Mothers' Milk Bank WGL entrance

Support our future

A capital fundraising effort to support our new state-of-the-art facility and improve the lives of babies and their families across Wisconsin and Illinois.

What your gift makes possible

Your generous gift helps fund our work to increase access to donor milk, support bereaved families, and advance human milk research. As the only nonprofit milk bank serving Illinois and Wisconsin, we are proud to help meet a vital need.

If your contribution is made in honor or memory of someone special, please include a message with your donation. For additional details or questions, please contact info@milkbankwgl.org. We appreciate your support!

Charity Care

Charity Care helps families access donor milk when cost is a barrier. Since 2016, Milk Bank WGL has awarded more than $600,000 in free or reduced-cost donor milk to local families. This program supports NICU graduates, babies awaiting organ transplants, and pediatric patients with serious medical conditions.

Access Donor Milk Program

The Access Donor Milk Program helps hospitals make donor milk available to more babies. Through significant discounts for safety-net hospitals and education for our 90+ hospital partners, Milk Bank WGL works to reduce disparities, promote health equity, and expand access to donor milk to patients in need.

Poppy’s Dream Bereavement Memorial Program

We support families that choose to donate milk after the loss of a baby. Each baby’s name is hand-painted on a star displayed in our Poppy’s Dream Community Room, creating a lasting tribute to their life and legacy. Private gatherings and our annual candle-lighting ceremony provide ongoing support for grieving families.

We are grateful to the Babinski Family, Melinda’s Pixie Dust Foundation, and every financial donor who supports this meaningful program.

The Center for Research, Safety & Innovation

The Center for Research, Safety & Innovation strengthens the science behind safe donor milk. Established in 2020, the Center brings research, technology, and advanced microbiology testing to Milk Bank WGL. In 2024, support from Medela funded the Human Milk Research Laboratory at our new state-of-the-art processing facility.
Why Support

Building Our Future Campaign

With the opening of our new FDA-registered headquarters in Elk Grove Village, Milk Bank WGL is able to serve more babies, support more families, and strengthen the future of nonprofit milk banking.

The Building Our Future Campaign gives financial donors a meaningful way to invest in that future. Your gift helps expand the capacity, technology, and infrastructure needed to operate one of the largest nonprofit milk banks in the world, while advancing our commitment to safety, science, service, and health equity.

Every ounce of donor milk begins with generosity. Every gift to this campaign helps that generosity go further.

Please join us by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Building Our Future Campaign. Your investment in Milk Bank WGL’s future is an investment in the babies and families we serve.

Mother with newborn in NICU
Close-up little hand of child baby holding hand of mother.
Parents visiting newborn in NICU

Donor recognition

Your generosity helps Milk Bank WGL serve more babies, support more families, and build a stronger future for nonprofit milk banking. We are honored to recognize financial donors who make this work possible.

To discuss pledge options, please contact Program Manager Susan Dillon at (847) 262-5134 or susan@milkbankwgl.org; or Philanthropic Advisor Jennifer Moran at (773) 742-7846 or jmoran@hudsonadvisorsllc.com. Gifts of $5,000 or more may be fulfilled over more than one calendar year.

$10,000 Contribution

Recognition for your $10,000 gift includes:

  • Your name permanently inscribed on a custom donor recognition plaque prominently featured in Milk Bank WGL’s lobby.

  • An invitation for six (6) to a cocktail reception with other philanthropists hosted in a stunning private residence located steps from the Magnificent Mile.

  • Your name robustly highlighted within Milk Bank WGL’s local and national marketing efforts including its: traditional and social media placements; web presence; annual report; and communications distributed at community events and to 200 organizations, including 90 hospital partners.

  • An elegant, personalized framed gift commemorating your impact.
  • Your inclusion in recognition at local and national events and conferences attended by Milk Bank WGL’s leadership.

$7,500 Contribution

Recognition for your $7,500 gift includes:

  • Your name permanently inscribed on a custom donor recognition plaque prominently featured in Milk Bank WGL’s lobby.

  • An invitation for two (2) to a cocktail reception with other philanthropists hosted in a stunning private residence located steps from the Magnificent Mile.

  • Your name robustly highlighted within Milk Bank WGL’s local and national marketing efforts including its: traditional and social media placements; web presence; annual report; and communications distributed at community events and to 200 organizations, including 90 hospital partners.

  • Your inclusion in recognition at local and national events and conferences attended by Milk Bank WGL’s leadership.

$5,000 Contribution

Recognition for your $5,000 gift includes:

  • Your name permanently inscribed on a custom donor recognition plaque prominently featured in Milk Bank WGL’s lobby.

  • Your name highlighted within Milk Bank WGL’s local and national marketing efforts including its web presence and Annual Report.

$1,000 Contribution

Recognition for your $1,000 gift includes:

  • Your name permanently inscribed on the Building Our Future Campaign’s prominent commemorative plaque featured in Milk Bank WGL’s new Lobby.
  • Your name highlighted within Milk Bank WGL’s local and national marketing efforts including its web presence and Annual Report.

$500 Contribution

Recognition for your $500 gift includes:

  • Your name highlighted within Milk Bank WGL’s web presence and Annual Report.

All other contributions

  • For gifts of $100 or greater, your name positioned within Milk Bank WGL’s Annual Report.

  • Milk Bank WGL is deeply thankful for gifts of any amount and is pleased to provide prompt and proper documentation surrounding your charitable tax deduction.

We greatly appreciate

your support!

For information about corporate sponsorships and space naming opportunities, please contact:

Summer Kelly, Executive Director
(847) 262-5134
summer@milkbankwgl.org

or

Jennifer Moran, Philanthropic Advisor
(773) 742-7846
jmoran@hudsonadvisorsllc.com

Recognition

Building Our Future Campaign supporters

Milk Bank WGL gratefully acknowledges the following supporters:

Lead Sponsors

  • Dr. Pamela & Steven Adelman

  • Medela
  • U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    Congressionally Directed Spending Award

  • Illinois State Senator Laura Murphy
    Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
    Build Illinois Bond Fund

  • Scott & Marissa Grossenbach Foundation

Major Supporters

  • Harvest

  • IMEC

  • Jancy Yensea Liu & John Caron

Benefactors

  • Poppy Babinski’s Family
  • Ann E. Conway, RN, MS, MPA
  • Marissa & Scott Grossenbach
  • Bonnie & Richard Grossenbach
  • Kevin Hoey, RPh and Janell Rawson Hoey
  • ICG Chicago and Michael Hawryluk
  • This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
  • Katherine Mowen, MAcc
  • MREE Family Foundation
  • Jequeatta Upton Smith, MPH
  • Dr. Krystal Sodaitis
  • Everett Weidner’s Family
  • Wisconsin Association of Lactation Consultants

Contributors

  • Anita Andrews-Hutchinson
  • Colleen & Jeff Baader
  • In loving memory of Zach, Lisa and Andy Davidson
  • DDCA Architects
  • Jim & Andrew Devine
  • Direct Steel and Construction
  • Elena’s Parents: Maya & Cameron
  • Hitachi High-Tech America, Inc.
  • Hudson Advisors, LLC
  • Summer & Rich Kelly
  • Patrick & Jeremy Macklin
  • Cori Maloney
  • Maura McDonald, BSN, RN
  • Al & Marcela Mejia
  • Northern Illinois Lactation Consultant Association (NILCA)
  • Jack Orth
  • Karen & Daniel O’Toole
  • Brian Rebel
  • Susie and Rick Rieser
  • Maurice Rosefelt Memorial Fund and Dr. Anne Eglash, MD, IBCLC, FABM
  • Shawn K. Woods & Associates
  • Susan Lampert Smith
  • David Solow and Erin Yancey
  • TJ HR Consulting
  • David and Veronica Vucovich

Friends

  • David Grumhaus
  • Dr. Maryanne and John Mowen
  • Maria and Robert Peterson

Matching Gifts

  • Abbvie
  • Bank of America
  • Google
  • GTCR