2024 Charity Challenge

2024 marked the 10th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. We had 4 organizations that applied and all of them filled volunteer shifts. These organizations volunteered a total of 205 hours.

The amount of money that each organization receives is based on the number of hours that they volunteered to fill shifts at the ticket stands, the beer stands, the food area, and during setup. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money that we are distributing is comprised of $415.10 from tip jars and $2,000 from the Sheboygan Jaycees chapter. And for the first time in the history of the Charity Challenge, we have a tie for first place for the number of volunteer hours! So the top two organizations with the most volunteer hours are each receiving a bonus $500 and third most volunteer hours is receiving a bonus $100. That’s a grand total of $3,515.10 going to support our community!

2023 — No Charity Challenge due to no Brat Days

2022 Charity Challenge

2022 marked the 9th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. We had 7 organizations that applied, 6 of which ended up filling volunteer shifts. These organizations volunteered a total of 537 hours. An honorable mention goes to Habitat for Humanity Lakeside who was the 7th applicant.

The amount of money that each organization receives is based on the number of hours that they volunteered to fill shifts at the ticket stands, the beer stands, the food area, and during setup. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money is comprised of $1,084.76 from tip jars, $500 from the brat eating contest courtesy of Johnsonville, $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees Foundation, and $525.93 from the Sheboygan Jaycees chapter. The organization with the most volunteer hours receives an extra $500; second most volunteer hours receives an extra $200; third most volunteer hours receives an extra $100. That’s a grand total of $3,410.69 going to support our community!

2021 Charity Challenge

2021 marked the 8th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. We had six that were approved as finalists, five of which ended up meeting the minimum requirement of five volunteers each working a four-hour shift. These organizations volunteered a total of 338.50 hours. An honorable mention goes to Habitat for Humanity Lakeside who was the 6th finalist organization. 

The amount of money that each organization receives is based on the number of hours that they volunteered to fill shifts at the ticket stands, the beer stands, and the food area. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money is comprised of $501.10 from tip jars, $500 from the brat eating contest courtesy of Johnsonville, $500 on behalf of Nemak volunteers, $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees Foundation, and $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees chapter -- that’s a total of $2,501.10. The organization with the most volunteer hours receives an extra $500; second most volunteer hours receives an extra $200; third most volunteer hours receives an extra $100. That’s a grand total of $3,301.10 going to support our community!

2020 — No Charity Challenge due to pandemic

2019 Charity Challenge

2019 marked the 7th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. This meant that we had six organizations participate this year. These organizations volunteered a total of 403.25 hours.

The amount of money that each organization received is based on the number of hours that they volunteered to fill shifts at the Brat Trot, the ticket stands, the beer stands, and the food area. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money is comprised of $565.55 from tip jars, $500 from the brat eating contest courtesy of Johnsonville, $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees Foundation, and $1,000 from the Sheboygan Jaycees chapter -- that’s a total of $2,565.55. The organization with the most volunteer hours receives an extra $500; second most volunteer hours receives an extra $200; third most volunteer hours receives an extra $100. That’s a grand total of $3,365.55 going to support our community!

2018 Charity Challenge

2018 marked the 6th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. This meant that we had 7 organizations participate this year. These organizations volunteered a total of 534 hours.

The amount of money that each organization receives is based on the number of hours that they volunteered to fill shifts at the Brat Trot, the ticket stands, the beer stands, and the food area. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money is comprised of $397.22 from tip jars, $500 from the brat eating contest courtesy of Johnsonville, $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees Foundation, and $1,000 from the Sheboygan Jaycees chapter -- that’s a total of $2,397.22. The organization with the most volunteer hours receives an extra $500; second most volunteer hours receives an extra $200; third most volunteer hours receives an extra $100. That’s a grand total of $3,197.22 going to support our community!

2017 Charity Challenge

2017 marked the 5th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. This meant that we had 5 organizations participate this year. These organizations volunteered a total of 260.5 hours. 

The amount of money that each organization receives is based on the number of hours that their volunteers put in. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money is comprised of $391.73 from tip jars, $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees Foundation, and $1,000 from the chapter, that’s a total of $1,891.73. The organization with the most volunteer hours receives an extra $500; second most volunteer hours receives an extra $200; third most volunteer hours receives an extra $100. That’s a grand total of $2,691.73 going to support our community!

2016 Charity Challenge

2016 marked the 4th year of the Charity Challenge at Brat Days. The first three years of the challenge we invited any organization in Sheboygan County with a charitable focus to apply and from those applicants the Brat Days committee selected three finalists. This year we decided to try something new. We approved all organizations that applied as long as they met the entry requirements because we wanted to give every qualifying organization the opportunity to volunteer. This meant that we had 10 organizations participate this year. These 10 organizations filled 84 volunteer shifts totaling 485.75 hours. 

The amount of money that each organization receives is based on the number of hours that their volunteers put in. So more volunteer hours equals more money! The money is comprised of $368.98 from tip jars, $500 from the Sheboygan Jaycees Foundation, and $500 from the chapter, that’s a total of $1368.98. The organization with the most volunteer hours receives an extra $500; second most volunteer hours receives an extra $200; third most volunteer hours receives an extra $100. That's a grand total of $2168.98 going back to our community!

Charity Challenge – Previous Finalists

Past Charity donations

Brat Days is one of the largest fundraising projects ran by the Sheboygan Jaycees. Proceeds are given back to the community primarily though donations. During the past 10 years, the Jaycees have donated over $300,000 back to the community to many different causes and projects within Sheboygan County. Listed below are some of the organizations, groups, and projects that the Sheboygan Jaycees have contributed towards: 

• Above and Beyond Children's Museum

• Alzheimer's Association

• American Cancer Society

• American Red Cross

• Animal Resource Center of Sheboygan

• Bay-Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America

• Beat the Heat

• Big Brothers Big Sisters

• Blueline Center

• Brat City Baggers

• Bridgeway and Beyond

• Camp Y Koda Boat House

• Children's Christmas Party

• Easter Baskets

• Elderly Assistance Programs

• Evergreen Park Ski Trail

• Evolution

• Family Connections

• Freedom Cry

• Habitat for Humanity Lakeside

• Horizons4Girls

• Humane Society of Sheboygan County

• Jaycee High School Scholarships

• Jaycee Quarryview Park/Building upgrades

• John Michael Kohler Art Center

• JR Brass

• Labor of Love

• Lakeland College Athletics

• Lakeshore Youth Players

• Lutheran High School

• Meals on Wheels

• Mental Health Association

• Neighbors Against Drugs

• North High Cheerleaders