Moving Forward Together: A Morning of Partnership, Progress, and Gratitude
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, community and business leaders gathered for the annual Moving Forward Together Breakfast, a morning dedicated to celebrating the successful partnerships of the businesses that work alongside the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and the Madison Public Schools Foundation (MPSF) to ensure the operational and facilities referendums are as transformational as possible.
Hosted by M3 Insurance and sponsored by Baird, the event brought together MMSD partner vendors, Foundation supporters, and public schools advocates to recognize the collective effort behind recent referenda and to strengthen connections that will continue to move Madison’s public schools forward. Guests enjoyed a continental breakfast, meaningful conversation, and live background violin music performed by Hailey, a current Gillespie Middle School student—a fitting reminder of the students at the heart of this work.
Celebrating Impact and Shared Vision
The program opened with a warm welcome from Sean LaBorde, President of M3 Insurance, who expressed gratitude to attendees for their role in supporting public education and emphasized the importance of collaboration in turning voter-approved referenda into real outcomes for schools, families, and students.
Dr. Joe Gothard, Superintendent of MMSD, followed with a comprehensive overview of what the 2020 and 2024 referendums mean for the district’s future. He highlighted progress to date, shared elements of the district’s strategic plan, and underscored how these investments are transforming learning environments across Madison. Dr. Gothard also acknowledged the many vendor partners and the Madison Public Schools Foundation for their critical advocacy and partnership in ensuring future success for Madison’s students.
Building on that vision, Brian Brewer, Managing Director at Baird, spoke to the strong connection between excellent public schools and a thriving local economy for the entire state. He shared Baird’s continued support of MMSD and encouraged attendees to engage with the Madison Public Schools Foundation as a way to invest in workforce development and long-term community vitality.
The Power of Partnership
Melinda Heinritz, President of the Madison Public Schools Foundation, then highlighted the Foundation’s growing role as a connector between MMSD and Madison’s business community, emphasizing the importance of sustained investment to keep pace with the district’s needs. She emphasized that strong schools benefit everyone in the community and that Foundation-led partnerships—financial, professional, and advocacy-based—are essential to sustaining that success. Reflecting on the Foundation’s momentum and long-term vision, Heinritz shared:
“If MMSD is an engine for our local economy, the Foundation is the spark—and sponsorship support is the fuel that allows us to keep going. We’re proud to have grown that support from $384,000 in 2024 to nearly $937,000 in 2025, and even more proud of the long-term relationships we’re building to meet the evolving needs of our district. To keep pace and be an effective part of our economic ecosystem, we need more capacity and continued investment, not for the Foundation alone, but for the more than 25,000 students whose futures depend on strong public schools.”
The program concluded with remarks and a call to action from Tracey Griffith, Executive Director of the Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin and a current Foundation Board member. Griffith spoke passionately about why the trades and labor community care so deeply about MMSD. Emphasizing the shared responsibility of the business community, Griffith reminded attendees of the far-reaching impact of strong public schools:
“I ask that we focus on our shared responsibility. When MMSD succeeds, we all benefit. Our businesses benefit. Our neighborhoods benefit. Our economy benefits. And most importantly, our students benefit. This is not someone else’s issue to solve. It belongs to all of us.”
She closed by encouraging attendees to stay engaged as partners, sponsors, and individual supporters of the Madison Public Schools Foundation, reinforcing that continued collaboration is essential to sustaining progress and opportunity for students across the district.
Looking Ahead—Together
The annual Moving Forward Together breakfast serves as both a celebration and a call to action, honoring the progress made possible by recent referendums while reinforcing the shared responsibility to support Madison’s public schools. With strong partnerships and continued engagement, the future of MMSD, and the students it serves, remains bright.
To learn more and to explore additional ways to engage, contact Kelly Keenan, Resource Development Coordinator at kkeenan@SchoolsMakeMadison.org
