Lopez leads with heart, service and a vision to empower undeserved communities
Sep 17, 2025
Eleazar Lopez Jr. empowers underserved communities, advances equity in finance, and builds pathways to generational wealth.
read postGreater Together Awards
The Greater Together Awards shine a spotlight on individuals who are shaping a more inclusive and vibrant Milwaukee. Each year, these prestigious awards recognize those who dedicate their time, talent, treasure and ties to building a stronger, more equitable community for all.
First bestowed in 1956, this award honors individuals who have contributed their time, efforts or talents to make Milwaukee a better community.
Since 1988, this award has honored individuals whose efforts helped change Milwaukee’s built environment.
Since 2011, this award has honored passionate and inspirational nonprofit leaders in greater Milwaukee.
Ellen Gilligan Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award
This award was established in 2019 to recognize those who have worked tirelessly to overcome the burdens of inequity and injustice to make our region truly welcoming and inclusive for all.
2025 Greater Together Award recipients
Beyond estate planning: Lasky guides clients to leave a legacy of change
Sep 17, 2025
Jennifer Lasky was honored with the 2025 Herbert J. Mueller Award for her heartfelt work helping clients leave lasting legacies and strengthen her community through philanthropy.
read post2024 Greater Together Award recipients
2024 Ellen Gilligan Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award - Brad Pruitt
Oct 22, 2024
Brad Pruitt has shepherded the reemergence of a cultural institution that is creating space for the difficult conversations that our community and country need to have.
read post2024 Frank Kirkpatrick Award - Nicole Robbins
Oct 22, 2024
Nicole Robbins has helped transform the landscape of the King Drive corridor and surrounding neighborhoods through housing and commercial development.
read post2024 Doug Jansson Leadership Award - Damian Buchman
Oct 22, 2024
Damian Buchman works tirelessly to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from being able to participate in physical activity and recreational opportunities.
read post2024 William C. Frye Award Recipient - John Schlifske
Oct 22, 2024
Through leadership of one of Milwaukee’s top companies over the past 14 years, John Schlifske has made exceptional contributions to create positive change across our region.
read post2024 Outstanding Professional Adviser of the Year - Kathy Klein
Sep 16, 2024
Kathy Klein views philanthropy as a great avenue to deepen conversations with her financial clients.
read post2024 Jackie Herd-Barber Award - Emily Tau
Sep 16, 2024
Emily Tau uses her passion for Milwaukee, her strength as a social connector and her communication skills to help advance racial equity throughout the region.
read post2023 Greater Together Award recipients
2023 President's Award for Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Recipient - Lupe Martinez
Nov 15, 2023
Martinez has used his background, leadership skills and influence on the state and national levels as well to help improve the lives of farmworkers.
read post2023 Doug Jansson Leadership Award Recipient - John Daniels III
Nov 15, 2023
For the past 15 years, John Daniels III has spent his career trying to help young men discover where they want to spend theirs.
read post2023 Frank Kirkpatrick Award Recipient - Ernesto and Olivia Villarreal
Nov 15, 2023
While building their business, the Villarreals have been just as busy building community.
read post2023 William C. Frye Award Recipient - Ted and Mary Kellner
Nov 15, 2023
The couple has spent the past 40-plus years channeling their passions and skills toward improving nearly every major nonprofit and civic entity in Milwaukee.
read post2023 Jackie Herd-Barber Award - Kristen Hardy
Sep 1, 2023
Kristen Hardy receives 2023 Jackie Herd-Barber Award.
read post2023 Outstanding Professional Adviser of the Year - Maureen O’Leary-Guth
Sep 1, 2023
Maureen O’Leary-Guth named as 2023 Outstanding Professional Adviser of the Year.
read post2022 Greater Together Award recipients
2022 William C. Frye Award Recipient - Ralph Hollmon
Nov 1, 2022
Through lifetime of service, Hollmon has addressed Milwaukee’s issues in holistic way
read post2022 Frank Kirkpatrick Award Recipient - Keith Stanley
Nov 1, 2022
Stanley’s dynamic leadership propels ongoing revitalization of Milwaukee’s ‘neighborhood of neighborhoods’
read post2022 President’s Award for Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Recipient - José Olivieri
Nov 1, 2022
Olivieri, through legal career and volunteer work, has opened the doors to opportunities for thousands in Latino community
read post2022 Doug Jansson Leadership Award Recipient - Lauren Feaster
Nov 1, 2022
Feaster creates spaces, opportunities for women in southeastern to succeed
read post2021 Greater Together Award recipients
2021 Doug Jansson Leadership Award Recipient - Carmen Pitre
Nov 1, 2021
If there is anyone who can help those women and children believe that it is true, it is Carmen Pitre, the nonprofit’s leader for nearly 21 years.
read post2021 William C. Frye Award Recipient - Virgis and Angela Colbert
Nov 1, 2021
To Virgis and Angela Colbert, there is no better way to invest in the future of a community than by investing in education.
read post2021 President’s Award for Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Recipient - Ness Flores
Nov 1, 2021
As a kid growing up in Rio Hondo, Texas, Ness Flores wanted to be a baseball player like his hero, the great Jackie Robinson. And while he loved baseball, he ended up going to bat for something else over the course of his professional career – advocating for the rights and protections of migrant farmworkers as an attorney.
read post2021 Frank Kirkpatrick Award Recipient - Mark Eppli
Nov 1, 2021
Over the past two decades, thanks in part to the vision of Mark Eppli, Milwaukee is making inroads toward addressing that disparity.
read post2020 Greater Together Award recipients
2020 Frank Kirkpatrick Award Recipient - Darryl Johnson
Nov 1, 2020
Darryl Johnson describes himself as a quiet leader. But the work that he has been able to accomplish over the past 17 years as executive director of Riverworks Development Corporation speaks volumes.
read post2020 Doug Jansson Leadership Award Recipient - Christine Nuemann-Ortiz
Nov 1, 2020
In Christine Neumann-Ortiz’s work as an organizer and activist over the years, no matter the number of successes achieved or series of struggles faced along the way, it’s always been about moving forward.
read post2020 President’s Award for Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Recipient - Dr. Jeanette Mitchell
Aug 1, 2020
Throughout Dr. Jeanette Mitchell’s career, which has spanned the philanthropic, corporate, nonprofit and education sectors, she was always intrigued about the idea of what made a good leader.
read post2020 William C. Frye Award Recipient - Ricardo Diaz
Nov 1, 0202
Ricardo Diaz believes that Milwaukee’s Latinx community is one of the city’s greatest assets. Over the past nearly 40 years, he has served as one of its biggest advocates.
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