"Big year for UPAF:" Annual campaign raises more than $12M, a 2.3% increase from last year

MILWAUKEE -- The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) announced Tuesday, June 9th the 2015 UPAF Campaign raised $12,001,226, which is a 2.3% increase over 2014.

In the past five years alone, the UPAF Campaign has increased by 27%, having set new records each of the past three years.

UPAF shared the news this evening at its Campaign Finale, sponsored by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, at Turner Hall Ballroom. The event was hosted by Bill Walsh of CBS 58 and featured performances by UPAF Member Groups, Skylight Music Theatre, the Florentine Opera Company and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. The 2015 Campaign was chaired by Patty Cadorin, vice president and chief of staff to the CEO of BMO Harris Bank; Tom Cardella, MillerCoors (retired); and Mark Sabljak, publisher of the Milwaukee Business Journal.

“2015 was a big year for UPAF, and we are thrilled to have achieved another important milestone,” said Deanna Tillisch, UPAF president and CEO.  “Patty, Tom and Mark worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this campaign, and we are truly grateful to them. We achieved significant advances in many areas this year, including notable increases in leadership giving and employee participation in Workplace Giving Campaigns. We would like to thank all of the generous donors who helped UPAF achieve this monumental success.”

UPAF achieved its goal through Workplace Giving Campaigns; corporate, foundation and individual gifts; proceeds from the 2015 UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite; and fundraising efforts driven by its Member Groups and Affiliates. This year’s campaign ran from March 3 through June 9, 2015.

2015 UPAF Campaign Highlights