A Night Full of Tradition and New Experiences

The Croquet Ball continued some of the traditions that make this event so unique while also introducing something new.

Guests enjoyed a friendly Croquet Match between Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski and Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, bringing a little friendly competition to the evening. The match was a nod to the event’s origins as a fundraising tournament where guests played croquet to support Penfield.

Inside the Milwaukee Country Club, Bob Piekenbrock and Keith Anderson kept the croquet spirit going with a fun wicket challenge. And when the evening shifted into afterparty mode, DJ Lolo kept the dance floor packed.

This year also marked the first-ever large art showcase at the Croquet Ball. Led by Auction Chair Julia Fennelly, the Auction Committee worked countless hours to create an exciting collection of auction packages and experiences. Catherine Davidson, Elly Pick and Tor Furumo brought their passion for art to the event, helping secure, curate and install a beautiful collection that was a true highlight of the evening.

Andrew Varela served as the evening’s emcee, keeping the celebration moving and bringing his signature energy to the night. Auctioneer Dan Pronley kept guests engaged during the live auction, helping turn their generosity into meaningful support for Penfied.

What a Night! Penfield Community Raises More Than $600,000 at the 31st Annual Croquet Ball

Despite pouring rain outside, more than 320 guests gathered at Milwaukee Country Club on Saturday for the 31st annual Penfield Croquet Ball, and what a night it was!

Together, our incredible Penfield community raised more than $600,000 to support Penfield Children’s Center and our mission of helping children and families thrive. Every gift, sponsorship, bid and paddle raise represents an investment in children and families and helps make Penfield’s work possible every day.

Celebrating Community

This year’s Croquet Ball was especially meaningful as we welcomed the Laughlin family, Jacqualyn, Patrick, Franklyn and Eliott, as the first family in Penfield’s history to chair the event together.

From the earliest planning meetings to the final moments of the evening, the Laughlins brought their family, friends and community together around a shared belief that every child and family deserves the opportunity to grow, thrive and reach their full potential.

Jacqualyn serves on Penfield’s Friends Board, and Franklyn volunteered in Penfield classrooms this summer, making the family’s connection to Penfield especially personal. Their leadership, warmth and genuine commitment to our mission helped make this year’s celebration truly special.

A Mission Moment Worth Celebrating

One of the most meaningful parts of the Croquet Ball each year is the opportunity to introduce guests to a Penfield child and family and share how Penfield’s services make a difference in their lives.

This year, guests met Haley and her mom, Gretchen, whose story offered a firsthand look at the impact of early intervention and support.

Haley was born with Noonan syndrome and faced significant challenges early in life, including heart complications and the need for a feeding tube. With support from Penfield, Haley began making important developmental strides, from learning to eat foods like oranges to crawling, pulling herself to stand and communicating through American Sign Language.

Her story is a beautiful reminder that every new skill, new experience and new milestone is worth celebrating.

Thank You for Making the Night Possible

An event of this size takes an incredible team, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make the 31st Croquet Ball a success.

A special thank you goes to our Auction Committee, led by Chair Julia Fennelly, for the countless hours, creativity and care they poured into making this year’s auction a tremendous success. Thank you to committee members Marc Gall, Stacie Ney, Jennifer Martell, Kate Kazlo, Terri Wright, Amy Kussman and Amanda Camilli.

We are also deeply grateful to Catherine Davidson, Elly Pick and Tor Furumo, whose passion for art brought such beauty to the evening.

And thank you to our incredible Penfield team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring everything together.

Most of all, thank you to the more than 320 guests, sponsors, donors, volunteers and friends who showed up for Penfield, even when the rain came pouring down.

Because of you, more than $600,000 will help advance Penfield’s mission and support children and families in our community.

View a full gallery of photos from the evening. Photography by Northwoods Creative.