March Madness® Meets Community Impact: The 2026 True North Consultants Charity Challenge
The final buzzer has sounded, and the results are in. Congratulations to this year’s March Madness® Charity Challenge winners!
After weeks of competition, upsets, and standout bracket performances, the 2026 True North Consultants March Madness® Charity Challenge has officially come to a close. Once again, the tournament brought together clients, vendors, and partners in support of nonprofit organizations making a meaningful impact in their communities.
This year’s challenge delivered an exciting finish—and two deserving champions.
Celebrating the 2026 Women’s Bracket Winner
Special Olympics Wisconsin has been named the 2026 Women’s Bracket Champion.
Thanks to Chris Armstrong of Avante Properties, who submitted the highest-scoring bracket, True North Consultants will donate $2,500 to support the organization’s mission.
Special Olympics Wisconsin is part of a global movement that uses the power of sport to promote inclusion and build stronger communities. Since its founding in 1972, the organization has grown significantly, creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports, health, and leadership programs.
Today, Special Olympics Wisconsin continues to foster a more inclusive environment—one athlete, volunteer, and family at a time.
To learn more, visit: https://specialolympicswisconsin.org
Honoring the 2026 Men’s Bracket Winner
On the Men’s side, Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin has been named the 2026 Charity Challenge Champion.
With the top-scoring bracket submitted by Eric Olson of Marcus Corporation, True North Consultants is proud to donate $2,500 in support of the organization’s impactful work.
For more than 40 years, Make-A-Wish has been granting life-changing wishes to children facing critical illnesses. These experiences provide hope, strength, and joy—not only to the children, but also to their families and communities.
Since its founding, Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin has granted more than 9,000 wishes, creating unforgettable moments that inspire resilience and connection.
To learn more, visit: https://wish.org/wisconsin
Delivering Impact: Presenting the 2026 Charity Challenge Donations
One of the most rewarding parts of the True North Consultants March Madness® Charity Challenge is seeing the impact firsthand.
Earlier this week, our team had the pleasure of visiting Special Olympics Wisconsin to present their 2026 donation. As the Women’s Bracket champion, they continue to inspire inclusion and community through sports, health, and leadership programs. Spending time with their team reinforced just how meaningful these contributions are—not only for the organization but also for the athletes, families, and communities they serve.
Pictured (left to right): Michelle Schmidt, Addie Teeters, Chris Valcheff, Jaime Jenks, and Chad Hershner.
In addition, we had the opportunity to visit Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin, this year’s Men’s Bracket beneficiary. Touring their facility and learning more about their work was both inspiring and humbling. Their mission to bring hope, strength, and joy to children facing critical illnesses is truly life-changing, and it was a privilege to support their efforts through this year’s challenge.
Pictured (left to right): Ryan LaDieu, Forrest Doolen, Brian Mihelich, Eric Olson (Marcus Corporation), Nicole Stein, Michelle Schmidt, Matt Johnson, and Chris Valcheff.
Moments like these highlight what the Charity Challenge is all about. While the brackets, competition, and excitement drive engagement, the true outcome is the ability to support organizations that are making a lasting difference every day. We are proud to support this year’s March Madness® Charity Challenge winners.
More Than a Game: A Tradition of Giving Back
Now in its 16th year, the True North Consultants March Madness® Charity Challenge continues to demonstrate how friendly competition can drive meaningful impact.
Each bracket submitted helps raise awareness of nonprofit organizations working to improve lives every day. Moreover, the challenge creates a unique opportunity for clients, partners, and vendors to come together around a shared purpose.
Thank You to Our Participants and Partners
True North Consultants extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in this year’s Charity Challenge.
From those who submitted brackets to the nonprofit organizations that partnered with us, your involvement is what makes this event such a success year after year.
Because of your support, the Charity Challenge continues to grow—not only in participation, but also in its ability to give back.
Looking Ahead
While this year’s tournament has come to an end, the impact continues.
As we celebrate our 2026 winners, we also look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead. The True North Consultants March Madness® Charity Challenge remains a powerful reminder that even a simple bracket can help create meaningful change.
Thank you for being part of it.