Foundation President Sadhna Morato-Lindvall voiced the board of directors’ gratitude for the Eastmore gift, saying Sobczak is part of a long tradition of Shorewood residents and partners stepping up to support initiatives in our community. The Eastmore gift is especially timely, she said, as the cost of fireworks has doubled in recent years.

“The Fourth of July festivities are a wonderful way to bring our community together, and that wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our donors,” said Morato-Lindvall. “And we’re especially grateful this year to have Eastmore Real Estate leading the way.”

If you would like to support the Shorewood’s Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks, please click below!

The Shorewood Foundation Announces new Leadership

Pictured (left to right) Sadhna Morato-Lindvall, Jean Casey, Patrick Kessenich, Rebecca Osborn & Christa Shields.

The Shorewood Foundation is marking 2022 as a year of progress, electing a new president, adding four new board members and hiring the organization’s first associate in its 57-year history.

Sadhna Morato-Lindvall, who has served on the board since 2017, took over as president this spring. Additionally, four new board members – Jean Casey, Patrick Kessenich, Rebecca Osborn and Christa Shields – have signed on this year. And in June, the Foundation hired Annysa Johnson as a part-time associate to assist the board in day-to-day operations. 

"We are so excited to grow our board and bring in Annysa as our first dedicated associate," said Morato-Lindvall. "As a volunteer board, we are grateful for the time and talent of our directors, and I'm excited to work with them to strengthen efforts that improve the quality and vibrancy of our community."

Morato-Lindvall is a program manager with Froedtert Health’s Customer Experience team. She has extensive experience in journalism, media relations, marketing, communications and fund development. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, and Skylight Music Theater. Morato-Lindvall is a graduate of the University of Iowa and earned her MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She, her husband, Scott, and two daughters have called Shorewood "home” for the past decade.

Like Morato-Lindvall, the new additions to the foundation bring a wealth of professional and community experiences to the organization.

Jean Casey is excited to give back to the community she is proud to call home – once again. Casey, a Shorewood native and mother of two adult children, returned to the village six years ago. “I’ve always loved Shorewood and considered it ‘home,’” said Casey, who appreciates the community’s proximity to Lake Michigan and downtown, its walkability, friendly neighbors and sensibilities. “And I’m so pleased for the opportunity to support the work of the Shorewood Foundation.”  Professionally, Casey has held leadership positions with several top architecture firms for more than 20 years, working in business and relationship development, strategic planning and public direction. She is engaged in a variety of service and professional associations and has served on the boards of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Alexian Village and the Social Development Foundation. 

Patrick Kessenich has spent his career in nonprofit fund development, working at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Covenant/Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare before joining the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee more than a decade ago. A Whitefish Bay native and University of Wisconsin graduate, Kessenich and his wife, Patrice, raised their three children in Shorewood, where they attended St. Robert and Shorewood High schools. Kessenich, who sits on the foundation’s Grants and Development committees, sees serving on the foundation as a great opportunity to give back to his community. “My professional background in fund development aligns well with the Shorewood Foundation mission, and contributing to its strategic planning for the future very much appealed to me,” he said.

Rebecca Osborn spent her childhood years in Shorewood and returned with her husband and two children in 2013 to make their home here. A graduate of Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin Law School, Osborn has been an attorney with the Wisconsin Education Association Council for more than two decades. She believes her experiences, both as an attorney and as an adult who returned to raise her own family here, will bring a unique perspective to the board. “I support the mission of the Shorewood Foundation to celebrate the uniqueness of the village, to connect members of our community and to sustain the history, charm and green spaces of Shorewood,” she said.

Christa Shields recently accepted the lead development role with Food For Health, a social enterprise working to transform lives through the power of food, an area of passion for Shields.
Shields, who holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, has an extensive background in philanthropy. A relative newcomer to Shorewood, which she has called home since 2019, Shields is no less enthusiastic about serving her community through the foundation. And she said she’ll be guided by the same sense of mission she has felt in her other philanthropic work. “Shorewood has welcomed me with open arms and feels like home already. I am excited to work with the Foundation to make this amazing community an even better place to work, live and play.”

Annysa Johnson has lived in Shorewood with her family for 25 years. An award-winning journalist, she spent nearly four decades in newsrooms large and small before retiring from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2022. Johnson holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northern Kentucky University and Indiana University, respectively. In addition to her new post with the foundation, she serves on the board of Lake Park Friends and works for the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, where she is also learning to sail. “The Shorewood Foundation plays such an important role in this community,” said Johnson. “And I’m excited and grateful to be a small part of that.”

Shorewood Foundation announces 2022 scholarship recipients Selamawit “Se” Caldart and Zeynab Javid

Selamawit “Sey” Caldart (pictured left) and Zeynab Javid (pictured right)

Every year, the Shorewood Foundation scholarship is awarded to two seniors to recognize good character, community service, and scholarship. This year’s winners are Selamawit “Se” Caldart and Zeynab Javid.
Se is an extremely intelligent, curious, and hardworking student. Every day, she shows the hard work and dedication that it takes to be an outstanding student in all her classes. Outside of her strong academics, Se is committed to both the SHS soccer team and competitive club soccer, as well as social activism and Roots Ethiopia. She puts forth incredible effort in all that she does, demonstrating what it means to be a Shorewood High School student in every capacity, which will transfer well to George Mason University this fall.

Zeynab also excels in academics, taking challenging, rigorous classes that stretch her. She is incredibly kind, caring, and helpful in her interactions with others. Zeynab also volunteers her time by tutoring other students and helping with the National Honors Society. Zeynab is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022.

Shorewood Foundation congratulates Congratulations 2022 Grand Marshals Ken & Jonathan Payne!

Ken Payne, a long time Shorewood resident and realtor, was nominated to serve as the Shorewood Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshal because of his active participation in and around the Village. Ken, a member of the Shorewood Men’s Club and the Shorewood Senior Resource Center, is described by his nominator as "the kind of guy who always says yes", engaging and embracing those around him. The Shorewood Foundation is thrilled to honor Ken (pictured right) and his son Jonathan (pictured left) and the positivity they bring to the Village of Shorewood.