November 2022 Talking Points: CFI is named finalist as Nonprofit Organization of the Year

CFI was so proud to be among the nonprofits selected as finalists in the Biztimes Nonprofit Organization of the Year.

This award is given to a nonprofit organization in recognition for creativity and innovation in building a sustainable organization, excellence in teamwork and an outstanding dedication to the organization’s mission in the community.

Other finalists were Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin Inc. and Junior Achievement of Wisconsin. Seeds of Health, Inc., was the winner in this category. Congratulations to all.

In our nomination, we mentioned three key initiatives we have been involved in this year. They are:

• Partnering in Concordia 27: MCFI, an affiliate of CFI, is developing a fifth commercial production kitchen at 27th and Wells as part of the Near West Side Partner's Concordia 27 initiative.
• Expanding crisis mental health care services: MCFI’s Behavioral Health Services operates three Crisis Resource Centers in Milwaukee County, providing care to those in psychiatric crisis as the need for 24/7 stabilization services continues to grow in the community. However, the need is ever-growing. As a result, CRC has expanded services to meet this need and partnered with Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services, local hospitals, and police departments to connect people in a mental health crisis to life-saving resources.
• Summer Meals: Every year, MCFI’s Food Services program participates in the Summer Food Service Program in partnership with the Department of Public Instruction and Hunger Task Force. Families in the greater Milwaukee area have always faced food access challenges, and those have only increased since the pandemic. Our program stepped up to meet those challenges, serving more than 200,000 meals at parks and other community sites this summer.
• Expansion of mental health services to children: In 2022, MCFI’s Behavioral Health Services expanded its services to provide treatment for children ages 17 and younger who are experiencing mental health issues. The clinic is supported by Children’s Wisconsin and Milwaukee County’s Birth to Three provider agencies, and it has quickly become a vital resource as the number of children diagnosed with mental health conditions continues to increase.

We are proud of these initiatives, and our history of meeting the needs of our community.

Also in this month's newsletter ...

• Thank you to Direct Supply for furniture donation;
• Giving First Day is coming Nov. 22;
• GIVING BACK: One man's story.

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