09/15/2026
We all know that in Milwaukee, good food has the power to bring people together AND has the power to give back. Freshwater Food & W**e Festival is proud to support two incredible local organizations whose work is making a meaningful difference throughout our greater Milwaukee community: the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center Community Pantry and !
For more than 40 years, the Jewish Community Pantry has provided emergency food, dignity and hope to individuals and families facing food insecurity. In the past year alone, the Pantry served more than 25,000 people — half of them children, while continuing to provide critical resources and support to neighbors throughout Milwaukee.
Cooking for Kids Wisconsin harnesses the generosity and creativity of our culinary community to support Children’s Wisconsin, creating chef-driven experiences that turn a shared love of food into support for world-class care for children and families. In 2025 alone, the organization donated more than $20,000 to Children’s Wisconsin.
These missions could not feel more aligned with our mission of giving back. This festival is about celebrating extraordinary food and drink, but it is also about the people behind it, the community around it and what can happen when we gather around the table with purpose.
We’re incredibly proud to welcome both organizations as beneficiaries of our inaugural Freshwater Food & W**e Festival. Please visit the Freshwater Gives building to see the impressive lineup of silent auction items and don't forget, we'll have two original pieces painted by our Artist in Residence, !
