Ramaker welcomes you back as we share this season’s journey towards spreading some holiday cheer throughout our local communities.  Our 12 Days of Giving begin on December 6 and we have a lot planned this year!

Every holiday season, the team at Ramaker reflects internally – we continue to have a highly dedicated staff of employee-owners, with common interests in giving back within the communities in which we live and work.

We are grateful for our families and friends who support our professional endeavors; but most importantly we are beyond grateful for the communities in which we are entrusted to influence physical space and overall development for years to come.  With this in mind, we focus the efforts of these next 12 days towards making financial contributions and increasing community program awareness during the holiday season.

About Ramaker’s 12 Days of Giving

Ramaker’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee instituted the company’s ‘12 Days of Giving’ in 2020. Over a 12-day span in December, the company will donate a total over $12,000 to organizations that our employee-owners hold close to their hearts. Through these contributions, the company aims to highlight local organizations with a variety of missions and investments—including addressing food and housing insecurity, mental health, and community services—and to make sure they have the resources they need for the 2023 holiday season and beyond.

Contributions for this year’s 12 Days of Giving will be announced between December 6 and December 21 on this page.

2023 Donations

Day 1

On Day 1 of Ramaker’s 12 Days of Giving, our focus is donating to two organizations that help fight food insecurity and provide community services in the surrounding area where Ramaker’s offices are located:  6:8 in Sauk City, and The Goodman Center, in Madison, WI.

Day 2

On Day 2, we are donating to three food pantries that assist families in the communities in which some Ramaker employees live and work.  Please check out the websites of Sauk Prairie Food Pantry, Green Cares, and WayForward for volunteer opportunities.

Day 3

Let’s go shopping for Toys and Christmas gifts!  On day 3 we are donating monetarily and with toy donations to three organizations today that collect and distribute toys and gifts to kids of families in need in local communities. These organizations are Sauk Prairie Caring Tree c/o St. Vincent de Paul, Dane County Toys for Tots, and Kops for Kids by the Sauk Prairie Police Department.

Day 4

We are donating to two more organizations that help assist their neighbors in need by providing various services and resources.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Mt. Horeb, WI. have served over 3,000 households in the past year with food, clothing, and other resources. Ramaker’s employee-owner, Jeff Zander and his wife, Tammy, volunteer with NHN on a weekly basis. Tammy has been a board member for over 6 years.  Please visit the NHN website to learn more about their mission, purpose, and volunteer opportunities.

Sunshine Place, Sun Prairie, WI focuses on their mission to provide comprehensive services that support essential needs through community engagement and partnerships. Their vision is to be a community where everyone has the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Day 5

For day 5, we are donating to two fire departments!

The Sauk City Fire Department is trying to raise enough funds to furnish a new brush truck with tools and equipment.  The new truck will replace their current brush truck, which was put into service nearly 30 years ago.  They are hoping to use some of the donated funds to equip the six firefighters that have joined their department this year with uniforms, gear, and tools, all needed to meet today’s safety standards.

The MN Brownton Fire Department where Ramaker’s employee-owner, Jesse Messner, has volunteered for 17 years, as of this year, is currently raising funds for battery tools used on the rescue ground, specifically battery-operated cut-off saw, Sawzall, chain saw, etc.

Day 6

On day 6, we are donating to two more organizations that serve their communities.

Feeding Friends – Dodgeville, WI  is community around the dinner table.  They provide a free hot meal every Wednesday night at the Dodgeville United Methodist Church.

The River Food Pantry has grown to serve over 2,500 people every week. Since 2006, the food pantry has partnered with local organizations to provide free groceries and meals for low-income families in the Madison area.

Day 7

Today, we are highlighting some uniquely situated organizations that members of our team are involved with.

Four Missions is an organization founded in Middleton, WI, that helps fund medical missions in the Philippines. The founders are planning a trip with medical supplies this upcoming Spring!

Hands of Hope is a child sponsorship program that helps children in the Dominican Republic with education, health, and employment opportunities. The organization was founded in Madison, WI, and the organization’s board treasurer is an employee of Ramaker!

Lastly, We Got Your Back is a Chicago-based organization whose mission is to provide fully equipped backpacks to underprivileged children across the Americas for the opportunity to get an education. We are excited to contribute to these endeavors on behalf of our team!

Day 8

Fridays signal the end of yet another productive work week! Productivity is a measurement of effective production of goods or services over a period – and in this case, from a group of individuals. The following organizations provide leadership, mentoring and educational opportunities, while fostering an atmosphere for self-respect and self-esteem for the youth of our communities:

Mentoring Positives provides leadership, mentoring, and social entrepreneurship opportunities for the underserved youth of Madison’s Darbo-Worthington Park neighborhood. These efforts have led to a growth of programs focused on social skills, confidence building and preparation for post-high school years.

Operation Fresh Start empowers youth and young adults 16-24 on a path to self-sufficiency through education, mentoring, and employment training. They are taught a range of construction skills through various community-based projects, providing them with an opportunity for future employment in various fields of construction.

Kids Ranch provides various programming and initiatives for children who are at-risk due to poverty, abuse, family deficiencies or learning difficulties. The organization connects children ages 6-10 with community member partners to help promote growth through a variety of educational and recreational programming. The organization is active throughout the school districts of Baraboo, Reedsburg, Sauk Prairie and the Wisconsin Dells.

Day 9

To start the week off, Ramaker will be making a handful of donations to more local community service organizations! Ruby’s Pantry is an organization that provides grocery items for anyone looking to extend their monthly grocery budget. A $25 ‘donation’ by a family, results in the family receiving an abundance of grocery items to help offset the costs of procuring the items at the grocery store in times of need. Corporate food donors help the organization make their services available across Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa!

The Deerfield Community Center and Deerfield Library are both key facets of the Deerfield, WI community. As the Architect for the new Deerfield Library and CSR chair, Joe Gallagher’s involvement with the Friends of the Deerfield Library, Ramaker wishes to demonstrate a continued commitment to helping the community grow and being a true partner behind the scenes! Same goes for the community of Spring Green, WI, which is called ‘home’ by a handful of Ramaker employees. We have contributed financially in the past to the Community Food Pantry of Spring Green, to help maintain its offerings to the local community and will continue to do so as they provide an emergency backbone to the community.

Day 10

On the tenth day of our “12 Days of Giving” campaign, we focus on organizations that embody compassion and support for those facing life’s challenges. Gilda’s Club Madison offers a haven for those touched by cancer, Gio’s Garden provides respite for families of children with special needs, and JustDane’s Healing House extends care to those recovering from medical procedures and childbirth. Each of these organizations plays a vital role in nurturing and strengthening our community through their dedicated support and services.

Day 11

For our eleventh day of giving, we are proud to support organizations dedicated to honoring and aiding those who serve our community and nation. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides vital support to the families of fallen first responders and veterans, the Community Action Coalition focuses on empowering and aiding local communities through essential services, and the Wounded Warrior Project supports the health and well-being of injured veterans. Each of these organizations exemplifies a deep commitment to service and sacrifice.

Day 12

On our final day of giving, we’re bringing it home and spotlighting organizations that are deeply rooted in providing direct, essential support to our local communities. Reach Out Lodi, People Helping People, and Beyond Blessed Food Pantry each demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing basic needs, from food security to critical support services. These organizations are united in their mission to offer tangible assistance and uplift the lives of individuals and families in our community, reflecting the spirit of collective care and support.

About Ramaker CSR

Ramaker’s CSR committee partners with organizations that positively impact the places where the company’s employee-owners live and work. Since Ramaker is an employee-owned company, donations made by the CSR committee are not tax-deductible. Funds are distributed to benefit organizations in need, not to increase the company’s bottom line.

Are you involved with a local organization? We’d love to hear more about how you’re helping your community. Email csr@ramaker.com to get in touch with Ramaker’s CSR committee.