Wisconsin’s 10 most heartwarming news stories of 2025

The news isn’t always bad: There were plenty of heartwarming stories across the state throughout the year.

Whoever said that no news is good news? Sometimes, news can be really wonderful, especially in a place like Wisconsin. While there are, of course, heartbreaking, tragic, and maddening news stories breaking throughout the year, there were also plenty of positive and heartwarming stories in Wisconsin.

From charitable acts to local communities stepping up to help their community members, to individuals who go out of their way to bring a smile to strangers’ faces, there are plenty of stories that showcase just how heartwarming a place Wisconsin really is.

1. Wisconsin creates its own “Green Ribbon” program after federal cuts

Just one of the ways that the Trump administration has rolled back policies aimed at improving the environment, earlier this year, the federal government cut the “Green Ribbon” program. The program recognized Green Ribbon schools, districts, and higher education institutions that had programs and actions dedicated to sustainability.

Rather than foregoing any acknowledgment of these schools after the program was discontinued, Wisconsin decided to create its own program, with Mahone Middle School in Kenosha and West De Pere High School among the first two recognized. Mahone Middle School was recognized for its efforts in building an outdoor classroom, as well as the emphasis that the school places on students taking public transportation and water conservation. After an upgrade to its facilities, West De Pere High School reduced its carbon emissions, and the school also sourced local produce for school lunches.

2. Family-owned Wisconsin farm inspires Super Bowl commercial

Super Bowl commercials are usually filled with celebrities and iconic brands. Rarely, if ever, is the focus on small, family-owned businesses—but that’s exactly what happened this year. Lay’s, a brand of potato chips owned by PepsiCo, made a Super Bowl commercial directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi that celebrates farmers.

The commercial, “The Little Farmer,” tells a fictional story about a farming family, but is based on Jeremie Pavelski, a fifth-generation potato farmer and the president of Heartland Farms, a potato farm in Hancock, Wisc., according to Chris Bellinger, the chief creative officer at PepsiCo Food. The potatoes grown at Heartland Farms are used in Lay’s products.

3. West Allis neighborhood’s charitable Christmas display celebrates 40 years

Setting up light displays is a holiday tradition for many people, but rarely to the extent of a West Allis neighborhood. For four decades, the approximately 12-block neighborhood, known as Candy Cane Lane, has gone all out when it comes to decorating for the winter holidays. Candy Cane Lane, which comprises more than 300 homes, started as a few neighbors decorating their homes and handing out candy canes. In the 40 years since they started, more and more neighbors have joined in, and it’s become a charitable event.

While it doesn’t cost anything to visit Candy Cane Lane, there are donation boxes set up in the neighborhood to collect funds that go toward the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund. Throughout its history, Candy Cane Lane has raised more than $3 million for the organization. This year, the neighborhood hopes to bring that total to more than $4 million in honor of its anniversary.

4. Adorable note left for staff at Milwaukee Art Museum

There are certain points in any job where working can feel pretty unrewarding. But staff members at the Milwaukee Art Museum received a reminder this year that the work they do is valuable to visitors, including a young resident who left a note expressing his appreciation for the museum.

In the unsigned letter, the museum visitor, who addressed the museum as the “Milwalkey Art Museum,” said that they have visited the museum so many times that they “lost count.” The letter’s author talked about their favorite piece of art, “the one of the lady holding a cat,” and also asked that if a janitor found the letter, which was left in the museum, they wouldn’t throw it away.

5. Pewaukee man runs across Wisconsin to fight cancer

Pewaukee resident Trevor Kaucic went for a run in May, but it wasn’t just a casual jog around his neighborhood. Instead, Kaucic ran the entire southern width of Wisconsin—202 miles. The run took Kaucic more than five days to complete, starting in Prairie du Chien and wrapping up in Milwaukee on May 23.

Kaucic raised more than $3,000 through GoFundMe, with a percentage of the proceeds going toward the Little Warrior Foundation, which collects funds to help find a cure for Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bones and soft tissues. This isn’t the first time that Kaucic has run to support a good cause. In 2023, he ran 100 miles in 30 hours, raising $4,000 for the Jackson Sparks Foundation, which makes baseball dreams come true for kids battling life-threatening illnesses.

6. Milwaukee Love Letter leaves more than 900 notes around the city

This year isn’t the first year that Katrina Lord has left inspirational notes throughout the City of Milwaukee, but the Wisconsin resident behind Milwaukee Love Letter hit more than 900 all-time notes written in 2025. Lord’s notes, which she writes under the moniker Milwaukee Love Letter, aren’t written with any particular person in mind—instead, they’re left for strangers to find throughout the city.

Each note contains a quote from a noteworthy person, including writers like Hunter S. Thompson and Wisconsin native Laura Ingalls Wilder, or musicians like David Bowie. They also include a personalized message from Lord, who has no plans of slowing down her note writing in the future.

7. Milwaukee racing sausages raise funds for veterans

Brewers fans are used to seeing sausage mascots race around the field during the Major League Baseball team’s home games, but they’re less used to seeing them running in a 5K and 10K race through the city’s streets. On Jul. 19, the sausages joined thousands of other runners as part of a 5K/10K walk and run to raise funds for Fisher House Wisconsin.

The organization seeks to provide a “home away from home” for family members of active military, as well as veterans, who are hospitalized for an illness, disease, or injury. The race course brought participants all around American Family Field, the Brewers’ home stadium, even through a portion of the field as they neared the finish line.

8. Winnebago County adds new staff member—a therapy dog

In August, a new member joined the team at the Winnebago County Medical Examiner’s Office—a goldendoodle named K9 Brie. The one-year-old dog joined the county’s ranks as a therapy dog for the office, and its tasks include providing comfort and support to grieving families.

K9 Brie also offers support to first responders and law enforcement officers, who will sometimes have to endure traumatizing and tragic events in the line of duty. The service dog underwent approximately 6,000 hours of training, in both real-world scenarios as well as classroom training.

9. Green Bay Packers players visit children in the hospital

The Green Bay Packers aren’t just inspiring people on the field, as players from the National Football League team stopped by Children’s Wisconsin, a children’s hospital in Milwaukee, and visited with several patients. Tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft stopped by the hospital on Sept. 19 and played games with several patients and their families, while speaking to others over Zoom.

The visit was part of the Packers vs. Cancer initiative, which seeks to raise awareness of all types of cancer and educate on the importance of early screening and detection. The initiative has been in existence for seven years, and it also seeks to raise funds for research and care for cancer patients.

10. Friendship-focused bike ride raises funds for people with disabilities

This year marked the fifth annual Bike4Friendship, a Milwaukee bike ride that raises awareness for people living with disabilities and mental health struggles. Specifically, the event raised funds for Friendship Circle of Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that provides support, opportunities, and friendship to people with disabilities.

Riders could pedal any distance, between one and 100 miles, during the event, and had to fundraise a minimum of $50 for a shorter distance, and a minimum of $360 for longer distances, including the 100-mile ride. More than 200 cyclists and walkers showed up to participate in the event.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related: Tree-mendous news: This year’s Capitol Holiday Tree will be harvested in Oconto County