MILWAUKEE -- There was no shortage of statistics to tell the story of the 2023 Brewers, from batting average and home runs to OPS, WAR and wOBAcon.
Here’s one more notable number: $4,218,466.
That’s the amount of revenue, according to the Brewers Community Foundation, raised throughout the year by the club’s charitable arm via events, programs, private and player donations and a slew of other initiatives out on the town. Every player gave money and/or time, the Brewers said, along with the Brewers Wives group, club investors and front-office employees.
The result was that more than 200 local organizations received funding from BCF, topped by $150,000 for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. The next-largest grants were $60,000 to LULAC Council (which advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans); $51,240 to Beckum-Stapleton Little League in Milwaukee’s inner core; $50,000 apiece to Milwaukee Film, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity and SHARP Literacy; and $40,000 to the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation.
Here’s more about the year of giving:
• Brewers Community Foundation has raised $55,332,465 since 2010.
• More than half of this year’s $4.2 million in revenue -- $2,767,966 -- was raised via BCF’s 50/50 Raffle. Half of that went back to the winners at each home game. The biggest prize was $38,553 during Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
• Through the Brewers Buddies program, 74,053 game tickets were donated to 170 organizations throughout the area.
• BCF, with Brewers alumnus Larry Hisle and CBS 58, collected 661 turkeys, 54,000 pounds of food and $2,337 in cash donations at the annual Thanksgiving “Drive Thru Food Drive” at American Family Field.
• BCF provided 26 Wisconsin-based students with scholarships, including the Allan H. Selig Scholarship Program.
• In addition to pet supplies, peanut butter, socks, hats, mittens and scarves, BCF collected more than $20,000 in cash donations from fans during the four “Drive for Charity” events at the ballpark in 2023.
Among the other groups that received support were the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County and Kenosha, Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, Gaps to Greatness, Hometown Heroes, Hope Network, Koos for Kids, Life Navigators, Little Warrior Foundation, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, ALS Association, Salvation Army, The Women’s Center and Wisconsin Educational Youth Development Foundation.
“I’m proud of the support we have generated throughout this season and all of 2023,” BCF executive director Cecelia Gore said. “These organizations place the highest priority on serving our local community and state of Wisconsin, and we are proud to continue our tradition of supporting them with our outreach efforts.”
More information about making a donation or filing a grand request is at Brewers.com/BCF.