SOUTH SHORE WATER FROLICS PARADE SAVED!

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

and the Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

The 59th South Shore Water Frolics Parade will go on as scheduled Saturday, July 12th, 2008, milwaukeeworld has learned. The news will be announced at a press conference scheduled at South Shore Park for 11 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25th, 2008, according to festival organizer Les Johns, the president of the Bay View Lions Club, the event sponsor. Johns had sounded an alarm that the $20,000 needed to stage the parade, which draws about 40,000 people, in an article by Linda Spice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on June 20th, 2008. Johns said if assistance were not forthcoming, the parade portion of the July 11th-13th 2008 festival would be canceled.
Johns words came to the attention of Todd Reardon, the owner of Braeger Automotive Group, one of the nation's oldest automobile dealerships, and a mainstay of the south side economy since the days of the Model "A"s.
Reardon confirmed today that with Braeger's assistance, the parade will not be canceled. He also expressed confidence that Braeger's move would encourage others to help fund the event.
It is not the first time that Braeger has stepped in to save a parade. In April, 2005, it appeared that the West Allis Western Days Parade would be canceled since the expense conflict with the abilities of its sponsor to carry out its charitable activities. The car dealer's contribution enabled the automobile-free parade to go on as scheduled, prompting West Allis Charities' T. J. Meyers-Jansky to say, "we need more companies like Braeger to pitch in and help us keep our organization's annual fundraising festival operating for years to come."
A Braeger blog post, dating to 2005, lists 32 organizations that benefited from Braeger charities that year.
Reardon's charitable activities led to his being named 2001 Citizen of the Year by the Milwaukee Police Association. Milwaukeeworld broke the news about the parade's return to Mayor Barrett last evening. He expressed his thanks and gratitude to Braeger -- and relief that the parade will go on. After all, what can be more traumatizing to a politician than to have an election year parade canceled?
A press release announcing Braeger's contribution is being produced at this time by Mueller Communications, Inc..

Fun Fact: If the name Les Johns seems familiar it's because he has been a very active campaign worker during his limited spare time. His most recent campaign was for Lena Taylor for County Executive, and he was involved in the various electoral pursuits of Vince Bobot. Right now the re-election campaign for District Attorney John Chisholm is keeping him busy. Les is one of those guys who knows Milwaukee's voting patterns and history right down to the block.