Joseph Pabst bears a hipster-beloved last name. He’s the great-great-grandson of Capt. Fredrick Pabst, founder of Pabst Brewing Co., and is part of the Uihlein and Vogel lineages as well. It’s a lot to carry, important names in a city that values old names. But Joe has lived a generous life of his own, one that has made a mark apart from the brand and the bloodlines. Though born and raised in Arizona, Joe made a conscious decision to live where family roots run deep. His philanthropy is more purposeful and focused than many, a form of social activism. He has supported groups tackling domestic violence and bullying, and, more publicly, LGBTQ and arts organizations. He bought Niki Johnson’s controversial “Eggs Benedict,” an embroidered portrait of the pope fashioned out of about 17,000 colorful condoms. The piece, made in reaction to the pope’s comments in Africa about how condoms could increase the spread of AIDS, was dismissed as a stunt by many around the globe and in Milwaukee. Joe donated it to the Milwaukee Art Museum, which, in turn, was able to bring the artwork into its permanent collection, making its own statement about the work’s legitimacy. Joe has also helped bring sections of the AIDS Quilt to MAM, and acquired Taryn Simon’s poignant photograph of a small flask of live HIV virus for the museum as well. The latter is “activated,” as he’s said, every year when it’s placed on view for World AIDS Day, a day that is meaningful to Joe, himself an AIDS survivor.