Support Us

Portal Industries, Inc. is extremely grateful to those individuals, businesses, civic groups, churches, foundations and families that share our vision and support our mission. For Portal to continue to provide life–enriching options for adults with disabilities, we need the financial help and support of many. We are responsible for generating enough revenue to cover approximately 35% of our $3.1MM operating budget. Some of that comes from the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and the United Way of Northern Ozaukee and some is received from generous donors. A significant portion is generated from subcontracts with area businesses to do production work.

We hope you will consider Portal Industries worthy of your support. We are accredited by CARF, the internationally recognized Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission and we have been recognized by the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin for outstanding business integrity and ethical performance. We pledge continued good stewardship of all existing resources and all gifts given and promise to maximize the benefits of any such gift.

Long range, it is our goal to lessen our dependence on government funding and to strive for greater financial independence. To help accomplish this goal, Portal Industries established an endowment fund with The Greater Milwaukee Foundation in 2000. The monies in that fund are invested by The Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the principle is not available to us, only the interest and/or earnings from the fund's appreciation are available. The Portal Industries Endowment Fund grows through a combination of wise investments and new donations such as cash, memorial gifts, tributes, etc. Your gift to the Portal Industries Endowment Fund will help assure a more secure future for the agency and continued service to persons with disabilities.

Portal Industries Endowment Fund

Established in 2000, this fund is managed by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and provides donors with an opportunity to make a lasting gift that will continue to benefit Portal Industries for years to come. This fund continues to grow based on how the fund’s assets are invested by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and also through new gifts to the fund. The fund’s principle is never available to the agency, only the earned interest or appreciated growth.

The Gift of Cash

The most popular form of charitable gift. Tax benefits are available to those who itemize their deductions on Federal and State income tax returns.

Cash Gifts can be handled on–line using your credit or debit card. Click on this secure link to see how easy it is to make a gift.

Assets Other Than Cash

Appreciated stock or other property that has increased in value since it was acquired may be used to fund a charitable gift.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

Allows you the opportunity to make a gift while providing you with an income for life or time period you specify. Your gift will be invested to provide you with either a fixed income (annuity trust) or an annually adjusted income (unitrust). A tax deduction is allowed at the time you create the trust.

Life Insurance

Naming Portal Industries as beneficiary to receive all or a portion of the proceeds of a life insurance policy you no longer need is a simple way to make a significant gift.

Memorial Gifts

Given as a way to thoughtfully remember a family member, a friend, an associate, or anyone who has been a vital part of your life.

Gifting Through Your Will

You may specify a particular dollar amount, a percentage of the assets that pass through your will or, gifting "what's left" after providing for your heirs and others.

Gifting, as final beneficiary, the remaining funds of an IRA or pension fund

For more information about the Portal Industries Endowment Fund or other gift opportunities, please contact Carole Stuebe, Executive Director.

There can be no substitute for careful tax planning when trying to maximize charitable gifts. We encourage you to consult with your financial advisor about tax benefits associated with the many and varied gifting options.

Portal Industries, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization, exempt from taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Gifts to help offset day–to–day operating costs may include:

Cash Gifts to Operating Budget

Cash Gifts can be handled on-line using your credit or debit card. Click on this secure link to see how easy it is to make a gift.

Gifts In Kind

(For a current list of items needed by Portal Industries to further our mission or to better facilitate the services we offer, please contact Marlene Morgan, Development Director, at 262–377–4410, ext. 202)

Pick 'N Save We Care program

If you will specify Portal Industries as a beneficiary when you use your Advantage ® Saver's Club card for purchases at any Pick 'N Save® store, a percentage of WE CARE dollars will be donated back to Portal Industries. It's easy to do — please encourage others to also name Portal as beneficiary.

Ozaukee Bank Community Checking program

(specifics to come)

Whether you choose to support Portal's Endowment Fund, opt to provide funds to help offset day–to–day operating costs, or prefer to underwrite a program or project that is important to you, we appreciate your gift and your commitment to our mission.

Portal's Wish List for 2008:

Telephone System : $10,500

The agency’s 6-line phone system has been in place almost 18 years and is now, 3 generations behind what is presently considered state-of-the-art. Our present system also enables agency-wide paging capability and inter-office intercom; however, it will not support caller ID which, for a public enterprise, is a major drawback security-wise. Also, parts and service availability are becoming an issue.

GPS Tracking System : $8,000

Each business day, Portal Industries has 14 vehicles out and about southeastern Wisconsin. While each van driver carries a Portal-issued cell phone to remain connected to the agency in case of emergency, our Transportation Coordinator has no immediate way to assess the status of normal pick-ups and drop-offs. A GPS Tracking System will enable us to know where each vehicle is should an emergency arise plus it will allow us to monitor what time participants get on or off the vehicles. The system will also monitor key mechanical and electrical systems aboard each vehicle.

Passcard Security System : $8,000

Portal Industries serves a sizable number of vulnerable adults and thus, personal security is always a vital consideration. Like schools, hospitals and other public facilities, Portal must now consider keeping its outside doors locked at all times - including during our regular programming day. With a Passcard Security system, we will know who enters the building through which door and at what time, including after-hours entry or exit.. This will allow our receptionist to know who is and who is not in the building at any given time.

Replacement Smoke/Fire Detection : $7,500

The sensitivity of our present smoke/fire detection system has deteriorated over the years resulting in numerous false-alarms during and after regular business hours and the potential to miss a real episode. Our building is divided into 4 zones; however, our present system will not detail where in each zone an alarm state exists. A replacement system would further divide each existing zone with 10 strategically placed sensors for more pin-point accuracy. This system will also notify local police and fire departments of any alarm condition.

Video Surveillance System : $3,000

For general security and safety concerns, video surveillance has become the norm for public facilities. Being able to oversee more obscure areas around our building and to monitor activity outside the building would be a major deterrent to theft and vandalism. Since all of our vehicles are parked outside, it would be helpful to have recorded video surveillance after-hours to monitor their security.

Thermal Exposure Blankets : $400

Our transportation system moves more than 100 individuals daily and does so with the utmost concern for passenger safety and comfort. Our vehicles are all recent models and all are kept well-maintained; however, in the event of a winter breakdown that might result in loss of heat, it would be reassuring to know that each vehicle is equipped with emergency thermal blankets that could provide protection until help arrives.

Case Management Software : $17,650

To help assure greater staff efficiency and better serve the treatment needs of our participants, we would like to upgrade our current record keeping and case management using new computer software. There are several commercially available programs that could meet both present and future needs; however, as Ozaukee County transitions into Family Care and away from traditional CIP & COP funding sources, we would select that program which would most conveniently interface with the records management needs of Family Care. The cost of this software includes the necessary multiple-user licensing, staff training and system maintenance.

Community Integration Opportunities Fund

As part of our mission, we are committed to encouraging and helping our participants to integrate with the community in as many ways as possible. Sometimes, community integration opportunities carry a modest price tag – the cost of admission, a user fee, or the price of transportation. Having an Opportunities Fund would help offset these costs. Gifts to this fund would help assure that those interested in attending or participating are able to do so.

Music Therapy : $5,000

Our past experience with music therapy has been extremely positive. Once each week, a group of participants will attend a music therapy session in Milwaukee at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. These very interactive sessions help stimulate because participants can hear and feel sounds made from various instruments. Participants are encouraged to "keep the beat" with rhythms played.

Recumbent Exercise Bikes (2) : $1,500

Portal holds exercise classes for many program participants, especially those who do not exercise regularly on their own. Exercise bicycles are an important component of that program. Unfortunately, some participants have problems with balance and thus, traditional upright bicycles can present a challenge to them. Recumbent exercise bicycles minimize the balance concern.

YMCA Membership : $1,000

The YMCA is a frequent destination for participants in our Alternative Day Services program. Playing basketball, doing exercises or occasionally swimming - they’re all great alternatives for those who find it difficult to stay focused on work.

Art Supplies : $500

Creating art at Portal means getting individuals to develop and use fine motor skills while expressing themselves via art. We need supplies to keep this great program running.

Automatic Bagger : $15,000

Filling bags with various parts is a large part of what we do for various companies and we are very good at it. This machine will help teach participants how to perform multi-step operations as this machine automatically feeds perforated bags which are opened (some individuals have trouble opening bags on their own), allowing parts to be inserted and then closes and heat seals the filled bag.

50 Lb Capacity Weigh-Count Scales (2) : $1,718

Since some of our participants have difficulty counting, using weigh-count scales enables quick, accurate filling of containers. We have a number of lower weight capacity counting scales; however, they’re not capable of counting items that weigh considerably more. These higher capacity scales will allow more participants to perform more accurate weigh-counts.

27 Lb Capacity Weigh-Count Scale : $1,350

Air Compressor Dryer : $1,500

During the summer season and at other times throughout the year when the humidity is high, our central compressor system tends to collect considerable condensation as a by-product of the air compression process. This condensation creates problems with air tools and in compressed air lines.

Bar Code Label Printer : $1,200

This printer will not only handle standard alphanumeric information but also is of high enough quality to handle printing bar codes as well.

Durable Roll-Away Room Dividers : $1,250

Based upon the jobs which are in-house, our work floor gets reconfigured almost daily to better accommodate the work flow, encourage greater concentration and to assure participant safety. To help accomplish this, we have been using some very durable, stylish and relatively economical (about $125 each) room dividers to define work spaces and block out noise and other distractions.

Kitchen Upgrade : $20,000

Our present kitchen consists of a sink, a stove, a refrigerator and a dish washer with virtually no counter space or storage capacity and no food prep area. Cooking is a very popular activity with several of our programs however, it’s a challenging process at best since our kitchen area is not very user-friendly and not easy to keep clean and organized. We would like to have storage areas and food prep areas on wheels so they can be easily moved and reconfigured based upon the task at hand and will facilitate easier and better clean-up.

Adult Changing Table

As our participant population ages and as we continue to accept participants with more severe disabilities, the need for a more specialized (larger, more accessible, easier-to-clean, etc.) washroom was apparent. We recently completed such a washroom and now, we need to equip it with some necessary accessories. An adult changing table is required for those individuals with incontinence problems and the heavy-duty table is easy to clean. We also have need for a large capacity bench seat for the shower area.

Electric Dock Door Openers (3) : $1,350

We have 3 loading docks, each with a commercial grade, insulated steel, overhead door. These doors have all been manually operated since they were installed in 1990. Age and normal wear have made these already heavy doors more difficult to open and close.

Commercial Grade Single-Door Cooler : $2,000

At numerous times throughout the year, large quantities of food are brought in to facilitate participant picnics, parties and other special events. In addition, our staff attempts to keep on-hand, nutritious snack foods that our participants can purchase during their morning break. Standard, residential-type refrigerators do not hold up, long-term, to the amount of use this cooler would see.

Agency Presentation Laptop Computer : $1,500

During the course of a year, various staff members will give PowerPoint presentations to civic groups, churches, schools and area businesses. The laptop computer we have been using to make such presentations was donated to the agency as a corporate hand-me-down and has served us well; however, it’s many generations old and is not compatible with newer multimedia equipment found in schools, churches and businesses.

Digital Video Camera : $600

In addition to being able to document the many fun and educational outings our participants go on during the course of a year, we would like to use video in training participants and staff in how various jobs are to be done. In addition, the video camera could be used in safety training and also in agency informational presentations - as an adjunct to PowerPoint.

Sound System : $250

Apart form our agency-wide paging system, we have no sound system to be used during participant talent shows, staff in-service training sessions, after-hours banquets or other celebrations. Speakers often have a difficult time being heard and must speak at a very loud level.