Ozaukee Impact Awards

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Bank Five Nine

Award Sponsor: Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Simplicity Foundation Fund

Certificate Sponsor: The Difference Principle

Sponsors of the Ozaukee Impact Awards play a key role in allowing this event to take place. As a sponsor, exposure and recognition are provided based on the level of support. For more information or questions regarding sponsorship, please email us at events@oznc.org

 

 

 

Nominations for the Ozaukee Impact Awards (to be held Wednesday, August 20, 2025) are now closed. Nominees have been selected in the award categories you see listed. Please scroll all the way through to review every category.

Those nominated are then contacted to complete a questionnaire. Their answers are considered by the judging committee. The judges’ decision is final. All eligible nominees will be acknowledged for their nomination, and winners will be announced at the Ozaukee Impact Awards.

Special consideration for the 2025 Impact Awards will be given to Ozaukee Nonprofit Center Member Organizations where applicable. Winners from the 2024 Ozaukee Impact Awards will not be eligible to receive the same award two years in a row but may be recognized in another category.

*PLEASE NOTE – awards are not based on the number of nominations.

We will present the following five awards for 2025:

• Community Collaboration of the Year: Recognizes two or more volunteer groups or nonprofit organizations that collaborated on a local initiative or project that made an impact within the community.
• Community Stewardship of the Year: Honors a corporation or business entity that has made a substantial impact in the community through monetary or in-kind donations, sponsorships, or employee volunteer programs.
• Nonprofit Emerging Leader of the Year: Recognizes an individual who is an early or mid-career nonprofit professional who demonstrates a strong sense of vision, passion, and commitment to the community.
• Nonprofit of the Year: Acknowledges an outstanding nonprofit organization for its service and mission-based success in 2024.
• Volunteer of the Year: A volunteer who consistently went above and beyond this year in lending their time and expertise to a nonprofit organization.

2025 Ozaukee Impact Awards Nominees:

Nonprofit Emerging Leader of the Year

Jake and Mitch Worzalla – Worzalla Brothers

Julia Sollazo – Schlitz Audubon Nature Center / Lions Club

Julie Hoover – Family Sharing of Ozaukee County

Martha Derocher – The Arts Mill

Martin Schmidt – Port Washington Main Street

Mya Masse – Partners with Paws Service Dogs

Sarah La Duke – Advocates of Ozaukee

Shannon McCann – Balance, Inc.

Tina Perry – Just Listen Inc.

 

Nonprofit of the Year

Cedarburg Friends of the Library

Family Sharing of Ozaukee County

Habitat for Humanity Ozaukee

Junior Woman’s Club of Mequon‑Thiensville

Ozaukee Family Services

Ozaukee Food Alliance

Riveredge Nature Center

 

Community Stewardship of the Year

Ansay and Associates, LLC, Ansay Development, Ansay International

Bloomin’ Olive, LLC

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce

H.Knox Development Co.

Orangetheory Fitness Mequon

Ozaukee County Department of Public Works

Port Washington Main Street

That Taco Guy, LLC

Worzalla Brothers

 

Volunteer of the Year

Allison DiCriscio – Guardians of the Children

Andy Normile – Habitat for Humanity Ozaukee

Cheri Hesse – Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge

Duane Helms – Feith Family YMCA

Mary Karnitz – Port Washington State Bank

Jim Meyer – Habitat for Humanity Ozaukee

John Sigwart – Greater Port Washington Kiwanis Club

Julia Sollazo – Mequon Nature Preserve, Inc / Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

Julie Shiff – Balance, Inc.

Kit Walters, Pat Fairchild and Jim Ravet – Riveredge Nature Center

Lori Steinbach – Riveredge Nature Center

Lorraine Halls – The Food Pantry, Inc. of Port Washington

Mark & Nancy Gierach – Ozaukee Food Alliance

Mary Ann Velnetske – Ozaukee County Historical Society

Ralph Luedtke – Port Washington Lions Club

Sommer Robinson – Ozaukee Family Services (United Way of Northern Ozaukee program)

 

Community Collaboration Award

Balance, Inc. and Happy Place Cooking Space

Community Services Navigator Program – Advocates of Ozaukee, Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center, Ozaukee County, Ozaukee Family Services, Sirona Recovery, and United Way of Northern Ozaukee

Family Promise of Ozaukee County and Kohler Credit Union

Forward Careers, Inc. and Kettle Moraine YMCA

Four Seasons – Special Olympics Ozaukee County, Blossom IDD, Happy Place Cooking Space, and the Blue Lotus Center

Ozaukee Homeless Coalition – Advocates of Ozaukee County, Balance, Inc., Center for Veterans Issues, Family Promise of Ozaukee County, Habitat for Humanity Ozaukee, Ozaukee County Human Services, Ozaukee Family Services, Ozaukee Food Alliance, Ozaukee County Sheriffs, Salvation Army, Saukville Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Ozaukee, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and United Way of Northern Ozaukee County