04/18/2025
Congratulations to the Racine Zoo for receiving the 2025 Baird Center Gala Giveaway! 🎉
Racine Zoological Society wins $63k gala at Baird Center Gala will take place in spectacular Baird Ballroom on September 5, 2026
MILWAUKEE– (April 17, 2025)— Baird Center is excited to announce that the Racine Zoological Society is the recipient of the highly coveted 2025 Baird Center Gala Giveaway. An astounding 123 submissions flooded in when entry opened in January. This high number of outstanding submissions from the non-profit community resulted in the closest winning margin since the contest’s inception. "Choosing this year's Gala Giveaway winner was extremely difficult," Wisconsin Center District President and CEO Marty Brooks said. "The impact these charities have on the lives of people throughout our community cannot be understated and selecting just one from so many worthy entries is always a little bittersweet." The Racine Zoological Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operates the Racine Zoo. Since 1923, the organization has been committed to their mission of wildlife and land conservation, advocacy, education and offering an affordable wildlife experience for people of all ages. "Southeastern Wisconsin is full of amazing nonprofits that uplift our community, and the Racine Zoological Society is a perfect example,” Marty Brooks said. “They run a world-class zoo and bring conservation education and an appreciation for wildlife to people of all backgrounds. We are thrilled to award them this once-in-a-lifetime gala opportunity." The Racine Zoological Society is the third-ever recipient of Baird Center’s Gala Giveaway. The prize was first awarded in 2023 as a way to support and highlight Milwaukee-area nonprofits. The giveaway package includes a complimentary, all-expenses paid gala in the Baird Center’s breathtaking rooftop Baird Ballroom valued at $63,000.
This includes:
- Complimentary room rental of the stunning rooftop Baird Ballroom.
- Access to ample Pre-function space.
- Full use of the Baird Sky View Terrace, with sweeping views of the Milwaukee skyline.
- A chef-curated three-course menu for up to 500 guests.
- Two bottles of red and two bottles of white wine per table.
- Tables, chairs, linens and place settings.
- CTI audio visual credit for up to $15,000.
- Mutually agreed upon date in 2026 to host the gala.
Additionally, the Wisconsin Center District will devote 40 staff volunteer hours to the winning organization. “We are beyond excited to be the winners of the Baird Center Gala Giveaway,” Executive Director of the Racine Zoo Beth Heidorn said. “This amazing surprise gives us an incredible head start on our new capital campaign to fund two new important resources at the Racine Zoo. These projects will allow us to continue to give the best care to our animals and expand our ability to create positive and educational interactions between people and the natural world. The gala is going to be spectacular and we hope you all join us in 2026.” These events have proven to beneficial to the organizations and the community. For the inaugural gala giveaway, the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin broke a fundraising record at its gala, raising over $360,000.
First Stage, a Milwaukee theater company and nonprofit, will host its Make Believe Ball on April 19 after winning the giveaway in 2024.
Wisconsin Center District
Experience-obsessed and committed to creating unforgettable moments, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is a quasi-governmental entity that operates UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Miller High Life Theatre and Baird Center, which recently completed a $456m expansion and modernization that doubled the convention center’s size. The WCD venues are within walking distance of top hotels, and exciting retail establishments, attractions, dining and nightclubs. Created under Wisconsin State Statute in 1994, the WCD offers captivating and buzzworthy experiences, making Milwaukee a not-to-be-missed destination. For more information about the WCD, visit wcd.org.
Baird Center
Baird Center, located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, is the area’s premier location for meetings, conventions and events. With modern amenities and flexible spaces, Baird Center is ideal for trade and consumer shows, conventions, banquets, galas, weddings, business meetings and celebrations of all sizes.Baird Center recently completed an expansion and modernization to double the convention center’s size to 1.3 million square feet. The convention center offers 300,000 contiguous square feet of exhibit space, 52 meeting rooms, 22 loading docks and two ballrooms, including the stunning rooftop Baird Ballroom and adjacent Baird Sky View Terrace. Named as a 2025 Best Convention Center by Exhibitor Magazine, Baird Center is equipped with cutting-edge sustainability features, sensory rooms, nursing mother’s rooms, all-gender restrooms and the We Energies Foundation Art Collection. Baird Center is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Center District (WCD). For more information and to book an event, visit www.bairdcenter.com.
Racine Zoological Society
The mission of the Racine Zoological Society is to foster an enlightening and affordable wildlife experience that improves the bond between people and nature through their operation of the Racine Zoo. Nestled along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, the Racine Zoo is open year-round. For more information on the Racine Zoo, its programs and events, visit www.racinezoo.org, call 262.636.9189 and find us on Facebook and Twitter, and Instagram.
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