MILWAUKEE, WI – Potawatomi Hotel & Casino has announced the return of its “Heart of Canal Street” program in 2021 with five $100,000 donations to children’s charities in southeast Wisconsin.
Each of the organizations was chosen by Potawatomi leadership for exemplary service to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and as parts of the area still struggling. In addition, a $25,000 donation is being made to the Waukesha County Community Foundation to assist in helping the victims of the events of Nov. 21.
“We are so honored and humbled to present these amazing organizations with a donation through our Heart of Canal Street program,” said Dominic Ortiz, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino CEO/General Manager. “The work they have done and continue to do shows true compassion and dedication to our community.”
The five organizations receiving $100,000 donations include:
Digital Bridge – promotes digital inclusion by providing affordable technology and digital literacy to vulnerable and underfunded populations. During the pandemic, Digital Bridge partnered with Milwaukee Public Schools and the United Way to help meet demand for technology and will use Heart of Canal Street funds to provide more families with hardware and access to affordable broadband Internet.
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center – provides health, peace, and well-being services to urban Indians in the greater Milwaukee area. Heart of Canal Street funds will be used for the Health Center’s “Youth Empowerment Program,” which uses a variety of services to engage Native American youth including summer day camp and mental health programming.
Hunger Task Force – is a local organization striving to meet the needs of hungry people throughout southeast Wisconsin free of charge. Heart of Canal Street funds will be used to provide fresh and healthy food to through its food box delivery program. Food is delivered to quarantined children and to those from families of domestic violence.
Journey House – provides adult and childhood educational opportunities along with youth development and family engagement to the near south side of Milwaukee. Heart of Canal Street funds will be used for youth development programs which provide services to 2,000 economically challenged, predominantly Latino youth, through educational, social, physical, mental health and creative development.
Running Rebels – offers mentoring, educational support, community organizing assistance, and violence prevention to primarily black youth between the ages of 12-25. Heart of Canal Street funds will be used for the “Community Mentoring Program,” which provides intensive mentoring with youth at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system.
