On Saturday, June 1, 2024 Judy and Gary Jorgensen were honored to receive the EDDY Award, given by The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (Wilson Center).
The award was presented at The Big Event, the Wilson Center’s annual fundraiser. supporting its arts education programs and benefiting over 55,000 people annually, including 10,000 students. The EDDY Award recognized the Jorgensens for their philanthropic leadership and commitment to providing community access to the arts.
Judy and Gary Jorgensen have made a profound impact on the Greater Milwaukee area. Their support for the Wilson Center began in 1993, when Gary joined a steering committee to plan, design, and build a visual and performing arts center for the Brookfield-Elm Grove area. Voss Jorgensen Schueler Company (now VJS Construction Services) managed the construction, and the Wilson Center opened in 2002. Gary's dedication continued through the creation of the annual Wilson Center Golf Classic, a key fundraising initiative that his family also supports.
Judy Jorgensen has served as a longtime board director for the Wilson Center and has held significant roles with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Rep, Milwaukee Art Museum, and several other organizations. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Women of Influence and the Waukesha County Women’s and Girl’s Fund Woman of Distinction.
Gary Jorgensen has contributed his expertise to the boards of Mt. Mary University and Rogers Memorial Hospital, and has also performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He received the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Frank Kirkpatrick Award in 2016 for his contributions to community improvements.
The Jorgensens' fund with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation supports various organizations including the Salvation Army, the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County, Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center, and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Their enduring commitment to the arts and community service exemplifies the spirit of generosity and leadership.
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