Wisconsin Chapter

Get Involved

Learn more about the Wisconsin Chapter and learn how you can help support our mission locally.

Chapter Contacts

Leslie Del Ponte
Executive Director
[email protected]

Makenzie Diffley
Coordinator, Fundraising Campaigns and Volunteer Engagement (Take Steps)
[email protected]

Alison Henkel
Senior Coordinator, Field Operations
[email protected]

Friends of the Foundation

Our Friends of the Foundation are companies who significantly invest in the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Wisconsin Chapter. If your company is interested in becoming a Friend of the Foundation, please contact Leslie.

Take Steps Walk Committees 

Our Take Steps fundraising walks are in Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, and we have a planning committee for each walk. We are looking for assistance in planning, finding sponsors and securing in-kind donations, encouraging team involvement, and helping on the day of the walk. Committees start meeting monthly in advance of the walk.  

Support Group Facilitator 

We are looking for volunteers to lead our in-person support groups throughout the state. Facilitators establish frequency and time of meetings, and assist in selecting the meeting site, advertising the meetings and recruiting participants. Facilitators lead group discussions and invite guest speakers on topics of interest. They provide education and create an open forum for group discussion and encourage, impact and explain often difficult topics in an approachable way. When possible, support groups facilitators should attend Foundation-sponsored training conferences, which are designed to enhance knowledge of medical and psychosocial issues in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.   

Leadership Board 

Board members are asked to support the organization in many ways including financially, by supporting various Chapter events (Take Steps, special events, etc.), and helping advance the mission of the Foundation by increasing awareness, building relationships, and increasing volunteer engagement. Board members should serve on at least one committee. There are typically five board meetings per year, held in the evening.  

Special Events Committee 

We are looking for assistance on a special event committee. In addition to planning and developing ideas for events, we’d like assistance finding and soliciting sponsors, as well as office assistance the days/weeks leading up to the event and help on the night of the event.   

Advocacy Network

Would you like to get updates on public policy related to IBD research and patient support? Join the Foundation's Advocacy Network to receive the monthly newsletter and advocacy alerts. Get more information and sign up here: www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/advocacy.

Workplace Giving

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Wisconsin Chapter is proud to participate in the workplace giving campaigns of CHC and United Way. At many workplaces, employees can direct contributions to the charity of their choice. Look for our name and agency code in your company campaign. If you don't find us, please ask your employer to add Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Our Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) code is 71171.

If you have other ideas of ways you'd like to get involved, please contact us at the Wisconsin Chapter. Call (414) 475-5520 or email [email protected].