News from the Brian LaViolette Foundation
Perry Kidder serves on the Brian LaViolette Foundation Board of Advisors. He is an active member of the community and is involved with many other organizations in Northeast Wisconsin. He shares a little more about Brian's Foundation and why he chooses to be a board member in this short video.
Thanks to Dean Leisgang of ETP-NEW for making this interview possible.
We are proud to announce that Kristin Kreuser is the newest member of the Foundation's advisory board.
Kristin is Brian’s cousin and has supported the Foundation for the past 25 years by volunteering and attending all events.
An Oconto native, Kristin earned her undergraduate degree at St. Norbert College and her master’s degree from Lesley University. She has been a language arts teacher at Preble High School since 1995. At Preble, she is currently the Key Club advisor and Academic Decathlon coach.
Kristin and her husband live in Green Bay with their two children, Sydney and Michael. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, scrapbooking, and playing with her Vizsla named Ginger.
Thank you for this opportunity to honor my mother, Marianne Cannizzo-Bigler, who completed her journey in July 2016. She was born in Bern, Switzerland, and grew up in a household challenged by the great depression. After World War II, she met John, my father, who was serving with the US Army in Germany and they married in 1949 in New York City, where she became a naturalized US citizen. She spoke no English at the outset, but by the end of her life, had developed a fluency and vocabulary—based on a life time passion for reading—that attracted comment and admiration from her friends and family. Though she did not go to college, she was supportive of my father’s academic endeavors under the GI Bill, and together they created a home for us kids that was based on self-reliance, respect for others and a lifelong commitment to learning.
My parents persevered in running their own household until their 89th year of life (and nearly 66 years together). When nursing care became inevitable, our whole family came to appreciate the valuable services provided by healthcare professionals, whose efforts supplemented and enhanced the love and attention given by family members.
My parents would surely join me in thanking all those who have mastered the art of serving the public interest without undermining private dignity and the virtue of self-reliance.
There is much more to this sweet story. Marc's niece, Stephanie shares more through the words of Marianne and John themselves by clicking here.
Almost 25 years a young 15 -year-old Brian LaViolette picked up a ballpoint pen in the summer of 1992, he jotted down ‘’The Journey Is The Reward’’ on a 3 x 5 card. We never realized that those poignant words Brian cherished would ultimately be the inspiration for the foundation that bears his name.
Bringing us back to ballpoint pens in a world of smart phones and tablets, the pen is a tool that makes our civilization human. We believe that without pen to paper, great ideas would be forgotten. History, could be forgotten. Great achievements would lack humanity.
Milestone moments – parents signing a birth certificate, students penning a driver’s license, college application, marriage license, military oath, homeowner’s paperwork – all share a signature.
This poetic reality influenced the initiative behind the exclusive LaViolette Silver Anniversary Pen from the Brian LaViolette Foundation. We’re pleased to introduce a new program in partnership with Riteline Writing Instruments of Dallas, TX.
The LaViolette Pen, in classic black with silver highlights, will write new chapters for you, and for future generations.
Your brand, company logo or personal statement will be put in the hands of people who are accomplishing great things in their personal and business lives. At the same time, you will help build an endowment that enables Brian’s Foundation to carry on for generations.
This exclusive pen will reward the hard work and community service each Brian LaViolette scholarship supports. Together, we can assist students on their educational journeys as they continue to make positive and everlasting marks on this earth.
Call us and find out how your brand, your company your logo or your very own inspirational statement can be put in the hands of people who are accomplishing great things in their personal and business life at the same time you will be helping to build an endowment that will enable Brian's Foundation to carry-on for generations to come.
You will be in good company. We are proud to share with you, these Friends of the Foundation who have signed on as our very first sponsors in this nationwide program.
For more details on how you can be part of a chapter in this amazing story, contact Doug LaViolette at 920-655-4098
Sponsors
Platinum- $1000.00 level:
Hewlett Packard, Ariens, Nicolet National Bank, Pierce Manufacturing
Silver- $400.00 level:
Nueske's Applewood Smoked Meats, Oshkosh Airport Products
“Our experience ordering “Pens for a Purpose” for Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats, was fast and easy.
With each pen we share, we are supporting the achievements of hard-working scholars through the distribution of the Brian LaViolette Foundations’ scholarship programs. The pens look slick and write with super-smooth ink flow.
Thanks to the Foundation for offering us a quality promotional good with the added benefit of helping others.”
Megan Dorsch, Marketing Manager, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats
For more details on Pens with a Purpose, visit http://www.briansjourney.com/pens-with-a-purpose/
This year marks the 25th year of awarding scholarships through the Brian LaViolette Foundation. Starting with one scholarship at DePere High School, the Foundation now awards nearly 51 scholarships annually in the memory of others, allowing their spirit to live on.
Thomas Hudner: Fox Valley Civil Air Patrol- April 22nd
Sal Giunta: JFK High School, Cedar Rapid, IA- April 24, 6:30 pm
Joel Gentz: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN- April 29, 6:00 pm
General George S. Patton: Pilsen, Czech Republic,- May 6th
Kyle Hemauer: Chilton High School, WI-May 10, 7:00 pm
Victoria Parmentier Scholarship: Ashwaubenon High School, WI-May 10, 6:30
Matt Atkinson: Green Bay East High School, WI- May 15, 7:00 pm
Len Keller: Auburn High School, Rockford, IL- May 16, 6:00
Joe Welke: Rapid City Stevens High School, SD- May 16, 7:00pm
Samantha Rose Cuene: DePere High School, WI- May 17, 6:30 pm
David Parmentier: DePere High School, WI- May 17, 6:30 pm
John Bradley: Appleton West High School, WI- May 17, 6:30pm
Ken Kubsch: Manitowoc High School, WI- May 17, 7:00pm
Ron Sager: Fox Valley Lutheran High School, WI- May 17, 6:00 pm
Isaiah Hunt: Bayport High School, WI- May 19, 9:00 am
Ken Hess: AC Reynolds High School, Asheville, NC- May 23, 6:00 pm
Rachel Bosveld: Waupun High School, WI- May 24, 6:00 pm
James Cathey: Reno High School, NV- May 24, 6:00 pm
Danny Dietz: Heritage High School, Littleton, CO- May 24, 6:30 pm
Wendell and Shanna Ellsworth (2 scholarships): Belding High School, MI, May 24, 7:00 pm
Nichole Frye: Lena High School, WI-May 24, 7:30 pm
Nueske Family (2 scholarships): Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School, WI, May 24, 7:00 pm
Brent Vroman: Omro High School, WI-May 24, 6:30 pm
Robert Foley: United States Military Academy, West Point NY- May 25, 5:00
Ryan Jerabek: Pulaski High School, WI- May 25, 7:00 pm
Andrew Brownfield: North High School, Akron OH- May 26, 9:00 am
Above and Beyond Scholarship: Oconto High School, WI-May 24, 6:30 pm
Esther Cleveland Safford: Oconto High School, WI- May 24 6:30 pm
Robert Safford: Oconto High School, WI- May 24, 6:30 pm
"The Journey is the Reward": Oconto High School, WI-May 24, 6:30 pm
NWTC Scholarship: Oconto High School, WI- May 24, 6:30 pm
Jerome Hatfield: Tunstall High School, Dry Fork VA- To be announced
Brian LaViolette: Partners in Education- Late-May
Ollie and Helen Bogsted: Suring High School, WI- May 27th
"The Journey is the Reward": Suring High School, WI- May 27th
NWTC Scholarship: Suring High School, WI- May 27th
Eric McColley: Gettysburg High School, PA-May 25, 7:00 pm
Ken Stumpf, Elmer Burr: Menasha High School, WI-May 30, 9:00 am
Jesse Thiry: Luxemburg Casco High School, WI, May 31, 9:00 am
Ben Edinger: Green Bay West High School, WI- May 31 6:30pm
Ray Zimmerman (3 scholarships): Green Bay West High School, WI- May 31, 6:30 pm
Mike Colalillo: Denfeld High School, MN-June 1, 6:30pm
Nainoa Hoe: 1Lt Nainoa K. Hoe Battle Command Training Center, Schofield Barracks, HI- August 28th
LEAP School Science and Math, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa-Summer of 2017
Poland Scholarships (2 Scholarships): Nidzica Foundation Award Ceremony, Nidzica Poland- September 2017
Bellin College Scholarship- Green Bay, WI- October 2017
St. Norbert Scholarships (2 Scholarships): DePere, WI --October 2017
Junior Achievement- Business Challenge-Awarded February 2017
Go Valley Kids is a complete community guide for family activities and information in Northeast Wisconsin, focusing on the Fox Valley area. As proud local parents we love sharing all our community has to offer by educating, entertaining and empowering families to lead happy, healthy lives.
Brian's Foundation is featured as their Non-profit Spotlight for March! Thank you for sharing our story, GVK!
http://govalleykids.com/brian-laviolette-scholarship-foundation/
Thank you for sharing the story Todd McMahon of Green Bay Press-Gazette!
Marion Skelton knows precisely where she was at 9:34 the night of Jan. 23, 1977, a Sunday.
The now-retired nurse was in a delivery room at Bellin Hospital as Renee LaViolette gave birth to a boy. Renee and husband Doug’s first child weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces and stretched 20 ½ inches.
“I welcomed him into the world,” Skelton said.
Still living in Green Bay, a gracious Skelton reunited with Doug and Renee at Bellin College in Bellevue. That’s where a kickoff announcement for 25th anniversary activities for the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation happened Thursday.
For all of the warm-and-fuzzy chatter that ensued about the foundation and its tremendous outreach for advancing the education of students and service members in the U.S. as well as overseas, something important was missing. Make that, somebody important.
“One life born here in Green Bay at Bellin Hospital, lost way too young, has had such a tremendous impact on his community,” said George Kerwin, the longtime president and CEO of Bellin Health.
Doug and Renee LaViolette will never forget where they were the afternoon of Aug. 8, 1992, which was a Saturday.
Instead of getting ready to drive from their De Pere home to Lambeau Field to attend the Green Bay Packers’ first preseason game of the summer with friends, the LaViolettes were whisked away by airplane to Door County. Their one and only son died that day, drowning in the bay of Green Bay near Chambers Island.
Brian LaViolette had decided to spend the day there with three friends, turning down a night out with his parents and younger sister, Kim, at the Packers game.
“He made the decision to go swimming,” Doug recalled. “At that time, he said, ‘Dad, why would I want to go watch the Packers lose?’”
Though just an exhibition game, the Packers prevailed that night, 21-13 over the Kansas City Chiefs. It was Green Bay’s only win in four preseason games, but the 1992 season turned the tide for a previously dormant franchise with the debut of quarterback Brett Favre.
“When we flew back from Door County (the night of the 8th), the lights were still lit at Lambeau. That was really hard,” Doug LaViolette said.
One of many endearing clips in a video montage produced a few years ago to bring to life an autobiography Brian had written for a class project shows him wearing a Packers helmet and No. 17 jersey (for quarterback David Whitehurst) as he played outside with his sister.
Brian’s flair for the written word included this insightful entry in his autobiography:
“Tell you what I want out of life — I would like to go into either advertising or sales. I’m sure that I would like both of them. To get those kind of jobs, I would need at least a college degree, which I plan to get. Above everything else, though, I want to be happy. If that means jumping out of a plane when I’m 80 years old, so be it. What’s life without happiness?”
A life cut far short of college, a career, having a family and getting adventurous in retirement has been no less fruitful, however.
Established just a week after his death, the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has affected hundreds of lives during the past quarter century.
The foundation has awarded more than 725 scholarships worth more than $600,000 to high school seniors going to college, those enlisting in the military and even students who are living in Poland, South Africa and the Czech Republic. Many of those scholarships have been made to honor the memories of others, not just Brian.
“It’s truly inspiring witnessing all of the good Brian’s family puts into the world,” said Emma Jeschke, a Bellin College nursing student from Iowa who received a LaViolette scholarship last year.
Doug, Renee and Kim as well as others involved with the foundation are laying the groundwork for many more years of giving. They are planning a big event Aug. 8 on the 25th anniversary of Brian’s passing, fittingly in the shadow of Lambeau Field.
“We just thought it would be kind of serendipitous to go back to Lambeau, in that area,” Doug said. “We’re just really honored to carry this story forward.”
tmcmaho2@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ToddMcMahon23.
Brian is just one of the tens of thousands brought into this world at Bellin. Imagine the impact each person has had in this world. In Brian's case, lives continue to be inspired across the globe... from the nurse in the delivery room, to the latest scholarship recipient.
You too, are making a difference. Please take a moment to watch the latest news coverage from yesterday. Other videos are featured at the links below.
Thank you so much to Bellin Health, George Kerwin, Vicki Parmentier, Emma Jeschke, NBC 26, WBAY-TV 2, WFRV-TV 5, WLUK-FOX 11, the Press Gazette, and Adrian Dean of the Community Magazine.
Yesterday, we also unveiled our '25 Years, 25 Stories' initiative, detailing how one life can truly make a difference in the lives of thousands.
This year we will be highlighting past scholarship recipients, the families we work with who have scholarships in honor of their loved ones, donors and other supporters. Please let us know if you know of someone or would like to be featured. This journey would not be the same without you.
The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, along with Bellin Health are celebrating an inspiration milestone in Northeast Wisconsin. For 25 years, the Foundation named after Brian LaViolette has been living Brian's message, "The Journey is the Reward"
Bellin Health is special to the LaViolette Foundation as that is where Brian was born 40 years ago on January 23, 1977. And while tragedy cut his life short at the age of 15, his spirit continues to impact the lives of so many.
Doug LaViolette, with Brian at one week old
A short news conference and multimedia presentation will be held at Bellin College, 3201 Eaton Road, Green Bay on Thursday, January 26th at 10:00 am. It will kick off the Brian LaViolette 25th Year Celebration and unveil our '25 Years, 25 Stories' initiative, detailing how one life can truly make a difference in the lives of thousands.
Brian is just one of the thousands brought into this world at Bellin. Image the impact each person has had on this world. In Brian's case, lives have been touched all around the globe. Join us to see how so many--from the nurse in the delivery room, to the latest scholarship recipient--continue to play a part in this incredible journey of rewarding others.
Featured Presenters:
George Kerwin, President of Bellin Health
Vicki Parmentier, Brian LaViolette Foundation Advisory Board Member and Scholarship Sponsor
Emma Jeschke, 2016 Bellin College Scholarship Recipient
Special announcement to be made regarding event on August 8th near Lambeau Field.
Interviews with event speakers and Brian's parents, Doug and Renee LaViolette, will be available following the presentation, along with b-roll opportunities.
Doug and Renee LaViolette had a visit with advisory board member, Randy Sutton who lives in Las Vegas.
Randy is very involved with Blues Lives Matter, an organization that seeks to honor and recognize the actions of law enforcement, strengthen public support and provide much-needed resources to law enforcement officers and their families.
This year will be the 25th year as a Foundation. It is hard to know what to say... are we celebrating this milestone since it is because of Brian's death that we created the foundation?
The Brian LaViolette Foundation has grown over the last 24 years and I feel one of the many blessings during this time is the number of people who have remained in our lives since the beginning of the Foundation's 'Journey'.
Austin Rios and Brian quickly became good friends in the 8th grade. Today, the Rios family and ours continue to be in each others lives. Austin received the Brian LaViolette Scholarship in 1995 from DePere High School and now lives in Rome Italy as an Episcopal priest.
Please take a few minutes to learn more about Austin's journey and his memories of Brian.
We will continue to embrace and celebrate those who started this journey with us and those we have met along the way.
You are all a part of something big. Together, we can continue to inspire and support hundreds of people across the world and in the communities we live.
The LaViolette's recently had a lovely visit with Kim and Brian's first grade teacher, Mrs. Zimmerman. She is also the sponsor of the Ray Zimmerman Scholarship at Green Bay West and a scholarship in South Africa.
2016 has been another memorable for Brian's Foundation and all who are involved. Thank you for changing the lives of so many!
"Knowing that the foundation has faith in me gives me confidence that I can live out Brian's message in my own life, and no monetary value can be placed on that encouragement."
Eric Hess, 2016 Brian LaViolette Scholarship recipient from Bay Port High School
"This scholarship allows me to take a step closer to fulfilling my dreams of becoming a nurse. I want to make a difference in families lives and overall in our community. Thank you for this opportunity. "
Mariah Jacobs, 2016 Jesse Thiry Scholarship of Honor recipient
"This award means many things to me but above them all, it means honor."
Michael D Chanda,Thomas Hudner Scholarship of Honor recipient, Fox Valley Composite Squadron
To hear from others that you helped inspirethis year, please click here
"I can't think of any better career than to provide emergency services for the community. I hope that through choosing this for a career, somehow I can make a difference in somebody's life, and also make the world a better place to live."
Zach Sites shared this in his scholarship application for the Eric McColley Scholarship of Honor at Gettysburg High School. He received the inaugural scholarship in 2007 and we are proud to say that he truly is making the world a better place.
Zach shares a unique story and the impact Brian's has had on him in the video below.
You are all a part of something big! Because of your support, individuals like Zach are out in his community SAVING LIVES! Thank you.
To learn more on how you can contribute to help others achieve their dreams, please click here.
Did you know that you can support Brian's Foundation any time you shop on Amazon?!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way to support Brian's Foundation at no cost to you. Click on link below or add the Foundation during your first visit to Amazon Smile. smile.amazon.com/ch/39-1836591
"My name is Emma Jeschke and I am a nursing student at Bellin College. I recently received the Brian LaViolette Scholarship and I would like to extend my deepest gratitude.
Emma with Doug and Renee LaViolette in the photo booth at the scholarship award reception
I was moved, not only by all the good you've helped put into the world, but also by Brian himself. His motto, 'The Journey is the Reward," carries a very powerful message and is an immense inspiration to me as I work through nursing school.
Life's journeys teach us so much more than we recognize. Life is such a precious gift and unfortunately, not always guaranteed. For this reason, we need to love fully in the present, be compassionate and empathetic towards others and never take a moment for granted.
I feel blessed beyond compare to have received such a generous gift. Your generosity is a light during dark times, and I truly appreciate the effort everyone at the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation makes to positively impact the community. Bellin College is lucky to have such compassionate friends."
Emma Jeschke, Bellin College Student Nurse
Foundation Board of Director, Darrel Burnett has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Illinois. The recipient is selected by a national University of Illinois panel based on the accomplishments and character of the individual. Alumni may not apply for or campaign for this award as it can only be received by being selected.
“I was very humbled, and frankly shocked, to receive the University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award. I was totally unaware that I was under consideration until I was contacted by the Vice Chancellor informing me that I had been selected. Upon learning of this honor I elected to draw attention to the wonderful teachers and mentors who truly deserved this award.
During the course of my remarks at the Gala, I stated that I am most proud of what we have accomplished in Brian’s name through the Brian LaViolette Foundation. The response regarding the great work of Brian’s Foundation has been heartwarming and inspires me to continue the great works we started 24 years ago. The applause Renee and Doug received that evening as I acknowledged them will stay with me for the rest of my life and made me proud to be associated with such a wonderful cause.”
Darrel graduated from the University of Illinois in 1978 had a long-standing career in broadcasting before successfully spearheading and operating many business ventures. He currently is CEO of KSI International.
Darrel is pictured here with his wife, Kelly; mother Dorothy' and sons Michael and Jeffrey
Congratulations Darrel! You deserve it.
The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation is proud to have received the highest possible rating on Charity Navigator.
This four-star rating designates Brian’s Foundation as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria.
