Cheers for Generosity: More Than $634,000 Committed to 13 Local Ministries

More than 130 people gathered at Journeys Lutheran School on October 29, 2026, for Siebert Lutheran Foundation’s seventh annual Collaborators’ Event. Together, they pledged more than $434,000. This year, Siebert doubled its matching commitment to $200,000, bringing more than $634,000 to support thirteen Lutheran ministries, schools, and nonprofit organizations.

The evening left participants with a shared sense of possibility: we can do so much more when we bring our gifts together. As pledges came in, individual acts of generosity became a collective investment in neighbors and communities.

“God has blessed each of us with different gifts,” said Charlotte John-Gómez, Siebert’s president and CEO. “And when we bring those gifts together to serve our neighbors – we plant seeds of hope and love that God can grow in ways we may never imagine.”

Generosity That Built Momentum Attendees watched short videos introducing each ministry, then chose where to direct their support. Stories connected giving with real possibilities: healthcare for uninsured neighbors, support for men in recovery, food for families, and opportunities for young people to thrive.

Each time a grantee reached $15,000, a bell rang, and the room erupted in cheers and noisemakers. Every milestone became a shared celebration, building energy throughout the chapel and encouraging the next wave of generosity.

Hosting the event at Journeys Lutheran School also brought guests closer to one partner’s mission: individualized, Christ-centered education for students with unique learning needs.

Faith and Opportunity for a New Beginning New this year, the Matthew 25 Ministries category united the following four organizations serving people during incarceration and after release: Institutional Ministries, Project RETURN, Racine/Kenosha Vocational Ministry, and Wisconsin Inmate Education Association.

Derek, a graduate of Wisconsin Inmate Education Association’s degree program, shared how earning a degree and deepening his faith helped him prepare to return home.

“For the first time, I wasn’t just serving time,” he said. “I was preparing for the life I wanted when I got out.”

He also described the challenges of finding housing and meaningful employment after release, underscoring the need for continued support.

“I can’t change the 16 years I spent in prison,” Derek said. “But because people invested in me, I can change what I do with the years ahead.”

Young People Putting Faith into Action Sponsored student grant makers listened, considered community needs, and decided where to direct gifts entrusted to them. Participants represented Brookfield Lutheran Church, Hephatha Lutheran Church, Journeys Lutheran School, Wisconsin Lutheran High School, and Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Their participation brought another generation into the experience of Christian stewardship—and the joy of discovering what their decisions could make possible.

Thirteen Ministries, One Shared Purpose

This year’s funded partners are:

• All Peoples Gathering Lutheran Church

• Bread of Healing Clinic

• Center for Urban Teaching

• Christian Family Solutions

• Ebenezer Stone Ministries

• Institutional Ministries

• Journeys Lutheran School

• Lighthouse Youth Center

• LUMIN Schools

• Project RETURN

• Racine/Kenosha Vocational Ministry

• Serenity Inns

• Wisconsin Inmate Education Association

As Siebert approaches its seventy-fifth anniversary, this gathering carries forward its founder, Albert F. Siebert’s, commitment to spreading the Gospel and alleviating human suffering.

Thank you to everyone who gave, prayed, sponsored students, or joined the celebration. The bells marked fundraising milestones, but the energy they created reflected something lasting: a community discovering how much more we can accomplish together.

Save the date: November 4, 2027, at Journeys Lutheran School.