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Whitewater, WI, August 22nd, 2024 — Bethel House is seeking sponsorships for its annual Farm & Vine to Table Fall Dinner, which will be hosted this year on Friday, November 1st, at Staller Estate Winery & Vineyard.
“Our organization is so excited to once again host our Annual Fall Dinner at Staller Estate Winery & Vineyard,” states Megan Hartwick, Bethel House Executive Director. “This beautiful event serves as the primary fundraiser for Bethel House, providing crucial funding support for our organizational operations and our Emergency Assistance & Transitional Housing programs.” The 2024 event will also celebrate Bethel House's 30th anniversary. “Last year’s event was the most successful Fall Dinner Bethel House has hosted, raising just over $27,000,” Hartwick adds. “This year, in honor of our milestone anniversary, we have set a very lofty goal to raise $30,000. And the way this community has always shown up for Bethel House and the families we serve, has me confident we can reach that.” Confirmed sponsors for this year’s event include Bernie & Nancy Labovitch (Humanitarian Hero sponsor - $5,000), First Citizens State Bank, Sue & Ken Kidd and First English Lutheran Church (Community Investor sponsors - $3,000), Richard & Veronica Telfer, Bob & Sharon McCullough, Everett & Ellen Long, Harry & Barb Penington and Carole Scharinger (Family Advocate sponsors - $1,000), and Kent Hutchins (Hope Builder sponsor - $500). The remaining sponsorships include one Community Investor, one Family Advocate, and five Hope Builders. Each level offers various recognition benefits, with full details available on the Bethel House website at www.bethelhouseinc.org. Sponsorship slots can be confirmed by contacting Hartwick at 262.473.2715 or [email protected]. Sponsorships will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. The event is also supported by in-kind donations from Staller Estate Winery & Vineyard, Sue & Bill Chandler, Tom Ganser, and dozens of local business donors who have contributed to the silent auction. “The generosity of Bethel House donors and supporters knows no bounds,” states Jessie Dugan, Bethel House Board President. “We are so appreciative of all who are extending financial support for this event, as well as all those who have contributed auction items, promoted ticket sales, and will be joining us on November 1st. Bethel House's impact on local families wouldn’t be possible without this show of caring power from our community.” Tickets for the Fall Dinner will be on sale starting Thursday, September 5th, and will remain open until October 18th or until sold out. Tickets for the event are $75 and include a five-course dinner with wine pairings chosen by the Staller Estate staff. There will also be live orchestral music and many silent auction items for guests to bid on. Tickets can be purchased online through the Bethel House website (www.bethelhouseinc.org), or individuals can contact Bethel House to pay via mail and check. “All proceeds from this event will support Bethel House's critical work to prevent homelessness for children and families in the greater Whitewater community,” Hartwick adds. “The needs in our community are at an all-time high, and our staff and board of directors never cease to be amazed at the rallying support of Bethel House donors when they know local families need assistance. Bethel House believes that all families deserve a safe, stable place to call home, and we’re so thankful to all those who aid us in that work.” Full event details can be found on the Bethel House website at www.bethelhouseinc.org. Any questions about the event can be directed to Hartwick at 262.473.2715 or [email protected]. Whitewater, WI, June 11, 2024 - Bethel House, a local ecumenical nonprofit organization focused on homelessness prevention, is celebrating 30 years of local service in 2024.
“For the past 30 years, Bethel House has provided unwavering support to prevent homelessness for children and families in the greater Whitewater area. As a small, grassroots nonprofit supported through the generosity of local individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations, Bethel House has epitomized the impact of the collective power of a community,” states Jessie Dugan, Bethel House Board Chair. “To celebrate these influential 30 years, we’ll reflect on who and what brought us here, highlight the strength of our critical work today, and look ahead to strategically plan how we can continue to support families for the next 30 years.” To honor this 30th anniversary year, Bethel House has released a video highlighting its local impact work, which can be found on its website at www.bethelhouseinc.org. The organization has also launched a new 30th Anniversary campaign donation page, with a goal to raise $3,000. “We are excited to launch our new campaign pages, providing donors an easy way to directly support different Bethel House initiatives,” states Megan Hartwick, Bethel House Executive Director. “We’ve set a goal of $3,000 for our 30th Anniversary, which we hope can be achieved by 100 community members donating $30 towards our mission.” The 30th Anniversary campaign donation page can be found at https://app.dvforms.net/api/dv/AR1eP or via the Bethel House website. Over the next six months, community members can also expect to see features on the organization’s founding members, quotes from current board members, and success stories from clients shared on the Bethel House social media pages. The organization will also release a new website later this summer to communicate its programs and support options more effectively. “We’re really eager to spend this 30th anniversary year better messaging our work, both to our supporters and potential new donors and to families who can benefit from our services,” adds Hartwick. “We look forward to recognizing the key stakeholders who have played a crucial role in developing the version of Bethel House we all know today and will share details about how our support is truly changing the lives of children and families in our community. We hope our communities learn more about what we do and consider lending their support through a donation and/or investing in our upcoming Fall Dinner fundraiser.” Coming off of a very successful 2nd Annual Spring Raffle Fundraiser, having increased fundraising efforts by over 40% from the 1st annual event, Bethel House leadership is focused on increasing fundraising levels for the annual Fall Dinner, setting a goal to raise $30,000 from the event to coincide with the milestone anniversary year. “The Bethel House Fall Dinner has become a critical fundraiser for our organization and is considered a must-attend event amongst our supporters,” Dugan states. “Last year’s event raised just over $27,000 to support our mission and local impact. Our event committee has set an ambitious goal to raise $30,000 at this year’s dinner, as we’re hopeful our already generous community of givers will lend additional support during this celebratory year.” The 2024 Fall Dinner will be held on Friday, November 1st, at 6pm at Staller Winery. Full details for sponsorship and ticket sales will be released later this summer. In addition to attending the Fall Dinner, community members can support Bethel House in a number of ways. The organization accepts donations for an in-office toiletry pantry and household and furniture items to help furnish its seven housing units. For specific needs at any given time or to coordinate the delivery of items, please contact the Bethel House Director of Case Management, Sydney Johnson, at [email protected] or by calling 262.473.2715. “While monetary donations keep our organization financially supported, and item donations help support the daily lives of our housed families, our organization is also always looking for volunteer support,” Hartwick states. “Volunteers provide invaluable support in helping prepare our houses for new children and families and turn them into furnished, comfortable places for them to call home. Those interested in lending a few hours for light cleaning, moving furniture, painting, and more can simply complete our online volunteer interest form to be added to our outreach list.” Those interested in volunteering can visit http://www.bethelhouseinc.org/volunteer.html to complete the online volunteer interest form. “Bethel House is honored to serve our communities and for the opportunity to help keep local families in their homes and their children stable in their schools,” Hartwick states. “Our programs are vital to the stability of many families in our community, and we are humbled by the generous investments that continue to be made in our mission. We hope that support continues to grow throughout this 30th anniversary year, allowing us to serve even more children and families.” For questions about Bethel Houses' anniversary, program offerings, or how to lend support, please contact [email protected] or 262.473.2715. Monetary donations can be mailed to 133 S. Franklin Street - Whitewater, WI 53190. Promotion of the 30th anniversary will continue throughout 2024. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bethel House is an ecumenical project that helps families facing homelessness in the Whitewater area. It provides transitional housing, emergency financial assistance, and case management to families in need. Bethel House utilizes seven private housing units where families can live for up to one year while working on the issues that led to their homelessness. Case management services include budgeting, debt repayment, job searching, resume creation and building, life skills and decision-making, accessing other community resources and services, and much more. Bethel House services are provided to clients free of charge and with understanding and compassion. Clients are always treated with the dignity and respect we all deserve. For more details, visit www.bethelhouseing.org or call 262.473.2715. ### Whitewater, WI, February 20, 2024 - Bethel House is seeking sponsorship support for its 2nd Annual Spring Raffle Fundraiser to be held in Whitewater on May 15th at 841 Brewhouse from 5:00-6:30pm.
“We launched this brand-new event last year and were so humbled by the success of it and the support and positive feedback we received,” states Megan Hartwick, Bethel House Executive Director. “Bethel House provides a critical lifeline to prevent homelessness for local children & families, and the need for our support continues to grow monthly. Fundraising events are a significant revenue source for our organization and provide invaluable funding to serve families who need us.” Three sponsorship levels are still available, ranging from $500 - $1,000, with varying sponsorship benefits associated with each level. “We are incredibly blessed to have already filled half of our sponsorship slots, with Bernie & Nancy Labovitch and Big Tex serving as our top Champion Sponsor, First Citizens State Bank committing to an Investor Sponsor slot, and Kent Hutchins serving as an Advocate Sponsor,” Hartwick states. One Hero Sponsor is being sought for $1,000, including the sponsor’s logo printed on all 500 raffle tickets, a primary logo on the event flyer, their name listed on event signage, a logo displayed on the Bethel House website, social media & press release mentions, and recognition at the event. One Investor Sponsor is being sought for $750, including a primary logo on the event flyer, their name listed on event signage, a logo displayed on the Bethel House website, social media & press release mentions, and recognition at the event. Lastly, one Advocate Sponsor is being sought for $500, including a secondary logo on the event flyer, their name listed on event signage, a logo displayed on the Bethel House website, social media & press release mentions, and recognition at the event. “We are so grateful for the continued, generous investments that local businesses, individuals, and organizations continue to make in our mission to keep local children and families safely housed,” Hartwick adds. “We are always eager to add new partners to our list of generous supporters!” Those interested in sponsoring the Spring Raffle can contact Hartwick at [email protected] or 262.473.2715. Sponsorships will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis until March 1st. “This year, Bethel House is celebrating 30 years of service in homelessness prevention in the greater Whitewater community, “ Hartwick states. “In a perfect world, our programs would not be needed. But the reality families are currently facing is that Bethel House support is needed now more than ever. Thank you in advance to all who are able to invest in our fundraising efforts, allowing us to continue our critical lifeline support for so many families.” The event will feature raffle tickets sold for $20 with five cash prize winners drawn at the event - $1,000 grand prize winner, $500, $250, and two $100 winners. Each ticket gains entry to the social hour event and covers one beverage. Appetizers will also be available for attendees; winners do not need to be present to win. A 50/50 raffle will also be shared at the event for those guests who choose to attend. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase beginning on March 11th. Those interested in purchasing tickets can contact Hartwick or visit the Bethel House website at www.bethelhouseinc.org after that date. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the First Citizens State Bank main branch at 207 W. Main Street in Whitewater or from any Bethel House board member. Any individuals, organizations, or businesses interested in helping sell tickets can contact Hartwick at [email protected]. “We are looking forward to another fun, social gathering with Bethel House supporters,” Hartwick adds. Full details of the fundraising event will be widely distributed in March. Whitewater, WI, June 13, 2023 - Bethel House has announced that Sydney Johnson has joined the organization as the new Director of Case Management Services. She officially started her position on June 5th. “Bethel House is so excited to have Sydney as a part of our team leading the charge on our case management and client services,” states Megan Hartwick, Bethel House Executive Director. “We’ve experienced a lot of staff transition over the past six months, and we’re eager to grow our services now that we are back up to full staffing capacity. Sydney is already proving to be a tremendous asset to our organization and all those families who contact us looking for support.” Johnson has her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Marian University and is currently working towards her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She previously served in a grant writing capacity with We EmpowHer and as a Case Manager with the Salvation Army of Fond du Lac. “The hiring committee and board of directors felt Sydney would be a great fit for Bethel House because of her authentic passion for serving and supporting others,” states Jessie Dugan, Bethel House Board President. “We were impressed by her work with both The Salvation Army and We EmpowHER organizations in Fond du Lac and her visible belief in working with the whole client with kindness, clear communication, and a generosity of spirit.” Working alongside Hartwick, Johnson will be responsible for overseeing Bethel House’s Emergency Assistance program and the Transitional Housing program, including all case management services provided to the housed families. “I am looking forward to being the go-to person for the Bethel House housed families to help provide them the resources and support they need to get back on their feet,” states Johnson. “After speaking with some community partners, it became apparent that there are a large number of homeless and low-income families in the Whitewater community, and I am eager to help bring educational resources & support to those who can benefit from it.” Johnson will serve in her capacity full-time and Hartwick will continue to serve in her part-time role. Bethel House will utilize summer open office hours from 8:30am-2pm Monday-Thursday through August, with other times available by appointment only. “The entire BOD is thankful for the Whitewater community as they've maintained support throughout these last few months of transition,” states Dugan. “Bethel House has been a mainstay of support in Whitewater for almost 30 years, and we could not be more excited to have Megan and Sydney securely at the helm for our future, already leading with optimism and enthusiasm.” For more information on the programs & services Bethel House provides, or to inquire about how you can support Bethel House, visit www.bethelhouseinc.org or contact 262.473.2715. Donation or administrative inquiries can be directed to Hartwick at [email protected] and case management inquiries can be sent to Johnson at [email protected].   We are so excited to host our 1st Annual Spring Raffle Fundraiser!
Wednesday, May 24th 5:00 - 6:30pm 841 Brewhouse - Whitewater, WI Raffle tickets are being sold for $20 and each ticket gains you admittance to the event, light appetizers and one beverage (house wine, domestic bottle, or soda/soft drink). A total of FIVE cash prize winners will be drawn: $1,000 grand prize $500 $250 (2) $100 Tickets can be purchased at First Citizens State Bank, from a Bethel House board member, by scanning the QR code above, or by clicking below. https://buy.stripe.com/14k8zq0794gT3p66oo SOLD OUT! THANK YOU WHITEWATER! Enjoy a four course dinner and wine pairing while supporting local families!  Dear friends and colleagues,
It is with both excitement and sadness that I announce my resignation as the Bethel House Executive Director. After 12+ years of serving the Whitewater community, I am looking forward to a new project and new growth. I have accepted a position at the Waukesha Salvation Army as their Director of Social Services and I am thrilled to offer my experience to help further their programs and serve those in need in Waukesha County. I started my position at Bethel House when I was 24, barely out of college, energetic and motivated, but also probably naïve and not sure what I was getting into. The first few years had a huge learning curve and I was determined not to let Bethel House down. I helped grow the mission of Bethel House, but it equally helped me grow as a person and a professional. I'm very proud of what we've accomplished over the years. Bethel House has expanded in its programming, outreach, staff, and structure. We've served hundreds of families in need and have been a model for other communities. We made it through the pandemic without closing or even scaling back services. I'm grateful that I was able to be involved in the beautiful and sacred work of Bethel House, meeting people in their suffering and offering hope. I have cared deeply about every client, every person's story of struggle and healing. It has been my deep honor to be entrusted with those stories and to have played a small part in them. I'm grateful that I was able to be part of this community and witness its generosity, energy, and creativity. This is a unique community full of really awesome people with really cool ideas. I have been inspired and awed by all of you dreamers and innovators. I am indebted to my Board of Directors, mentors, staff, and interns. You joined in the daily grind as we worked on this together, saw the hope of people but also the horrors of poverty (and there were many), overcame challenges, organized dozens of events, fundraisers, and initiatives, asked many people for money (still terrifying!), gave many speeches (even more terrifying!), wrote grants, wrote policy, made tough decisions, cried, laughed, ranted, and wondered. This work isn't for the faint of heart and I'm so thankful for each of you who were fearless enough to jump in. What we do matters! I will be working my usual hours through the month of September and then will be working very part-time until a new Executive Director is hired and trained. I'll still help with, and attend, the fall dinner fundraiser on Nov 11th. After that, with the approval of the board, I will be serving as an ex-officio Board Member. I will keep my email address for any Bethel House related things, so you can still email me at [email protected]. So I'm not fully leaving Bethel House entirely, just stepping down and moving to a different role! As we prepare for this transition, I ask you two things: 1. As we begin the search for the new Executive Director, please share this link for the job application to anyone in your network who might be a good fit: https://forms.gle/Hz4msr9ofFkhwawf8 Once they're hired, please welcome this new person warmly and give them the same wonderful compassion and grace that you have shown me. 2. Please continue to support Bethel House financially. Fundraising is a large task as we're supported by the local community 100% and this year has been difficult for nonprofits across the board. Bethel House will not exist long-term without financial support and this community needs Bethel House to be here. As a parting gift, please consider a financial donation, of any amount, so that Bethel House is in good shape for the future. Thank you all for your kindness over the past 12 years and I genuinely wish each of you well! Woohoo Bethel House! With love, Kristy Weinberg, MSW |
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