Community

Giving back is part of who we are - join us as we work towards making a positive impact in our local communities.

A message about community giving from our Chairman of the Board:

Hydrite has a long history of supporting the communities in which we operate through charitable giving. Our culture fosters and facilitates community engagement by our people in both their personal and professional capacities.

Several years ago, we launched Hydrite Helps, our community engagement program. Through Hydrite Helps, we leverage our company’s success to invest our time and resources in programs that impact our community. We focus our efforts in the areas of:

Children’s Needs & Development
Education
Environment
Local Needs

John Honkamp

Since the beginning of 2019, the Hydrite Helps program has driven over two thousand hours of volunteer time. We’ve built homes, we’ve cleaned waterways, we’ve done remodeling projects for families with kids fighting cancer. We’ve literally given our blood (and plasma), sweat (lots of it), and tears (some of the projects can be pretty moving) to this work. Below you will find a selection of some of the non-profits we have served.

There is much more work to be done, and we look to grow the impact of the Hydrite Helps program each year.

We’d love it if you’d join us.

Hydrite Helps

Our culture fosters and facilitates community engagement by our people in both their personal and professional capacities. We leverage our company’s success to invest our time and resources in programs that impact our community.

Hydrite Helps volunteer event at Feeding America

Feeding America

Hydrite is proud to be a title sponsor of the annual PB&J Challenge, a month-long campaign that raises donations of peanut butter - one of the most requested food items at shelters and pantries. The latest campaign provided 100,000 meals to those in the Milwaukee area.

ALA Fight for Air Climb Milwaukee

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION

Hydrite is a proud sponsor of the annual American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb. The Hydrite Beakers Team climbs stairs to raise funds and awareness for individuals with lung disease who fight for every breath.

Hydrite Helps volunteer event at Hunger Task Force

Hunger Task Force

As Milwaukee's only free and local food bank, Hydrite supports Hunger Task Force's mission of preventing hunger and malnutrition in the community and state.

Hydrite Helps volunteer event at United Way

United Way

Hydrite has a decades-long relationship with United Way, providing annual food and monetary collections with the company matching employee donations dollar for dollar.

Clean Lakes Alliance

Hydrite employees participate in volunteer events through Clean Lakes Alliance, helping improve and protect lakes, streams, and wetlands in the Yahara River Watershed.

Hydrite Helps volunteer event at the Boys and Girls Club

Boys & Girls Club

Engaged in multiple locations near Hydrite facilities, the company supports Boys & Girls Club through fundraising and volunteering initiatives.

Spotlight: Steals for Meals

Hydrite's Steals for Meals program combines our employees' love for sports with our commitment to community support. Started in 2023, Hydrite collaborates with local sports teams to raise money for nonprofits serving families experiencing food insecurity. Whether it's a stolen base or basketball, Steals for Meals embodies the spirit of the game and the spirit of giving.

Steals for Meals: Baseball

During the baseball season, Hydrite teams up with six baseball teams for Steals for Meals, an initiative working to end local hunger. Hydrite pledged to donate $100 for every stolen base for each participating team including the Milwaukee Milkmen, Lakeshore Chinooks, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Lake Country DockHounds, Waterloo Bucks, and La Crosse Loggers. In total, Hydrite donated $42,000 to three organizations: Feeding America, Wafer Food Pantry (La Crosse), and Northeast Iowa Food Bank (Waterloo) in 2024.

Steals for Meals: Basketball

During the basketball season, Hydrite is teaming up with the Milwaukee Bucks to support local families experiencing food insecurity. Hydrite has pledged to donate $75 for every Bucks steal, with proceeds benefiting Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation. Donations will be used to help end local hunger in eastern Wisconsin.

Steals for Meals with the Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis PB&J Challenge with Feeding America

Hydrite is a proud sponsor of the annual PB&J Challenge with Bobby Portis Jr. through Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. For every $5 donated, Feeding America provides 35 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to neighbors in need. As a reflection of our commitment to solving food insecurity, Hydrite donated 100,000 meals to kids in the local Milwaukee community in 2024.

2024 Bobby Portis PB&J Challenge Feeding America