The Power of a Community and a Fundraiser (Mel's Pig Roast)

For those of you from the Ozaukee County area, many of you have heard of Mel's Pig Roast or Mel's Charities. To those who haven't, please check out the link to Mel's Charities and what they are all about!

To give a little backstory it all started with one of my all time favorite coaches (Blaine Bergman, I would share my favorite story of him on here, but not sure if it would be appropriate!). It started as a couple of guys doing a small pig roast to raise some money for a family friend who passed away and had a daughter with special needs who participated in Special Olympics. Ever since that year in 1999, the Pig Roast has continued to grow and grow to what it is today.

Mel's Pig Roast has grown into Mel's Charities where they host or help with over 10 events a year. Everything they do is for other people in the local community. Since 1999 they have donated over $850,000 to the local community. From a couple of guys raising some money with a small pig roast to raising money for various communities and various efforts!

Just some of the highlights include donations to Special Olympics, local scholarships at High Schools in remembrance of those who passed away too young, and local human service organizations. The beauty of Mel's Charities is that all the money raised goes straight back to the local community! As Mel would say, "You can't make this stuff up". The stories of donations and people willing to drop anything to help out Mel's Charities is what truly makes a community great, and an organization like Mel's truly special. To go to a Mel's event and listen to him speak is truly amazing and inspiring. To just hear some of the amazing stories he has to tell about people going out of their way to help his organization or others around them is something that is so special.

Whether it is just going to the Grafton Farmer's Market every Thursday to see a Friend and have a tasty pork sandwich or if you go to one of Mel's events, you will truly be struck by his presence and overall mission! I am proud to say that I have enjoyed various Mel's Charities events and contributed to their great mission! As one of my friends once said, "Once Mel gets his name on something, things always get done".

To Mel's Charities and their 20th anniversary, Ozaukee County salutes you for all your work!