Wilson Center to Honor Claire and Glenn Hackmann at The Big Event

A shared commitment to the power of the arts will be celebrated on Sat., June 3, 2017, at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (Wilson Center), as Greater Milwaukee philanthropic leaders Claire and Glen Hackmann are honored with the 13th annual EDDY Award. The presentation will take place at The Big Event, which serves as the major channel through which the Wilson Center raises funds for its arts education programs that impact the lives of more than 9,000 students from Southeast Wisconsin each year.

Endowed by Wilson Center supporters Murph and John Burke, thE Eddy is awarded annually by the Wilson Center's ad hoc Bridge Committee to an arts organization, corporation, or individual(s) whose commitment to regional collaboration has created a higher standard of excellence in arts and education. The Hackmanns will join a distinguished list of past EDDY Award honorees: Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (2005), Christine Harris (2006), Danceworks, Inc./MadHot Ballroom and Tap (2007), Marlene Doerr and SHARP Literacy (2008), Skylight Opera Theatre (2009), Marcus Corporation (2010), Creativity Works! (2011), Latino Arts Strings & Mariachi Juvenil (2012), Carlene Ziegler (2013), Marianne and Sheldon Lubar (2014), Jodi Peck (2015), and Donna and Harold Baumgartner (2016).

Glen Hackmann, Vice Chairman of Robert W. Baird & Company, is current Chairman of the Board for the Carmen High Schools of Science and Technology. He co-chaired the 2014 United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) annual campaign and served on the Board of Directors for 10 years, chairing the board for two years. For six years, he also served on the board of the Milwaukee Ballet Company and the Florentine Opera Company, serving as Florentine Opera President from 2001-2003. He was honored nationally with the American for the Arts Michael Newton Award in 2005 in recognition of his commitment to the united arts fund movement. Claire Hackmann has served on many philanthropic and educational boards, including the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (as chair from 2003-2008 and currently as trustee emerita), UW-Madison Board of Visitors, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Florentine Opera Company, and The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin.

Guests at The Big Event will also celebrate one of the most successful and respected youth orchestra programs in the nation, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) as it is presented with the third annual Educational Excellence Award in recognition of organizational achievements that exemplify collaboration in the arts, as well as the official unveiling of a new enhancement to the Wilson Center that combines the beauty of nature with state-of-the art technology, The Burke Colonnade. Constructed of red oak and white pine timber that is a byproduct of sustainable forest management, this unique space in our region has been made possible by a lead gift from Murph and John Burke, as well as the support of the Honkamp Family and Hydrite Chemical Co., the vision of Kate and Don Wilson, and artistic partnerships with WholeTrees Architecture and Structures and VJS Construction Services. (To see a timelapse of the first week of installation on The Burke Colonnade, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwiMcUltAi0&feature=youtu.be.)

Co-Chaired by Beth and Tim Wnuk and Jessica and Matt Zeratsky, this year's all-inclusive event will feature a pre-party with entertainment, interactive art experiences, cocktails, and small plates offered by Lee John's Catering; voice auctions; an exclusive concert event featuring "The Shindig!" with Chester Gregory, star of Broadway hit Motown the Musical; and a post-party with music, dancing, late-night food, cocktails, and more.

The Big Event is made possible through the support of Box Seat Sponsors Cynthia & Jeff Harris and Jaguar Waukesha; Premier Sponsors American Transmission Company, Associated Bank, Michael Best, Boelter Superstore, Murph and John Burke, Claire and Glen Hackmann, Deb and Wayne Larsen, LeSaffre Yeast Corporation/Red Star Yeast Company LC, The PNC Financial Services Group, von Briesen & Roper S.C. Attorneys at Law, and WE Energies; Preferred Sponsors Charles and Mary Ann LaBahn, Guy & O'Neill, Inc., Johnson Controls, Inc., Carrie and Paul Matteson, Medical College of Wisconsin, ProHealth Care, Robert W. Baird & Co., Barb and Fred Syrjanen, VJS Construction Services, and WISN-TV/Channel 12; and Event Partners Majic Productions, Inc., MillerCoors, Milwaukee Business Journal, and Yuhas Graphics & Printing.

For more information on The Big Event, visit www.wilson-center.com/the-big-event, or call 262-373-5033.

(Pictured: Glen and Claire Hackmann, 2017 EDDY Award recipients.)

ABOUT THE SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts is one of the finest multi-disciplinary cultural arts centers in the United States, with a mission to be the catalyst for lifelong discovery and exploration of the Arts. Founded in 2002, the Wilson Center presents performances by world-renowned artists and ensembles; offers arts education opportunities; curates the Ploch Art Gallery, which features both national and Wisconsin-based fine artists; and is committed to extending the arts beyond the walls of the Center through Lynn Chappy ArtsPark-a vibrant, outdoor sculpture landscape that will engage and inspire the broader Southeastern Wisconsin Community. In August, the annuAl Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival celebrates the world's leading classical, rock/blues, jazz, and fingerstyle guitarists. The Wilson Center nurtures lifelong learning through innovative programs and classes for all interests, ages, and abilities in state-of-the-art studios and classrooms. Some of Southeast Wisconsin's finest arts organizations offer professional instruction at the Wilson Center, including First Stage Theater Academy, Trinity Irish Dancers, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. From performances and recitals to meetings and special events, the Wilson Center's beautiful spaces are available for rental to individuals, schools, organizations, and corporations throughout the community. To learn more, visit www.wilson-center.com.

ABOUT CLAIRE AND GLEN HACKMANN

Glen F. Hackmann is Vice Chairman of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and Chairman of Baird's Audit Committees. From 1984 to 2013, he was Managing Director, General Counsel and Secretary of Baird, as well as a member of its Executive Committee. Prior to joining Baird in 1984, Hackmann was Chief Counsel for ContiCommodity Services, Inc. in Chicago and, prior to that, was General Counsel of Reinholdt & Gardner in St. Louis. Hackmann is Chairman of the Board for the Carmen High Schools of Science and Technology. He Co-Chaired the 2014 United Performing Arts Fund's (UPAF) Annual Campaign and served on the Board of Directors of UPAF for 10 years, chairing the Board for two years. For six years, he also served on the Boards of the Milwaukee Ballet Company and the Florentine Opera Company, serving as Florentine Opera president from 2001-2003. Hackmann was honored nationally with the Americans for the Arts Michael Newton Award in 2005 in recognition of his commitment to the united arts fund movement. In 2009, UPAF awarded him the Mrs. Walter H. Stiemke Award, its highest honor, in recognition of his extraordinary dedication to the performing arts and UPAF. In 2016, he was again honored by UPAF this time with the Bill Randall Maestro Award, only the second time this award has been given. Hackmann received the Brenton H. Rupple Citizenship Award, Baird's highest community service honor in 2012 The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee also honored him with its Top Corporate Counsel Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Hackmann earned his AB in English Literature at the University of Missouri at Columbia and his JD from the University of Missouri Law School.

Claire H. Hackmann is a 1975 graduate of UW-Madison. Her previous involvements include posts as chairwoman of the Board of Trustees, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design; the Kohler Board; board chair of Columbia College of Nursing; executive director of Common Cause; board trustee of The Nature Conservancy, and UW-Madison Board of Visitors of the College of Letters and Sciences for nine years. She currently serves as a Trustee at Northland College, as well as a Trustee at Large for the Milwaukee Art Museum.

ABOUT MYSO

The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) empowers young people from diverse backgrounds to joyfully pursue musical excellence while building crucial life skills. MYSO is one of the most successful and respected youth orchestra programs in the nation, regularly recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for its artistic excellence. With 1,000 young musicians ages 8?18 from as many as 215 schools, 60 communities, and 14 counties throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois participating in MYSO's many music training programs, it has become one of the largest organizations of its kind in the United States. Instrumental in changing lives since 1956, MYSO's programs foster critical thinking skills, creativity and collaboration through a constellation of high quality ensemble options, Community Partnership Programs and enrichment opportunities ranging from symphony and string orchestras, to jazz and steel pan bands, all providing high quality musical experiences to students at various skill levels.

To post a comment, you must register and login.