Fourth annual winner will host free gala in the stunning rooftop Baird Ballroom.
MILWAUKEE– (April 21, 2026) — Baird Center is excited to announce that the Little Warrior Foundation is the recipient of the highly coveted 2027 Baird Center Gala Giveaway.
In its fourth year, the annual contest provides a Milwaukee-area 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization a complimentary gala experience in the stunning rooftop Baird Ballroom at Baird Center, valued at $65,000. This includes a complimentary room rental, a chef’s choice three-course menu for up to 500 guests, a $15,000 audiovisual credit and so much more, allowing the organization to focus on what matters most: their mission. Additionally, the Wisconsin Center District, owners and operators of Baird Center, will devote 40 staff volunteer hours to the winning organization.
A total of 157 organizations submitted applications for the 2027 contest, up from 123 last year.
“We are incredibly proud to support the Little Warrior Foundation and their extraordinary mission,” said Wisconsin Center District President and CEO Marty Brooks. “Their relentless commitment to advancing research for finding a cure for Ewing’s sarcoma was an inspiration to myself and our panel of judges. We’re honored to play even a small role in accelerating the life-changing work they’re doing for families across the country.”
Little Warrior Foundation was born from a community of local families who refused to accept the status quo. When 9-year-old Lucy was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, her family launched the Foundation as an act of defiance against decades-old, toxic treatment protocols, but they quickly discovered they were far from alone. Fellow Ewing sarcoma families from across Southeast Wisconsin rallied immediately, united by a single mission: find a permanent cure.
In just five years, the Wisconsin-based foundation has raised more than $10.5 million to fund research and clinical trials nationwide, partnering with leading institutions to accelerate the search for a lasting cure.
The Little Warrior Foundation is scheduled to host its event on January 30, 2027.
“For 40 years, the story of Ewing sarcoma barely changed. We started Little Warrior Foundation determined to rewrite it — terrified, but determined,” said Piero Spada, Co-Founder of Little Warrior Foundation. “Thanks to a groundswell of support, real scientific breakthroughs and now this extraordinary recognition from the Wisconsin Center District, the tide is turning — we feel it. We’re so grateful for this opportunity, and we want every warrior family across the country to see this moment and feel that hope too.”
To date, two Gala Giveaway recipients have brought their annual fundraising events to the Baird Ballroom—and both achieved record-breaking results. In 2024, Autism United of Wisconsin hosted its REIMAGINE Gala, raising a historic $360,000 to support its mission. The momentum continued in 2025, when First Stage held its annual Make Believe Ball, exceeding its $50,000 fundraising goal and setting a new record with $58,000 raised.
The 2026 winner, the Racine Zoological Society, will host its event on August 22, 2026.
To learn more about the Baird Center Gala Giveaway, visit galagiveaway.com.