MIAD’s annual Creative Fusion FUNdraiser raises $415,000 for student scholarships

The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s (MIAD) annual Creative Fusion FUNdraiser raised $415,000 for student scholarships. The 12th annual event held May 5, 2018, in MIAD’s creative studios, brought together 325 Milwaukee area civic, arts and business leaders and advocates.

The funds raised support the 98% of MIAD students who receive financial aid, including 44% of first-year students who are the first in their family to attend college.

“We are grateful for our community’s recognition of MIAD as integral to the growth of the creative talent pipeline in Wisconsin. We are also grateful for their recognition of the importance of ensuring that the education and career paths our college provides are accessible to all students, including first-generation students and students from low-income families,” said Jeff Morin, MIAD president.

Chris Goller, PNC regional president for Wisconsin, and his wife Amy, chaired 2018 Creative Fusion – Party by Design. The 2018 Presenting Sponsor was PNC. The Leading Sponsor was Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Also among the event’s 30 sponsors were Contributing Sponsors Associated Bank, Madeleine & David Lubar, Eileen & Barry Mandel, Weyco Group, Inc., and The Yabuki Family Foundation.

This year’s event celebrated the college’s growing incoming classes over the last three years, its recognition as a Top Design School by GDUSA magazine and its impact on the creative economy in Milwaukee. Nearly 80 percent of MIAD graduates stay and work in Wisconsin, and are employed at companies such as Fiskars, GE Healthcare, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Milwaukee Tool, Kohler Company, Kohl’s Corporation, Rockwell Automation and Trek.

Funds for student scholarships were raised through sponsorships, a Scholarship Bid, one-of-a-kind Buy It Now and Live Auctions of experiences and works by established and emerging artists and designers, and the sales of student art and design work.

Since Creative Fusion was founded in 2007 by Madeleine & David Lubar, the event has raised nearly $3 million for MIAD student scholarships. This year’s hosts, the Gollers, joined past chairs Molly Gallagher and Peter Kies, Katie Heil and Peter Mahler, Brenda and Matt Levatich, Jennifer and Tom Florsheim, Susanna and Justin Mortara and Linda and Greg Marcus – among many others.

Learn more about supporting MIAD student scholarships and programs.