Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s celebration of a century continues

Milwaukee, Wis., Feb. 9, 2015 – Continuing its year-long presentation of Gifts to the Community, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation invites everyone to a free weekend of unique experiences at the Milwaukee Art Museum in February, featuring unlimited access to the new, special exhibition Inspiring Beauty: 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair, which showcases over 80 ensembles from 60 of the world’s most famous designers, representing 17 countries.

“Ebony Fashion Fair, and the pioneering work of Eunice Johnson as its director and producer, tore down barriers between high fashion and the broader community, particularly for African-American women,” said Ellen Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “The Milwaukee Art Museum’s importance in our region and this exhibition’s significance in our history make this gift of access a truly wonderful opportunity to come together as a community.”

Admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum and Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair will be free to everyone on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. No reservations are required.

While the main galleries of the museum are undergoing renovations, a variety of special activities will be taking place throughout the Quadracci Pavilion and adjacent spaces:

  • Do-it-yourself fashion activities and crafts for all ages
  • A fashion runway in Windhover Hall for guests to model their DIY creations
  • Museum volunteers stationed throughout the Inspiring Beauty exhibition to provide information and answer questions
  • Opportunities to meet Camille Morgan, guest organizing curator for Inspiring Beauty
  • Screenings of Ebony Fashion Fair, runway shows and fashion-focused films in the Lubar Auditorium
  • Special programming for kids
  • Showcase of student art from the Scholastic Art Awards-Wisconsin
  • All guests will receive a voucher to return to the museum for half-price in 2016, following the reinstallation of the collection galleries.

Donors of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation have a strong history of supporting the Milwaukee Art Museum. In the last three decades, the Foundation and its donors have provided more than $10 million in grants to MAM.

“The generosity of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and its community of donors has benefited Milwaukee organizations for a century,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “Their ongoing commitment to education, the arts, our neighborhoods and its citizens, has contributed greatly to Milwaukee’s vitality and quality of life. We are deeply grateful for GMF’s investment in this special, free access weekend to the Milwaukee Art Museum.”

February’s Gift to the Community is the second this year offered in honor of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s centennial. These unique experiences showcase the people, places and opportunities that make greater Milwaukee special. New gifts are being revealed each month on FOX 6 Milwaukee.

In January, for the first Gift to the Community, 26,737 people enjoyed a free, all-access weekend at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Details about the February Gift to the Community are available at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/gifts and at mam.org/calendar.

Learn more about the 100-year history of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/timeline.

About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation


For a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,200 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region.

Started in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world. With a total asset base of more than $847 million, it is also among the largest.