The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support more than a dozen performing arts groups in Southeastern Wisconsin. Last year found UPAF doling out its largest sum ever to those groups, more than $9.17 million. This year, in hopes of replicating that success and perhaps convincing new performing arts fans to open their digital pocketbooks, the organization has revealed two new commercials featuring one of today’s most buzzed-about celebs: Henry Winkler.
Yes, Milwaukee just can’t quit the Fonz. In a Milwaukee Business Journal exclusive, it’s explained that a 1979 Winkler ad for UPAF was “recently unearthed from deep in the UPAF’s archives,” and that the new spots combine footage from that old ad with new material of the forever-cool Fonz extolling the virtues of UPAF. The project’s likely genesis is also explained: UPAF Director of Marketing David Fantle headed up the creation of the once-controversial and now-beloved “Bonze Fonz” statue back in 2008 during his time with VISIT Milwaukee.
UPAF’s 2016 “Workplace Giving Campaign” launches March 1; the Winkler ads—created by Milwaukee’s Mindpool Productions—are part of a 15-day run-up to the campaign. Oh, and the Business Journal has some more info that will be sure to excite the kids today:
At the organization’s annual meeting in December, two other commercials were unveiled featuring former Milwaukee Bucks great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Donny Most, who played Ralph Malph on Happy Days.
Here are those new/old Arthur Fonzarelli spots, which, let’s be honest, are pretty cool: