Ascension All Saints Hospital - Racine, 2025 Community Benefits
Wellness Wonderland Brings Mental Health Support and Family Fun to Milwaukee
In August 2025 families across Milwaukee took part in an event that’s equal parts fun and meaningful. The Ascension All Saints Family Health Center hosted its third annual “Wellness Wonderland” mental health fair, a one-of-a-kind gathering that blends carnival-style activities with vital mental health resources.
The goal is simple but powerful: break the stigma surrounding mental health and connect families with tools and resources that can improve their well-being.
"Wellness Wonderland was created to help normalize conversations surrounding mental health and to help every person realize they are not alone. Life can be hard but we can navigate life stressors when we speak up and stand together as a community,” said Dr. Sabrina Ali. “This event helps us spread love, light, and support."
Wellness Wonderland is designed to appeal to the whole family. Children can enjoy face-painting, snow cones, popcorn, and even a dunk tank, while parents explore ways to better manage stress and emotions. Attendees participated in hands-on activities such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, animal therapy, CPR and breathing exercises.
More Than Just Fun and Games
While the atmosphere is festive, the stakes are serious. Untreated mental health conditions can lead to severe emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems. They can worsen chronic diseases and often hit underserved communities the hardest. For Milwaukee families, access to preventive resources and early interventions can make a life-changing difference.
“By creating a space that feels like a celebration, we’re helping families learn and practice healthy coping skills in a comfortable and welcoming environment,” Jenny Ovide, RN explained.
That’s why Wellness Wonderland offers more than entertainment. Families have access to free mental health resources, practical education, and activities designed to teach stress management strategies for both kids and adults. To help students start the school year strong, the event also included a backpack and school supplies giveaway.
Growing Community Impact
More than 200 participants attended, underscoring the community’s need and enthusiasm for accessible mental health support. Events like Wellness Wonderland highlight the importance of addressing mental health proactively. By normalizing conversations about emotions and stress—and providing tools in a family-friendly way—Milwaukee families can walk away with not just memories of a fun afternoon, but also resources to strengthen their well-being long after the carnival tents come down.
The goal is simple but powerful: break the stigma surrounding mental health and connect families with tools and resources that can improve their well-being.
"Wellness Wonderland was created to help normalize conversations surrounding mental health and to help every person realize they are not alone. Life can be hard but we can navigate life stressors when we speak up and stand together as a community,” said Dr. Sabrina Ali. “This event helps us spread love, light, and support."
Wellness Wonderland is designed to appeal to the whole family. Children can enjoy face-painting, snow cones, popcorn, and even a dunk tank, while parents explore ways to better manage stress and emotions. Attendees participated in hands-on activities such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, animal therapy, CPR and breathing exercises.
More Than Just Fun and Games
While the atmosphere is festive, the stakes are serious. Untreated mental health conditions can lead to severe emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems. They can worsen chronic diseases and often hit underserved communities the hardest. For Milwaukee families, access to preventive resources and early interventions can make a life-changing difference.
“By creating a space that feels like a celebration, we’re helping families learn and practice healthy coping skills in a comfortable and welcoming environment,” Jenny Ovide, RN explained.
That’s why Wellness Wonderland offers more than entertainment. Families have access to free mental health resources, practical education, and activities designed to teach stress management strategies for both kids and adults. To help students start the school year strong, the event also included a backpack and school supplies giveaway.
Growing Community Impact
More than 200 participants attended, underscoring the community’s need and enthusiasm for accessible mental health support. Events like Wellness Wonderland highlight the importance of addressing mental health proactively. By normalizing conversations about emotions and stress—and providing tools in a family-friendly way—Milwaukee families can walk away with not just memories of a fun afternoon, but also resources to strengthen their well-being long after the carnival tents come down.
Investing in the Next Generation: Ascension All Saints Supports Racine County Youth Employment Program
Ascension All Saints Hospital joined more than 50 local businesses and organizations in providing meaningful employment opportunities to high school students through the Racine County Summer Youth Employment Program. The initiative connects young people with paid work experience, mentorship and skill-building opportunities that will serve them well into the future.
Open to students ages 15–18, the program allows teens to earn $14 an hour while working up to 20 hours a week. Beyond their jobs, participants receive financial education, mentorship and life skills training in areas such as communication, time management and professional readiness. For those facing barriers, the program also provides transportation and assistance with opening a savings account.
This year, 119 students participated. At Ascension All Saints, several students had the opportunity to explore careers in healthcare and support patient care in meaningful ways.
One of those students, Bruce Hill, a senior at St. Catherine’s High School, spent the summer assisting in cardiac rehabilitation at Ascension All Saints. The experience affirmed his interest in pursuing a career in physical therapy, a passion that grew from his own recovery following a basketball injury. “I’ve really learned the importance of listening skills, just being able to observe, and just learn a lot of things,” Hill said. “It’s validated my passion for wanting to be a physical therapist, to see how it goes and help people really get back on their feet.”
For Ascension Wisconsin, participation in the program is about more than summer jobs—it’s about strengthening the future of healthcare in the community. Like many states, Wisconsin faces growing healthcare workforce needs as the population ages and demand for care increases.
Michael Vastano, Workforce Development Manager at Ascension, emphasized the long-term vision, “Bruce is a great example. He had an interest in physical therapy, so we set him up in cardiac rehab, and he got to see different lines of work that many people don’t know exist. The program is a way for us to invest in homegrown talent and inspire the next generation of caregivers.”
Programs like this help students gain confidence, build professional skills and envision a future in high-demand careers, including healthcare. They also demonstrate the power of community partnerships in creating pathways for young people to succeed.
By investing in local youth today, Ascension Wisconsin is helping plant the seeds for the nurses, respiratory therapists, medical assistants and healthcare leaders of tomorrow, ensuring that Racine County has a strong and sustainable healthcare workforce for years to come.
Open to students ages 15–18, the program allows teens to earn $14 an hour while working up to 20 hours a week. Beyond their jobs, participants receive financial education, mentorship and life skills training in areas such as communication, time management and professional readiness. For those facing barriers, the program also provides transportation and assistance with opening a savings account.
This year, 119 students participated. At Ascension All Saints, several students had the opportunity to explore careers in healthcare and support patient care in meaningful ways.
One of those students, Bruce Hill, a senior at St. Catherine’s High School, spent the summer assisting in cardiac rehabilitation at Ascension All Saints. The experience affirmed his interest in pursuing a career in physical therapy, a passion that grew from his own recovery following a basketball injury. “I’ve really learned the importance of listening skills, just being able to observe, and just learn a lot of things,” Hill said. “It’s validated my passion for wanting to be a physical therapist, to see how it goes and help people really get back on their feet.”
For Ascension Wisconsin, participation in the program is about more than summer jobs—it’s about strengthening the future of healthcare in the community. Like many states, Wisconsin faces growing healthcare workforce needs as the population ages and demand for care increases.
Michael Vastano, Workforce Development Manager at Ascension, emphasized the long-term vision, “Bruce is a great example. He had an interest in physical therapy, so we set him up in cardiac rehab, and he got to see different lines of work that many people don’t know exist. The program is a way for us to invest in homegrown talent and inspire the next generation of caregivers.”
Programs like this help students gain confidence, build professional skills and envision a future in high-demand careers, including healthcare. They also demonstrate the power of community partnerships in creating pathways for young people to succeed.
By investing in local youth today, Ascension Wisconsin is helping plant the seeds for the nurses, respiratory therapists, medical assistants and healthcare leaders of tomorrow, ensuring that Racine County has a strong and sustainable healthcare workforce for years to come.
