Posts tagged "Leadership"

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.

https://tncmarchmadness.com

March Madness® Meets Community Impact: The 2026 True North Consultants Charity Challenge

Each spring, basketball fans eagerly await the excitement of the NCAA® Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship tournaments. However, for True North Consultants, March Madness® represents more than thrilling buzzer-beaters and bracket predictions. Instead, it provides an opportunity to bring clients, vendors, and partners together to support nonprofit organizations making a meaningful difference.

Now entering its 16th year, the True North Consultants March Madness® Charity Challenge continues to transform friendly tournament competition into impactful community support.

Turning Tournament Brackets Into Community Impact

The March Madness Charity Challenge combines the excitement of NCAA tournament brackets with a powerful philanthropic mission. First, participants sign up and select a nonprofit organization they would like to support. Next, they submit their Men’s and/or Women’s NCAA tournament brackets.

As the tournament unfolds, brackets accumulate points based on correct predictions. Ultimately, the participant with the highest score determines which charity receives a donation from True North Consultants.

Consequently, each submitted bracket helps raise awareness of nonprofit organizations and the valuable services they provide to communities.

Two Brackets Mean Twice the Opportunity

In recent years, the Charity Challenge has expanded to include both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA tournaments. As a result, nonprofits now have two opportunities to receive charitable donations.

Participants may submit one or both brackets. Meanwhile, tournament standings continue to evolve throughout March and early April as games progress and unexpected upsets reshape predictions.

Therefore, the competition remains exciting from the opening rounds through the National Championship games.

Celebrating the 2025 Charity Challenge Winners

Last year’s tournament delivered an exciting finish for two incredible nonprofit organizations.

• Madison Reading Project – 2025 Women’s Bracket Champion
• Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin – 2025 Men’s Bracket Champion

Each organization received a $2,500 donation from True North Consultants, demonstrating how a simple bracket competition can generate meaningful support.

The Madison Reading Project continues to inspire young readers by distributing free books and offering literacy programs to families, schools, and community organizations across Dane County.

Meanwhile, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin plays a vital role in addressing hunger by providing nutritious food to communities throughout the region.

Now the question for the 2026 March Madness Charity Challenge is simple:
Will the defending champions repeat, or will another nonprofit make a championship run?

A Growing Tradition of Giving Back

Over the past decade and a half, the Charity Challenge has grown into a highly anticipated tradition among True North Consultants’ network of partners and clients. Not only does the event create friendly competition, but it also highlights nonprofit organizations that serve communities in meaningful ways.

Participating charities have included:

• Anti-Cruelty
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington (Ox Hill)
• Capitol Area Food Bank
• Greater Chicago Food Depository
• Madison Reading Project
• Make-A-Wish® Illinois
• Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin
• Make-A-Wish® Virginia
• Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
• S.O.M.E. – So Others Might Eat
• Special Olympics Illinois
• Special Olympics Wisconsin
• Special Olympics Virginia
• Susan G. Komen®

For example, in 2024, the nonprofit Anti-Cruelty was selected as the Charity Challenge recipient when a participant submitted the highest-scoring bracket.

Because of initiatives like this, the Charity Challenge continues to raise both awareness and financial support for organizations that strengthen communities.

How to Join the 2026 March Madness Charity Challenge

Fortunately, participating in the challenge is simple.

1. Visit the official Charity Challenge website
2. Select a nonprofit organization(s) to support
3. Submit your Men’s and/or Women’s NCAA tournament bracket

Once brackets are submitted, participants can follow the standings as the tournament progresses. As a result, the excitement builds with every round—from the Sweet Sixteen to the Final Four and ultimately the National Championship.

Join the Madness for a Meaningful Cause

Although March Madness is known for its unpredictable games and dramatic finishes, the True North Consultants Charity Challenge proves that the tournament can also have a lasting impact on the community.

Every bracket submitted helps raise awareness for nonprofit organizations that are improving lives every day. Furthermore, it allows clients, partners, and vendors to engage in a fun competition while supporting important causes.

As the 2026 NCAA tournaments approach, the stage is set for another exciting chapter.

Who will win the 2026 Charity Challenge—and which nonprofit will benefit?

To learn more or register your bracket, visit: https://tncmarchmadness.com

https://tncmarchmadness.com