2020 YEAR in REVIEW a Letter from Our President and CEO in 2020, Every American Faced Once Unfathomable Challenges
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2020 YEAR IN REVIEW A Letter from Our President and CEO In 2020, every American faced once unfathomable challenges. Among the daunting list: parents struggled to work and homeschool, front line workers responded to the incessant demands of COVID, and scores of businesses made the painstaking decision to close for good. All of us relinquished a normal day-to-day life. The pandemic’s effects spared no one and were exacerbated by a polarizing election, social unrest that resulted in rioting and destruction, and a dangerous movement to “cancel culture.” While the events of the year fueled an already growing unease about the state of our union, America’s history reminds us that we’ve overcome seemingly insurmountable crises before, only to emerge stronger. Woven into the fabric of the country’s past are countless examples of the unbreakable spirit, gritty determination and boundless optimism that have come to define what it means to be American. I’ve often found inspiration in one such example, which is the remarkable story of Lynde and Harry Bradley, the namesakes of this Foundation. It took decades of trials and tribulations before the Bradley brothers turned their idea to improve controllers that regulate motor speed into a modestly successful manufacturing company in the late 1920s. Then the Great Depression hit. In less than two years, sales dropped more than 40 percent and their company’s survival was in doubt. Bradley Brothers “We were absolutely out of cash, the money we had saved was gone long ago, and the banks were deaf to all our entreaties,” wrote Harry Bradley. They tried to keep employment stable but were eventually forced to make significant layoffs and deep pay cuts, including to their own salaries. Their beloved company Christmas party and picnic were also canceled. Yet the brothers persevered by shifting their focus to the development of new products that helped them turn the company around. The Allen-Bradley Company grew to become one of the most successful businesses in the country and its former headquarters remains a Milwaukee icon. Lynde and Harry’s endeavors began a century ago, but their challenges bear striking similarities to the experiences of business owners struggling to survive the pandemic. 1 The Bradley brothers’ generosity to their employees and to the community is also emblematic of the American character. They deeply believed in the dignity of each person and that a good society was one in which co-workers and neighbors enjoyed a vibrant community life. The Bradley family’s philanthropy had and continues to have a lasting impact on the arts, culture, education, and civil society in the Milwaukee area and beyond. I share the Bradley story because it’s a poignant reminder that despite a pandemic and political divisiveness, America has endured difficult times before. Our country’s founding principles and “can do” outlook continue to make us a land of freedom and opportunity. Only in America can anyone turn an idea into a successful venture. Only in America can citizens fail time after time and then pick themselves up to try again. And nowhere else in the world are people as willing to volunteer their time, talents, and resources. The Bradley Foundation remains ever more committed to restoring, strengthening, and protecting the principles and institutions of American exceptionalism as we move forward into 2021. In the content ahead, you will see the groups who received the Foundation’s support last year. Their incredible work is reflective of our mission and I encourage you to learn more about them. I hope that in doing so, you too will be reminded of America’s resolve. Sincerely, Rick Graber, President & CEO, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation 2 Our Philanthropic Legacy In 1903, brothers Lynde and Harry Bradley launched an endeavor in Milwaukee that would have a profound impact on both the local community and the nation. Through ingenuity, hard work, risk-taking, and compassion, they built a business that eventually became the Allen-Bradley Company, a leading electronic and radio components manufacturer. In 1985, the Allen-Bradley Company was sold to Rockwell International. A portion of the proceeds of that sale provided the initial funding for The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Lynde and Harry Bradley believed in freedom and in the richness of community and culture that are the basis of a well-lived life. The Bradley Foundation seeks to further those beliefs by supporting the study, defense, and practice of the individual initiative and ordered liberty that lead to prosperity, strong families, and vibrant communities. So far, The Bradley Foundation has awarded over $1 billion in grants to almost 2,000 nonprofit organizations. This includes organizations supporting vibrant community life in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin, as well as organizations committed to preserving and defending the traditions of representative government and private enterprise that enable America to flourish. Our Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles Steadfastly adhering to the principles and examples of its namesakes, Lynde and Harry Bradley, The Bradley Foundation envisions a nation invigorated by the principles and institutions that uphold our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To further this vision, The Bradley Foundation pursues a mission to restore, strengthen, and protect the principles and institutions of American exceptionalism. The Foundation has articulated the following guiding principles to inform its grantmaking: • Fidelity to the Constitution, with its principles of limited government, federalism, separation of powers, and individual liberties; • Commitment to free markets that allow for private enterprise, entrepreneurship, and voluntary exchange within the rule of law; • Commitment to the fundamental institutions of civil society that cultivate individuals capable of self- governance; and • Dedication to the formation of informed and capable citizens. 3 Our People Board of Directors James Arthur Pope, Chairman Curt S. Culver President, Variety Wholesalers Chairman, MGIC Patrick J. English, Vice Chairman Robert P. George Chief Executive Officer and Chief 2005 Bradley Prize recipient Investment Officer, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Fiduciary Management, Inc. Director, James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University Cleta Mitchell, Secretary Richard Graber, James T. Barry III President and Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation The Barry Company Victor Davis Hanson Paul Clement 2008 Bradley Prize recipient Distinguished Lecturer in Law at the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow, Georgetown University Law Center and a Hoover Institution Senior Fellow of the Law Center’s Supreme Court Institute Reid Ribble Chief Executive Officer, National Roofing Terry Considine Contractors Association Chief Executive Officer, Air Communities Staff Richard Graber, Terri Famer, Vice President for Events President and Chief Executive Officer Ben Hannemann, Director of Marketing Carol Brick, Executive Assistant Christine Czernejeswski, Director of Communications and Outreach Carl Helstrom, Vice President for Programs Ingrid Gregg, Senior Program Director Stephen Langlois, Vice President for Finance, Alicia Manning, Senior Program Director Technology and Operations Jason Crye, Senior Program Officer Dionne King, Director of Operations Aaron Jakel, Program Officer Mark Rhode, Director of Finance Jamie Freier, Program Manager Christine Gadouas, Accountant William Bergeron, Librarian Kim Magnan, Director of Human Resources and Administrative Services Renee Krebs, Information Technology Manager Susan Millard, Office Assistant Leah Weiler, Administrative Services Coordinator 4 2020 Grants BENJAMIN RUSH INSTITUTE Grapevine, TX To support general operations .................. $75,000 BRIDGE BUILDERS Milwaukee, WI To support general operations ................. $20,000 CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER Washington, DC CIVIL SOCIETY To support general operations .................. $250,000 ABOVE THE CLOUDS CAPTAIN FREDERICK PABST MANSION Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI To support general operations .................. $15,000 To support general operations .................. $25,000 ACTON INSTITUTE FOR THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN STUDY OF RELIGION AND LIBERTY FOUNDATION Grand Rapids, MI Milwaukee, WI To support general operations .................. $150,000 To support a mental health fellowship program . $100,000 ACTS HOUSING CITY ON A HILL Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI To support general operations .................. $90,000 To support general operations ................. $75,000 ALMA CENTER COMMUNITY WAREHOUSE Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI To support general operations .................. $125,000 To support general operations .................. $125,000 AMERICA’S FUTURE FOUNDATION CONCORD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Washington, DC Milwaukee, WI To support general operations & Talent Market $200,000 To support general operations .................. $10,000 AURORA HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION CONVERGENCE RESOURCE CENTER Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI To support the Aurora Healing Center .......... $20,000 To support general operations .................. $50,000 BEL CANTO CHORUS OF MILWAUKEE COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL POLICY Franklin, WI Washington, DC To support general operations .................. $20,000 To support the Conservative Action Project and the Key Influencers Program .............. $75,000 5 DISCOVERY