"One big family:" Hundreds treated special during Downtown Employee Appreciation Week



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- If you work in Milwaukee's downtown, some people want you to know just how much your efforts are appreciated. In fact, they're using this whole week to make sure you get the message.

On Monday morning, July 28th, "Downtown Employee Appreciation Week" began with breakfast.

"It's like we're all one big family down here," Mary Schanning, who works downtown said.

It's not just food. There are plenty of other ways to enjoy Milwaukee's 9th annual Downtown Employee Appreciation Week.

"We are actually the first major city in the United States of America to do a Downtown Employee Appreciation Week," Beth Weirick said.

Weirick is the CEO of "Milwaukee Downtown" -- which organizes the week.

"Downtown Employee Appreciation Week is our way of saying 'thank you for working in downtown Milwaukee. Thank you for being a believer in downtown Milwaukee. Thank you for supporting the businesses that we have in downtown Milwaukee,'" Weirick said.

Milwaukee Downtown estimates some 81,000 people work in what amounts to a two square mile radius. It's an area that will be filled with the sounds of celebration this week as thousands, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and County Executive Chris Abele are expected to attend.

"It's a great event to bring people out. They do some fun things with the lunches. The games are kinda quirky, but they're fun. You win great prizes," Schanning said.

Some say they feel like winners by simply getting more familiar with others who share the downtown workspace.

"We work in these beautiful buildings. We're here all the time, every day, and we may never meet one another. So, having an event where we can all get together like this and talk and say, 'Oh, you work here? I didn't even know that!' That's exactly what we need," Gustavo Lopez, who works downtown said.

CLICK HERE for additional information on Downtown Milwaukee Employee Appreciation Week.