community partnerships

STATE ASSOCIATION & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION GRANT PROGRAM

Since 2012, the Wisconsin Beverage Association (WBA) has partnered with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) to invest in statewide health, active living, and environmental sustainability efforts.

By providing matching grant support and leveraging grassroots partnerships, the WBA & ABFHA partnership has funded targeted initiatives ranging from youth fitness programs and urban agriculture to public recycling pilots and community nutrition networks.  The following timeline outlines the evolution and impact of these collaborative initiatives over more than a decade of community investment.

2012

GROW YOUR FUTURE: The WBA partnered with local beverage companies, the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee, and the Medical College of Wisconsin to launch “Grow Your Future”—a 12-week summer youth program combining nutrition and physical activity education with practical business skill development.

2013

HEALTHY AMERICA FAMILY CHALLENGE: The WBA and local bottlers partnered with the Green Bay Boys and Girls Club to host the “Healthy America Family Challenge,” an open gym and nutrition-focused program designed to promote active, healthy lifestyles for Green Bay families.

PUBLIC SPACE RECYCLING PILOT: The WBA joined forces with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin to launch a sustainability initiative that repurposed 55-gallon plastic syrup barrels into outdoor recycling receptacles, boosting plastic recycling in public away-from-home spaces. Local bottlers distributed over 340 recycling barrels across five county fairgrounds (during summer/fall event seasons) and five local schools.

2014

SEED TO TABLE: The WBA and Madison-area bottlers partnered with the Goodman Community Center to expand its “Seed to Table” program, delivering hands-on education in urban agriculture, culinary arts, food processing, and fitness to more than 250 middle school students and their families.

2024

YOUTH INTRAMURAL SOCCER PROGRAM: The WBA and local bottlers partnered with La Casa De Esperanza Charter School to launch a youth intramural soccer program, promoting active living for around 280 K–8 students across Waukesha and Milwaukee.

2025

KINSHIP MKE WELLNESS PROGRAM: The WBA and local beverage companies partnered with Kinship MKE to expand a holistic wellness program targeting food insecurity in Milwaukee’s Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods through nutrition, education, and social connection. The program supports approximately 4,000 individuals annually.

Learn more about the STATE ASSOCIATION AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION GRANT PROGRAM here.

HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AWARDS

In partnership with The U.S. Conference of Mayors since 2012, the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) has provided funding to mayors in numerous cities across the country to support programs that address childhood obesity, environmental health and sustainability by encouraging community members to engage in healthier behaviors.

Wisconsin award recipients are:

FIT YOUTH INITIATIVE (2019): The City of Madison received a grant for the Goodman Community Center to expand youth access to club-based recreation in schools and community centers, healthy meals and snacks through the TEENworks youth employment training program, and the Garden Fit Program, which combines gardening, cooking and active outdoor options into a hands-on youth program.

ACTIVE SCHOOLS: CORE 4+ (2015): The City of Green Bay received a grant for Live54218 (now Wello) to expand Active Schools: Core 4+, a set of five school-related interventions to students throughout Green Bay.

Learn more about HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES AWARDS here.