Consolidated Construction Co. raises almost $40,000 for MS

Rich Palzewic

Staff

July 13, 2026

APPLETON –  Consolidated Construction Co., Inc. recently announced it surpassed a major charitable giving milestone. 

Since the launch of its yearly employee-driven program in 2022, Michelle Rueckl, vice president of human resources, said the Appleton-based company has raised more than $100,000.

This year, she said, the company raised $39,175 for the National MS Society.

“A check was presented just days before the organization’s largest local event, Walk MS Appleton,” she said. “Our ‘Consolidated for a Cause’ annual event highlights the collective impact of employees around a shared mission.”

Rueckl said a key part of the initiative is its employee-led fundraising and selection process, in which team members nominate and vote on causes that are personally meaningful.

Consolidated – which first appeared in the Jan. 9, 2024 issue of The Business News – leadership said employees selected the National MS Society after a nomination from Sarah Crowe, who shared her personal connection to the cause. 

“MS has profoundly impacted my family,” Crowe said. “My mother and aunt both lost their battles with the disease, and I have loved ones still living with it. Supporting the National MS Society means contributing to research and programs that bring real hope to families like mine.”

More on the program

First launched as Consolidated for a Cause in 2022, Rueckl said the employee-led fundraising initiative has grown significantly.

The first campaign, she said, raised about $8,000, including a $2,500 company match.

“It started strong, but we have definitely put some more initiatives in place and are starting to see those returns,” she said. “Last year, Consolidated raised almost $44,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.”

Rueckl said organizations are often chosen based on personal connection, noting, “If your heartstrings are attached, your purse strings become attached, too.” 

“We definitely want to learn more about what is important to our employees,” she said. “Every year, we send out an email to all employees, and we ask them to suggest where they would like the money to go, what the cause means to them, ‘How do you help that organization?’ or why it is personal to them.”

From there, Rueckl said pictures and videos are sent out regarding the employee-submitted organizations.

“Whatever one gets the highest vote, that is the one we raise the money for,” she said. “Though all of the organizations chosen since 2022 have been great to work with, the level of participation varies. Once the organization is identified for fundraising, Consolidated immediately connects with that organization out of the gates to ensure a fast start.”

After an organization is selected, Rueckl said Consolidated makes sure it is a good fit and meets the requirements.

“The National MS Society was really involved and phenomenal to work with,” she said. “They also offered other alternatives for contributing money. They set up a site for us so we could do Facebook and LinkedIn links if we wanted. That way, the general public could also contribute to the cause.”

Rueckl said employees may, if comfortable, reach out to former clients or vendors to seek contributions for the cause. 

“Examples include something as simple as a raffle basket up to $2,500 sponsorships,” she said.

With the National MS Society’s fundraising in the rearview mirror, Rueckl said the time is now to look ahead to 2027.

“We need to strike when the iron is hot,” she said. “Sometimes, the fundraising can be tied to specific events being put on.”

Consolidated recently went public with the charities chosen for 2027.

“The charities chosen for 2027 were just announced [June 29] and focus on autism awareness,” Kerry Sanberg Arndt, director of marketing, said. “The Autism Society of Wisconsin, North Dakota Autism Center and Autism Society Black Hills were chosen.”

Sanberg Arndt said the selections reflect the company’s footprint, with Consolidated – according to consolidated-const.com – operating offices in Appleton and Portage, Rapid City, South Dakota, and Bismarck, North Dakota 

Always giving back

Rueckl said even before officially launching Consolidated for a Cause, she and Sanberg Arndt worked closely together to introduce a charitable foundation.

Consolidated, Rueckl said, has always been giving in its nature, but previously, it was more on the corporate side of things.

“Then in 2017, Kerry and I really buckled down and focused on a charitable foundation where there are different levels of giving,” she said. “You can do in-kind matching and can also request sponsorships. The Consolidated for a Cause campaign grew out of truly wanting to get our employees in the community.”

New to this year’s campaign, Rueckl said Consolidated introduced a student art contest, which invited local high school students to create original artwork representing themes of hope, resilience and community.

The winning design, she said, was created by Xavier High School senior Emily Bakey and was featured throughout the campaign and auctioned at the event.

“Emily did a fantastic job – it was mind-blowing the amount of detail she showed,” Rueckl said. “We thought it would be neat to get more of the community involved, so we reached out to schools and gave them some parameters around what success would look like.”

Rueckl said using the winning design on staff clothing options differentiates it from the “normal” apparel Consolidated typically offers. 

“Each year, we offer clothing, but now it can include the Consolidated for a Cause logo,” she said. “The artwork will help differentiate the causes and give people a reason to consider buying some new clothes.”

With a future goal set to reach the $50,000 level, Rueckl said it will take intention and hard work to get there.

“It’s been an amazing venture, and we can’t wait to continue our goal,” she said.