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GREATER MILWAUKEE CHAPTER

Support Children's Book Ownership Today!

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Bernie’s Book Bank is a 501 (c) (3) organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. I.R.S. Exemption No/EIN: 27-0914453, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Please keep your receipt as your official record. We'll email it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

Now serving 20,000+ local children every year.

Since 2019, Bernie's Book Bank has served the Greater Milwaukee area. In the 2024-2025 academic year local children attending 60 Title 1 schools and early childhood programs will receive 160,000 free, age-appropriate, high-interest, and culturally relevant books.

Measurable Impact:
A recent 5-year Randomized Control Trial was conducted in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools and Bernie’s Book Bank. The report concluded a statistically significant impact on student reading achievement, as well as positive impacts on related outcomes. Even better, the effect appears to grow over time.

Current counties served: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha.

Your support can have a meaningful impact in Greater Milwaukee. Get Involved.

GIVING TREE SOCIETY
VIRTUAL BOOK DRIVE
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Double Your Impact, Thanks to an Inaugural Matching Gift Made in Honor of Herbert V. Kohler, Jr.

This initial gift of $500,000 will be used to source books for the 20,000 children currently being served by Bernie’s Book Bank in qualifying Milwaukee Public Schools. As part of this commitment, the investment includes a matching gift component of an additional $500,000 once Bernie’s Book Bank raises $1 million in new funding for its Greater Milwaukee efforts. Make a gift today >

Get to know the team behind the Greater Milwaukee Chapter.

Meet Jenna: Executive Director, Greater Milwaukee.

As a part of national expansion plans, Bernie’s Book Bank recently announced the appointment of Jenna Renno as Executive Director of Bernie’s Book Bank Greater Milwaukee. This is a big step forward for Bernie’s Book Bank as it looks to build upon its success in Chicagoland and expand nationally. Read more >

Looking for more ways to get involved? Join us in our mission of children's book ownership.

CONTACT JENNA

The passionate and dedicated members of the Greater Milwaukee Task Force.

Geoff Surkamer (National Board, Local Lead)
Chief Executive Officer at MSI Data

Brian Adamson
Managing Partner at ICAP Development

Warren Corrado
Market Development Manager at Hellerman Tyton North American

Chuck Edwards
Retired Executive with Lenze Americas and Rockwell Automation

Joe Rock
Managing Partner at KPMG Milwaukee