MONROE — A group of former Monroe High School students that has raised money for scholarships is having its fifth annual summer event July 25 and July 26. 

Move It Forward began in 2020 and has raised nearly $60,000. Move It Forward was created by Ethan Rosenstiel when he was in eighth grade. Rosenstiel is the son of Kari and Dan Rosenstiel of Monroe. 

“When I was in eighth grade, I felt like I wanted to do something to give back. Usually, my parents would say no to some of my ideas and they did say no to this originally. But I went ahead and did it anyway,” said Rosenstiel. “The first year, we raised around $5,000. After the first year, we wanted to do it again and we officially named it Move It Forward.”

Since 2020, Move It Forward has held a winter event with a hockey tournament and a summer event with a seven team volleyball tournament and additional fundraising with a taco truck and other concessions. 

This year, Move It Forward is raising funds to benefit the Monroe High School Launch Program and Move It Forward Scholarship Fund. With the new pickleball courts at Northeast Park, Move It Forward is adding a Pickelball Tournament to the list. 

Rosenstiel is now a student at UW-Milwaukee pursuing a career in architecture.

Organizing Move It Forward, Rosenstiel is currently joined by Lizzy Boll, Anna Zentner, Chesney Slotten, Elsen Gratz, Ryan Mathiason and Abby Grossen. 

The group is raising money for Move It Forward’s fifth annual summer event thanks to the generosity of local businesses. 

“Monroe is such a generous community and our organization is built on the generosity of our community,” said Rosenstiel. “The feeling you get when it’s all over and done with is hard to describe.” 

Rosenstiel said sponsorships are just about filled up, but financial donations are still being accepted.