Making an impact locally in 2023

The Mad City Dream Homes team enjoys finding creative ways to support local businesses and nonprofits through client appreciation events and giveaways, articles on our blog, social media, and newsletters, in-kind marketing support, sponsorships, donations, and volunteer efforts. In 2023, we built upon the relationships formed over the years and made some new connections, too. 

As we reflect on another year of investing in the communities we serve, we wanted to highlight some of these organizations doing neat things in the Dane County area – from making memorable chocolates and art to creating safe, brave, and welcoming spaces for local citizens to thrive. 

We are proud members of the Monroe Street Merchants Association and love to frequent many of the nearby restaurants, coffee shops, and gift shops, as well as participate in and sponsor local events. 

Since a few of our team members are gluten-sensitive, we’ve especially appreciated picking up the vegan/GF cupcakes from Bloom Bake Shop for some of our meetings, as well as visiting Everly for both indoor and outdoor dining together as a team. Thank you to Madison Chocolate Company for helping us spread some sweet cheer to our clients with a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day! And when we’re looking for just the right card or gift, Orange Tree Imports just up the block always has what we need.

This year we also sponsored the Forward Marching Band to appear at the new Grow on Monroe Festival. And a special thanks to Monroe Street Arts Center for hosting sponsored artist Lilada Gee during the Monroe Street Festival to benefit Defending Black Girlhood, an organization we’ve enjoyed providing in-kind marketing support to over the last three years. 

We loved connecting with our clients at our appreciation events this year, including at the Forward Madison soccer game and Drumlin Ridge Winery this fall. Much gratitude to the folks at Just Bakery for whipping up 200 delicious pies as part of our annual “thank you” event just before Thanksgiving. As in past years, we also had fun mailing out gift certificates to the Dane County Farmers' Market and boxes of chocolate from Gail Ambrosius. 

We enjoyed participating in the Sharing Active Independent Lives vendor fair in June and talking with SAIL presenter Dr. Alexis Eastman to share some healthy aging and fall prevention tips this fall. We also had an opportunity to sponsor the 15th Annual Bike the Barns fundraiser for FairShare CSA Coalition and its Partner Shares Program, which provides farm-fresh food to every family through CSA.

It’s been a joy learning more about the initiatives of organizations through our community spotlight series, including GSAFE, Sustain Dane, Wild Harvest Nature Connection, and WayForward Resources. We look forward to providing more updates on The Center for Black Excellence and Culture as it gets closer to the finish line for a $36 million capital campaign to break ground on its building in 2024. 

Several of our team members also donate their time volunteering and serving on the boards and committees of local organizations, such as Czar’s Promise, the Foundation for Dane County Parks, OWN IT: Building Black Wealth, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Tyrol Basin Ski Patrol, and other friends groups.  

We’re also glad we could support the following local businesses and nonprofits through our monthly newsletter puzzle prizes: Madison Chocolate Company (January), Mystery to Me Bookstore (February and October), Garth’s Brew Bar (March), Friends of the Arboretum (April), Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream (May), Wingra Boats (June), Willy St. Co-Op (July), Mint Mark, Saigon Noodles, Oliva, Grampa’s Pizzeria, Heritage Tavern, Marigold Kitchen, La Brioche, Green Owl Cafe, Sardine, Mickies Dairy Bar (August), Enchanted Valley Acres (September), Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè, University Book Store, Kismet Books, Mimosa Books & Gifts, A Room of One’s Own, Frugal Muse (October), Underdog Pet Rescue, The Trevor Project, Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, Journey Mental Health Center (November). Thank you to everyone who participated! 

Several of the nonprofits we mentioned are holding end-of-year giving campaigns, including The Center’s $450,000 matching campaign to make each dollar go further, and food pantries like the one at WayForward Resources and The River are always in need of more non-perishable items. These organizations would appreciate any and all support – now and in 2024! 

A sincere thank you to all of the phenomenal humans who have shared their organization’s stories with me over the last six years. I’ve appreciated each and every one of you, and I also feel very grateful that Dan and the Mad City Dream Homes team have created a culture of generosity to be able to pursue this meaningful work and support our community in the process. 

Local organizations our team members support

Click the logos below to learn more about the nonprofits and community groups that we supported in 2023. 

Is there a local nonprofit or organization that is doing great things in our community but may need an extra boost to better fulfill its mission? We’d love to learn more about why you support that organization or how you think we might be a good fit to collaborate with them -- either through a nonprofit spotlight article on our blog and newsletter, a donation drive, volunteer event, sponsorship, or potentially another type of partnership. Share your idea with Amanda Verbrick at amanda@madcitydreamhomes.com.