Available Forms of Giving
There are many ways to donate to the Firm Foundation Capital Appeal, including cash, check, debit/credit cards, online payments (one-time and recurring), and by ach payments from your bank account. ACH payments are the preferred method, as the costs to process the donations are lower and more of the donation to be put to work. For questions regarding online giving, see our FAQ page!
Donations may also be made via non-traditional methods including gifts of Stock, Bequests (specific bequest of cash or other assets in a will or revocable trust), Distributions from Retirement Accounts, or Split Interest Gifts (charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable gift annuities). Because there may be income tax and/or estate tax benefits from some of these non-traditional giving options, it is best to discuss options with an estate planning attorney, tax accountant, or other professional advisor. If interested in any of the non-traditional methods, plan to attend an Estate Planning presentation by Jim Guckenberg on May 1st, 2022 following worship.
Please contact Cindy Thomas in the church office at 414-774-5005 or via e-mail at officemgr@tosapres.com for more information or specific questions.
how will funds from the capital appeal be utilized?
We pray together, Lord, what would you do through me to accomplish Your will in my church?
Wauwatosa Presbyterian is blessed with facilities that continue to be a blessing to me, to our family of faith, and our community. Saints who have given generously and reliably over the years have provided us a firm foundation capable of supporting a bright future, perhaps our brightest yet. We seek to illuminate the places of this world needing the Light, as evidenced both by our mission and by our plans for an updated sanctuary lighting system. We seek to expand our commitment of welcome and love by fostering a place any and all of God's Children can call home. Currently we cannot claim as much. Yet the foundations given to us by previous generosity and generations have fostered a dream whereby a renovated Fellowship Hall stage becomes an accessible classroom and an updated storage space. While it is true that we cannot claim a place for all of God's children today, that place is starting to take shape. Your generous additions to the foundations provided for us mean that claim will mature in just a matter of tomorrows.
- Rev. Brett Swanson
Church
The HVAC improvements, now complete, accounted for over 80% of the improvement budget. As building use increases, we are learning to work with our new systems, and, as we start using the building in normal ways, we expect to see the results of our energy efficient systems. In July, 2021, the Building & Grounds Committee offered a virtual tour of the new HVAC system, which you can enjoy in the video below.
Wind
You can expect to see visible progress toward our goal of creating an accessible and flexible space in the old stage area. The old stage is gone, patching and painting is in progress, and materials that had been removed from the storeroom soon will be on their way back. Once those steps have been completed, we can finalize our plans for flooring, ceiling, and walls. Our aim is to have the space ready to go in the Fall. The preliminary budget for this project is about $17,000.
Tools
WPC's team of experts in electrical layout, sound, and lighting (How many congregations have those kinds of experts?) are working with contractors to fit the puzzle together. The goals are energy efficiency, adaptable lighting, better sound quality, and modern video capabilities. By next fall we should see more efficient LED lighting to replace the 50-year-old fixtures we now have, with behind-the-scenes improvements in wiring and controls. Sound and video improvement will accompany those updates.
Sun
"Barb and I have been active members of WPC since 1970. WPC is not a static church community, it evolves with strong caring loving families and members making that happen. We believe WPC is on the path following Jesus meeting the needs of the church community and those around us in mission."
- Jeff Homar (member 51 years)
"I was born and raised in the Presbyterian Church and Tosa Pres is only the fourth church I have been a member of. Ilene and I have been members here since 1980 and felt it was our responsibility to support this project."
- Ed Marconnet (member 42 years)
"Being a part of this community in Christ necessitates a location in which we gather. Generations before us have sacrificed to give us what we have, and it is our duty to not only maintain but improve upon those saints that have gone before us."
~ Chris Bauer (member 13 years)
"I support the Firm Foundation campaign because I see it as an investment in our children and young people. As a longtime Sunday school teacher, I am well aware of the temperature extremes that used to exist in some of our Christian education spaces (bitterly cold in Knox Hall, breathlessly hot in the CE office), and I am thrilled that our new HVAC system has finally made those spaces comfortable for our kids and teachers! I also believe strongly that if we say we welcome ALL people to our worship services and programming, we have to mean it--so I am very happy we will now have an additional room where children with mobility issues can join our community for VBS and Sunday school classes."
- Anne Coulling (member 17 years)
Praying Hands