Charitable Foundation & Scholarships

The Warshafsky Law Firm Foundation

The Warshafsky Law Firm has created a charitable foundation for the purpose of providing scholarships for deserving young Milwaukeeans.  The foundation awards scholarships at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and to several deserving nursing students, designated by the Milwaukee Black Nurses Association.
Unlike many scholarship programs, the prime criteria for the awards are financial need and a reasonable expectation of success.  A C-plus average and good recommendations from teachers and advisors will suffice.  This approach was developed in recognition of the fact that many young people with good potential come from environments and economic conditions that do not permit them to demonstrate their real potential while in high school.  The purpose of the program is to give some of these kids a decent chance, leaving the exceptional student scholarships to other programs. 

The Foundation has entered into an arrangement with the League of Martin, an organization of African-American police officers, for it to provide mentors when needed to the scholarship recipients.  Having a mature, interested person to turn to for confidential advice is considered by educators to be a key indicator of future success, particularly for young people who do not have that resource at home.

Foundation President Ted Warshafsky said that the name of the scholarship honors two innocent young people who were slaughtered in their teens at the altar of bigotry.  Anne Frank by the Nazis because she was Jewish; Emmett Till by the KKK because he was African American.

Previous winners include students from Bradley Tech High School, South Division High School, and other area schools.
In addition to the scholarships, the Warshafsky Law Firm Foundation contributes annually to many charitable organizations, including:

• Pearls for Girls, a group that supports disadvantaged kids from middle school through high school graduation, and then provides scholarships and mentoring.
• League of Martin Scholarship Fund
• Mad Hot Ballroom & Tap, a group that provides after-school involvement and recreation for MPS students.
• The Holton Street YMCA, a boys and girls club that provides mentoring and after-school help for MPS students
• The Venice Arts council, which provides art outlets and education for disadvantaged students.
• The HeartLove Place, an organization that provides help and guidance to inner-city residents.
• Hunger Task Force
• Centro Legal of Milwaukee
• Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• Citizen Action of Wisconsin
• United Performing Art Fund