Each year, the team at Magellan Promotions gets involved with GivingTuesday by donating to causes and charities that we find important. In addition to the individual donations, Magellan generously matched each gift. This year the team reached a new record for a total of $4,850 in donations to 19 different organizations across the nation. Here’s a look at a few we supported and why they are important to us.
Coral Restoration Foundation
Supported by Ryan
The Coral Restoration Foundation is the largest reef restoration organization in the world. It is headquartered in Key Largo, FL and was founded in response to the wide-spread loss of coral species on Florida’s coral reef due to disease, heat stress, pollution, development, hurricanes, and damage from boats. Florida’s coral reef runs from north of Miami down to Key West and is the third largest barrier reef in the world. Unfortunately, Florida’s coral reef now hosts just two percent of the populations of the once-dominant staghorn and elkhorn coral that it had in the 1970’s and are now listed as “Critically Endangered”. The Coral Restoration Foundation actively restores coral reefs and educates others on the importance of our oceans and coral reefs.
I donated to the Coral Restoration Foundation because, as a regular visitor to the Florida Keys, I learned of the dire situation facing Florida’s coral reefs. I am passionate about the world’s oceans, and, in particular, the Florida Keys so this is a project that is very important to me. I also think it’s important to educate others on the importance of coral reefs and the role they play in the ecosystem and in our lives.
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Supported by Dan
My wife and I chose to support Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin again in honor of my father-in-law who continues to donate to them as well. Since 1986, Second Harvest has provided nearly 241 million meals to the communities we support. Donations and volunteers have helped supply 26.9 million pounds of food in 2024, 53% of which was fresh produce, dairy, or high-protein foods. There is always a need for this basic necessity among those who are less fortunate, so we are happy to continue our support for this essential cause and organization especially during this season of giving.
Living Lands & Waters
Supported by Justin
Living Lands & Waters is on a mission to clean up America’s waterways. Since their creation, their team and over 130,000 volunteers have removed over 13.5 million pounds of trash from waterways that feed into our oceans. Spending up to 9 months a year living and traveling on a barge, the crew hosts river cleanups, watershed conservation initiatives, workshops, tree plantings and other key conservation efforts. I’ve been able to join them in Memphis, TN for the last few years and the positive impact they have on local communities and those that volunteer with them is inspiring!
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Supported by Alyssa
I chose to support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation this year. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. It’s amazing to see the progress made in the past few decades with new medicines and treatments for these diseases. Our support will help fund research into even better treatments and hopefully a cure one day!
WUWM is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station that has broadcasted in Milwaukee for 60 years. It is owned and operated by the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. This is my ‘go to’ source for local, national and international news. It is always on in my car and I really appreciate their reporting. Also, our company runs the merch for their donation campaigns, so we enjoy supporting them as well!
The Ridge Community Church
Supported by Cassi
This year I chose to donate to my church’s annual Live Big Campaign because of the huge impact they make in our community. For a season, the Live Big campaign gives 100% of proceeds raised as well as volunteer hours to vetted local nonprofits in the Milwaukee community. Last year, the Ridge helped 23 different nonprofits, including school districts, rebuilding neighborhoods, programs that focus on keeping kids warm, safe, and fed, and many more. Last year they raised over $390,000 to pour back into the community and were excited to be a part of the campaign!
Rescue Gang
Supported by Hannah
I chose to support Rescue Gang, a non-profit organization in the Milwaukee area focused on helping pups in need find their forever homes. Their dogs come from shelters in the south (mostly Texas) where they are in danger of euthanasia. They have an extensive network of volunteers who make this possible. I think they are doing great work to rehabilitate and find loving homes for these abandoned animals. My sister recently adopted her sweet puppy Phoebe from Rescue Gang.
Roots Ethiopia
Supported by Michael
My wife and I adopted both of our boys from Ethiopia, so the country is close to our family’s heart. The organizers of Roots Ethiopia adopted children from Ethiopia as well and have the same goals that we have for families living in rural Ethiopia. We have seen and learned about the importance of their mission of supporting children getting an education and women having opportunities to be independent through means of work. Our family is excited to support these goals.
Elgin Community College Foundation
Supported by Michael
To be a bit overdramatic, I would not be who I am without the support of Elgin Community College. The story is, my dad, John Wolaver, struggled in high school, to the degree his grades could not get him into community college. However Elgin took a chance on him, putting him on a strict program without any wiggle room. He buckled down, got through the program, was able to transfer to Eastern Illinois, where he flourished and met my mom. He had a long successful professional career. But without the support from Elgin Community College, his story (and mine) would have been very different. So I wanted to support their foundation to continue to support the next generation of professionals.