Our Community
For over 50 years, Vrakas has emphasized the need to give back to the community. The firm has done this not only through monetary gifts, but also by participating in community events, volunteering with area nonprofits and through memberships in various community organizations. Additionally, Vrakas employees support various community organizations throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
As a firm, we support the following community organizations:
- Alzheimer’s Association – Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter
- Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha & Kenosha Chapter
- Bots IQ Wisconsin
- Casting for Hope in support of Camp Hope
- Elmbrook United Soccer Club (Formerly Brookfield Soccer Association)
- ERAs (Formerly Interfaith Senior Programs of Waukesha County)
- Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce
- Friends of Waukesha Public Library
- Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA)
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- Max-Fly Open in support of Children’s Wisconsin
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
- Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries (MBBI)
- Milwaukee Montessori School
- Paradigm Shift | Pewaukee Robotics Team
- Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin
- United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County
- United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF)
- Waukesha County Business Alliance
- Wellness Council of Wisconsin
Organizations our employees are actively involved with include:
- Arrowhead Center for the Arts
- Beta Alpha Psi Alumni Association (UW-Whitewater)
- Casting for Hope in support of Camp Hope
- Friends of Waukesha Public Library
- Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce
- Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) of Waukesha County
- Independent Business Association of Wisconsin
- Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee
- Marathon Athletic Club (MAC)
- Max-Fly Open in support of Children’s Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Chapter of Executive Women’s Golf Association
- Rotary Club of Kenosha West
- St. Anthony on the Lake
- Tempo Waukesha
- The Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps (ARCh)
- United Way of Kenosha County
- UW- Whitewater Advisory Boards
- Waukesha County Technical College Foundation
- Waukesha Sunrise Rotary Club
- Wellness Council of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Alumni Association
Community Awards
Vrakas received the 2019 Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (WICPA) Community Service Award – Organization.
The Community Service Award is one of 10 annual Excellence Awards that celebrate WICPA members and their employers for their achievements. This award recognizes an organization for its community service contributions at the local, regional or state level. Recipients have initiated or increased their community service activities and reinforced the profession’s reputation for commitment to the public good.
Vrakas Gives Back
As a way to give back, Vrakas supports community organizations with its annual charity lunches program. Each department chooses a charity and all proceeds are donated to that cause. From June through November, Vrakas and its employees supported the following organizations in 2022:
- Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS)
- Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha & Kenosha Chapters
- Casting for Hope in support of Camp Hope
- Tunnel to Towers
- Make-A-Wish Wisconsin
- Rescue Gang
Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House
Volunteer Day
Additionally, Vrakas sets time aside each year for its annual volunteer day. The employees of Vrakas spend a day supporting a local organization in need of assistance. For 2022, the 15th annual event, Vrakas supported Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services organization named Robyn’s Nest. Robyn’s Nest houses new and gently used clothing, hygiene products, infant items, toys, books, and other household goods. Robyn’s Nest provides these items free to families within the foster care system, as well as those identified to have unmet needs through Children’s Wisconsin.
For its volunteer project, Vrakas assisted Children’s Wisconsin by unloading a semi-trailer truck of toys and organizing them within the warehouse. In addition, Vrakas took up its own collection of toys as part of its volunteer day support.
Previous volunteer day organizations:
- 2022 – Children’s Wisconsin – Robyn’s Nest
- 2021 – Children’s Wisconsin – Pediatric Dental Program
- 2020 – Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha, Kenosha, and National Chapter
- 2019 – Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha and Kenosha Chapter
- 2018 – Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha Chapter
- 2017 – Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha Chapter
- 2016 – Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha Chapter
- 2015 – Blessings in a Backpack – Waukesha Chapter
- 2014 – Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee
- 2013 – Hope Center
- 2012 – The Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps (ARCh)
- 2011 – Waukesha County Park System – Minooka Park
- 2010 – Hope Center
- 2009 – The Women’s Center
- 2008 – The Women’s Center