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NATO of WISCONSIN & UPPER MICHIGAN
W168 N8936 Appleton Ave.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Phone: 262.532.0017
Fax: 262.532.0021
nato@natoofwiup.org
Community Projects
Since its inception in 1934, The National Association of Theatre Owners of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan has been a leader of charitable donations throughout the state. Typically going by our acronym, “NATO,” we have contributed several millions of dollars of charitable donations in the last twenty years. Chances are your life has in some way been affected by the philanthropy of Wisconsin’s theater owners. Here are a few of the contributions to the community NATO has made in recent years…
The NATO Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to employees of movie theaters planning to attend a postgraduate institution. Applicants are primarily judged on a creative writing essay and high school transcripts. Winners and their families are invited to an award ceremony at Noah’s Ark in the Dells. There, they receive their scholarship money ranging between $2,000.00 and $2,500.00 before spending the rest of the day enjoying the water rides!
The Variety the Children's Charity
"From its humble beginning, Variety has become an international organization with more than 10,000 members and 50 chapters in 14 countries. Collectively, Variety has raised more than $1 billion, reaching out heart-to-heart, hand-to-hand to children in need throughout the world. Variety is known as “the greatest children’s charity” because of its exemplarly mission . . . to help disabled and disadvantaged children lead more comfortable lives and grow up to be productive, self-sufficient adults.
VARIETY COMES TO WISCONSIN
In 1935, a group of businessmen, most of them with ties to show business, fanned a chapter of Variety in Milwaukee. Today it is known as Variety- the Children's Charity of Wisconsin, whose mission is to provide life-saving and life-enriching assistance to children challenged by physical and mental disabilities, poverty, abuse, and neglect. We couldn't possibly name all the people who have given so freely of their time, money, talents, and energy to help level the playing field for children facing major obstacles, but here is a list (not quite complete) of a few."
Variety Kids on the Go! aims to help kids gain mobility, confidence, freedom, independence and the chance to join in the life of their community by providing funding for walkers, wheelchairs, specially-designed adaptive bikes, strollers, prosthetic limbs and other devices to families with the most need. Below is a video of young Carissa receiving her specially designed bicycle through the generosity of Variety of Wisconsin:
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers
is the most meaningful charity supported by the motion picture industry. The Fund is now located in Los Angeles, California, and is dedicated to helping motion picture industry veterans who need aid in times of emergency or distress. In the past, Will Rogers has come to the financial aid of aging theater owners in Wisconsin as well as theater owners burdened by exorbitant medical charges.
The Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) is among the largest and most comprehensive AIDS service agencies in the country. They provide a vast array of health and social services to over 3,000 Wisconsin residents living with HIV disease. Through a wide variety of aggressive AIDS prevention programs, we make over 150,000 prevention contacts every year with people who are at risk for contracting HIV. Services provided by ARCW range from health and dental care, legal services, fair housing services, alcohol and drug treatment, food pantries and transportation assistance.
Children’s Outing Association is a Milwaukee-based youth program that provides opportunities for inner-city youth to attend summer camps and outdoor excursions otherwise unavailable to them. Additionally, they provide extra-curricular activities such as athletics and field trips, computers, arts and crafts, drama, creative writing, homework help, and a variety of special interest clubs.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are allocated annually by both the association and its individual members to other causes ranging from high school drama clubs, the construction of the Three Lakes Center for Fine Arts, museums, handicapped assistance programs, Multiple Sclerosis Societies and more. You can show your support to any of these institutions by clicking on their links (and maybe even donating) or by going out to see a movie tonight.
