West Allis Community Improvement Foundation

The West Allis Community Improvement Foundation (WACIF) was founded as a not-for-profit charitable organization in the mid-1980s to promote cultural, educational, recreational, civic, and public improvement programs and services. 

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation is supported solely by monetary gifts, gifts of services, and other in-kind offerings to promote community projects and programs that preserve, foster, and enhance the economic and social well-being of the citizens, businesses, and organizations of the City of West Allis, Wisconsin.

Historically, the Foundation has annually sponsored two main events: a Community Thanksgiving Breakfast that supports the many food pantries serving West Allis residents and a Charity Gala that benefits a specially recognized group or organization. The Breakfast is usually held the Monday in November before Thanksgiving Day. The Gala is usually held in March or April, depending on when Easter falls each year.

The Foundation Board of Directors selects the designated recipient of funds raised at the Gala each year, almost a year in advance. Interested parties may apply for that selection by sending a letter and submitting the appropriate application form by the time specified.

JOIN OR VOLUNTEER

WACIF appoints its own members subject to West Allis Common Council approval. Members serve three-year terms, which expire in September.

Foundation members attend meetings as called and assist with planning the Charity Gala and Community Breakfast of Thanks & Giving. Members are asked to participate, donate and volunteer at the events and assist with planning such as soliciting donations, donating auction items, or other activities required to make these events a success.

Volunteers are needed for our two annual events. The Charity Gala requires the most assistance, although the majority of work is handled by the Gala Planning Committee and beneficiary group. Community Breakfast of Thanks & Giving volunteers assist with sorting, packing, delivery of donated non-perishables.

To join the Foundation or to volunteer for an event, please get in touch with us.

DONATE

Your tax-deductible donation to the West Allis Community Improvement Foundation can be made securely online via Paypal here.

You can also support the Foundation when you shop Amazon® through the AmazonSmile® program. Visit smile.amazon.com to learn more.

The West Allis Community Improvement Foundation will accept stock, property of value, and will consider equipment donations on a case-by-case basis. For additional information and inquiries please contact us.

2023 wacif Food Drive on Nov. 11 

The West Allis Community Improvement Foundation will host the 2023 Food Drive at the West Allis Farmers Market, 6501 W. National Ave., on Saturday, Nov. 12 from noon - 3 p.m. to help fulfill an urgent need for West Allis food pantries.

Shop the market and enjoy food from vendors such as Tots on the Street, MilWOKee, and Nothing Bundt Cakes as well as hot beverages from Ay Chihuahua Coffee. The first 50 people to donate three or more items will be entered into a prize drawing for City logo merchandise! Can't make it? You can also help by donating online when you visit the top of this page and select PayPal; make a donation when you select, "Food Pantries." This will be listed under the title, West Allis Civic Improvement Foundation, Inc. Your donation will make an impact on the lives of so many in need within our community this holiday season. 

Thank You for a successful 2022 CHARITY GALA

2022_WAFIC Gala_Early Bird_FINALThe 2022 West Allis Community Improvement Foundation’s (WACIF) Community Charity Gala was held Sunday, April 24 from at the Gage, West Allis. Our 2022 beneficiary was Exploit No More. Exploit No More provides community education and supportive services to survivors of sex trafficking. Learn more about their programs, including Freedom House. The Gala featured a night of delicious food, "Taste of West Allis" Dessert Dash, exciting raffles, music, entertainment, and a silent auction. 

On behalf of everyone at Exploit No More and the West Allis Community Improvement Foundation, thank you for making our local Freedom House "home sweet home" for its residents.

Thank You Charity gala sponsors

Thank you to all sponsors.

Gold SPONSORS:

  • AIR Technology Services 
  • WaterStone Bank

Silver SPONSORS:

  • Advocate Aurora Health
  • Bevsek-Verbick Funeral Home
  • Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental
  • Gendlin Liverman & Rymer
  • Kwik Trip
  • Tour of America’s Dairyland
  • RE/MAX
  • Stubbs Family Dentistry

Bronze Sponsors:

  • Auto Body Specialists
  • BILTRITE Furniture
  • SoNa Lofts
  • West Allis Woodworkers Club

With Donations From:

  • Butch’s Pub & Eatery
  • Brad & Joanne Fluyeras
  • Tom & Connie Lajsic
  • GFWC West Allis Women’s Club
2022 Community Charity Gala

THANK YOU 2021 FOOD DRIVE DONORS

wacif_fooddrive

With all the challenges faced in 2021, we wanted to take a moment to highlight a 2021 success in the West Allis community. During the month of November, the West Allis Community Improvement Foundation hosted a Holiday Food Drive at the West Allis Farmers Market to help fulfill an urgent need for 12 West Allis food pantries. The food drive was an easy, fun, safe way to donate and help families in our community before the holiday season.

With the outpouring of support from the community, we were able to raise $20,942 for 12 local food pantries and each pantry was provided three boxes of non-perishable food items. While there are so many deserving food pantries and organizations in need in our community, these are the pantries your donations went to:

  • First Lutheran Church
  • First United Methodist Church
  • Good Samaritan Outreach
  • Holy Assumption - St. Augustine
  • Mother of Perpetual Help
  • Mount Hope Lutheran Church
  • St. John’s Lutheran Church
  • St. Matthias Catholic Church
  • St. Peter’s Episcopal
  • St. Rita’s Catholic Church
  • Woodlawn Lutheran Church
  • Apostle Presbyterian Church

To our community members who generously donated a significant amount, we’d like to acknowledge and thank you for your contribution; Alderman Thomas Lajsic, Cynthia Qualich, Connie Bauer, Kathy Smith, Mary Hook, Barbara Rabiego, Paul & Carol Ziehler, Gunite Contracting Corporation, and B&K Bar Supplies.  Also thank you to everyone else that provided small monetary contributions to held support our local food pantries. 

We would also like the thank Cobalt Partners for their incredibly generous monetary donation of $20,000 in support of our local food pantries.

The support we receive each year continues to amaze us. Thank you again to everyone in the community who pitched in to volunteer, drop off food, and provided monetary donations. Every contribution big or small goes a long way.

Past event photo galleries