Million Dollar Commitment for Building Hope Campaign
September 23, 2026
WAUKESHA, Wis. — The Ewald Family Foundation has made a $1 million commitment to Family Promise of Waukesha County’s Building Hope Campaign, an $8 million effort to create a 10-unit apartment building providing temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness. The $8 million campaign will allocate $4 million for the construction of the new facility and the other $4 million will support Family Promise’s current operating expenses for the next three years.
The Ewald Family Foundation will have naming rights for the new facility in recognition of its commitment to families experiencing homelessness.
Dan Ewald stated, “The Ewald Family Foundation is proud to participate in the Building Hope Project. We are enthusiastically partnering with Family Promise of Waukesha County to assist in its goal to provide temporary shelter for families experiencing homelessness in our communities. With caring and strong leadership in place at Family Promise, we are confident this project will change the lives of families now and well into the future.”
This gift deepens an already strong relationship between the Ewald Family Foundation and Family Promise of Waukesha County. The foundation has been a longtime supporter of Family Promise of Waukesha County and its efforts to help families experiencing homelessness.
“We are humbled and grateful for this life-changing gift for the families we serve,” said Joe Nettesheim, Executive Director of Family Promise of Waukesha County. “When a family is experiencing homelessness, they need a safe place to stay now. Losing a home affects every aspect of a family’s life, including a child’s education, a family’s health and their ability to maintain stability. The support of the Ewald Family Foundation gives more families an opportunity to find stability and build a path toward permanent housing.”
The gift brings Family Promise of Waukesha County significantly closer to making the Building Hope project a reality. To date, Family Promise of Waukesha County has received pledges totaling $4.7 million, or 59% of its $8 million goal. Of the total pledged, $3 million is designated for construction.
“We are overwhelmed by the support of the community, especially those who made significant lead gifts that have helped move this project forward,” said Nettesheim. “Their support has given us great momentum, but we still need the community’s help to reach our ultimate goal of $8 million.”
No public dollars are being used to fund the building. The project began when a supporter assigned ownership of the property to Family Promise of Waukesha County in 2025.
The new facility is expected to double program capacity, allowing more families to access safe, stable, temporary housing and build a path toward long-term independence. It will include two studio apartments, six two-bedroom apartments, and two three-bedroom apartments. Seven units will serve families needing immediate short-term stays, two will support families transitioning toward stability, and one will house an on-site staff member or volunteer. A community room will provide space for seminars, programs and gatherings that connect families with community resources, volunteers, and opportunities to support their goals.
The apartment-style model of shelter has proven effective. At Family Promise of Waukesha County, 88% of families who participate in programming do not experience a second episode of homelessness. By offering families a space of their own, the program provides a sense of normalcy and routine while fostering independence, responsibility, and dignity as they work toward permanent housing.
Ed Butte, Chairperson of the Family Promise of Waukesha County Board of Trustees, said the gift will help the organization serve more families:
“Family Promise of Waukesha County has provided a hand up, not a handout, to local families experiencing homelessness for more than 10 years. Thanks to the Ewald Family Foundation’s commitment to our Building Hope Project, our mission can take a significant step forward. This new facility will allow us to serve more families and expand the services and support we provide as we help families build a path toward permanent housing.”
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