MILWAUKEE — Thirty years ago, Sargento Foods became the first corporate sponsor of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.

Since then, it has become the nonprofit’s leading builder of affordable housing in Milwaukee’s Washington Park and Midtown neighborhoods.

To celebrate that milestone, Sargento will make an additional donation to Milwaukee Habitat. The donation will pay one year’s mortgage of the Sargento-Habitat homeowners who still have a mortgage or the 2022 tax bill for the Sargento-Habitat homeowners who have paid off their mortgages.

“We understand that homeownership really sets foundations or family that really helps break that cycle of poverty that sometimes can happen when you keep renting,” said Portia Young, Sargento Director of Corporate Public Relations. 

Sargento volunteers are also joining volunteers from the Milwaukee Bucks to build the 34th and 35th homes for families. That happens from July 18-22, 2022.

One home will be the “Tipoff for Homes” house. As the Official Cheese of the Bucks, Sargento donates $500 to Milwaukee Habitat for every opening tip the Bucks win. Since Tipoff for Homes began in 2019, Sargento has donated an additional $120,000 to Milwaukee Habitat, thanks to the Bucks offense.

Volunteers in Milwaukee, like Jim Collins, said he keeps coming back after seven years because it’s so rewarding to see the homeowner’s faces when they finally have a home to call their own. 

“They’re all terrific,” said Collins. “We always have a great time whenever we are working with them.” 

In all, 28 Sargento-Habitat homeowners will either have their mortgages or tax bill paid this year.