The Bartolotta Restaurants Announces Partnership with Courage MKE For 2020 Annual Gala Fundraiser

Care-a-lotta, the charitable arm of The Bartolotta Restaurants has selected Courage MKE as their partner for their upcoming gala in 2020 intended to raise awareness and funds for the local non-profit. The sixth annual Gala-lotta will be held at The Italian Community Center in 2020 with the date yet to be decided. Care-a-lotta will host the fully-funded gala which will be completely staffed by Bartolotta employees so that all money raised at the event can go directly to the nonprofit organization.

With a presence in the Milwaukee market for over 25 years, The Bartolotta Restaurants has made charitable giving a priority specifically for organizations that are local. For the 2020 Gala-lotta, the restaurant group received over 60 applications and selected Courage MKE based on their mission to provide resources for the LGBTQ+ youth community in Milwaukee. 

Co-Founder & Executive Director at Courage MKE, Brad Schlaikowski expressed his excitement saying, "We are so honored to have been chosen for this partnership with Bartolotta's 2020 Gala-lotta. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to work with an organization that continues to support our communities through their philanthropy. This gala will allow us to open future Courage Houses and continue our mission of making safe and caring spaces for displaced LGBTQ+ youth here in Southeastern Wisconsin.”

The gala is to be held in the fall of 2020 and 100% of proceeds raised will benefit Courage MKE. Care-a-lotta Director, Jennifer Bartolotta shared, “Each year, our goal is to ‘move their needle’ by aligning with an organization where we can effectively leverage our brand to raise awareness, friends and funds for our partner.  Our board has a strong commitment to identifying and partnering with organizations whose missions are deeply rooted in lifting individuals.  At our very core lies the essential human need to feel like we matter, when we believe that we matter, hope is restored and it is hope that fuels our human spirit.  Courage MKE’s mission to shelter and lift our homeless LGBTQ+ youth is perfectly aligned with our mission and we look forward to partnering with them next year.”

Further details related to the 2020 Gala-lotta event, including the date and time, will be released as they become available. The 2019 Gala-lotta partner, Running Rebels will hold their Gala on Thursday, September 26 at the Italian Community Center. Tickets are available for purchase: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/running-rebel-community-organization-epic-gala-lotta-tickets-58389009098 

 

About The Bartolotta Restaurants

The Bartolotta Restaurants is the premier restaurant group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin co-owned by brothers Joe and Paul Bartolotta. Joe is the president of the company and Paul is a two-time James Beard Foundation award-winning chef. Their first restaurant, Ristorante Bartolotta, opened in 1993 and today the group operates 15 restaurants and catering facilities including six fine dining establishments, two upscale casual concepts, two upscale food courts, a pizzeria, and four exclusive catering facilities. In addition, the company has an operating agreement with three quick-casual restaurants in the Milwaukee airport. 

 

About Courage MKE 

Courage MKE fuels a collaborative movement to provide the resources LGBTQ+ youth need to thrive. We are a diverse group of allies and members of Milwaukee's LGBTQ+ community who are raising funds and awareness for LGBTQ+ youth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  We are ensuring that they have the skills, tools, and resources needed to grow into successful leaders in their communities. We are working to open and sustain The Courage House: a drop-in home with onsite support for LGBTQ+ youth that have suffered mental or physical abuse, have no means to support themselves, and/or need a place to temporarily call home.  https://www.couragemke.org/