Madison, WI – On Tuesday, March 7, Community Shares of Wisconsin and its nearly 70 nonprofit members will host The Big Share®, an online day of giving focused on social and environmental justice. Now in its ninth year, the annual campaign is themed “Make Change Happen” and aims to raise over $650,000 and engage 5,000 donors.
Visit thebigshare.org to search for nonprofits by name or by issue area. Donate to one group or multiple groups. A gift to Community Shares of Wisconsin supports all groups.
“Community Shares of Wisconsin is a hub for supporting the local causes we care about most,” said Board President, Bernie Hoes. “All donations help make change happen. With a minimum donation of $5, we hope to engage all individuals looking to get involved. The Big Share amplifies your donations with matches and nonprofit bonuses, making it a great tool for people who want to work for systemic change.”
Community Shares of Wisconsin has a full schedule of events for The Big Share. The events are free, and the public is encouraged to participate.
March 6, 6pm-8pm: Drag Queen Bingo at Delta Beer Lab and online
March 7, 6am: Coffee Hour at Cargo Coffee on East Washington Ave with Miss Wisconsin, Kylene Spanbauer
March 7, 6am – 7:30pm: The Big Share Live, a day-long telethon, with local entertainment and information from CSW member nonprofits. Broadcast live on thebigshare.org
- 7:20am – Poetry from Madison Poet Laureate Angie Trudell Vasquez
- 8:45am – Line dancing class with Judy Young
- 2:15pm – Music from Bear in the Forest
- 5:30pm – Music from The Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Band
- 6:50pm – Stand-up comedy from Lisa Quam “Quamedy”
- 7:15pm – Bria Brown’s Book Recommendation Corner
There will also be panels and roundtables throughout the day featuring Community Shares member organizations.
- 8am – Education + School Systems discussion with Jeffrey Lewis, Bianca Gomez, and Daithi Wolfe
- 10:15am – Peer to Peer Chat on the Anti-Violence Movement with Dana Pellebon and Virginia Gittens Escudero
- 1:00pm – Food Systems Panel with Hedi Rudd, Will Green, Clare Oleksiak, Tess Romanski, and Phil Kauth
- 4:30pm – Civic Engagement Panel with Iuscely (Cely) Flores, Norman Stockwell, Amanda Merkwae, and Debra Cronmiller
March 7, 6am – Midnight: Power Hours, Match Minutes, and Golden Ticket Hours that provide bonus prizes to member nonprofits.
March 7, 7pm: After-party at Cafe Coda. Join Community Shares for dancing and karaoke!
Follow Community Shares of Wisconsin on social media all day on March 7 for updates on events, prizes, and totals.
“Now is a key time to support the nonprofits working for equality and systemic change,” said Executive Director Cheri Dubiel. “The last three years have both demonstrated and exacerbated the need for change. Our member groups work to improve life and create a just place for all. The Big Share gives every donor, large or small, an opportunity to empower these groups and make change happen.”
The Big Share’s 2023 principal partner is Madison Community Foundation.
Media sponsors are The Cap Times, Triple MMM 105.5, and News 3 Now.
Since 1971, Community Shares of Wisconsin and its members have worked together to advance social justice and protect the environment in Wisconsin. Together they envision a future where people come together to ensure every member of their community is safe, healthy, and able to thrive.
