In Loving Memory of Cherry Starr

Cherry Morton Starr, 89, passed away peacefully at her Birmingham home with her family and close friends at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bart Starr (2019) and her son Bret (1988). She is succeeded by her son Bart Starr, Jr. (Elaena), grandchildren Shannon (Ryan), Jenny, and Lisa, and her six great-grandchildren (Bryan, Teddy, Violet, Dillon, Skyler, and Caden). She was a figurative mother to many more.

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Chellee Siewert
Bucks' Pat Connaughton to receive 2024 Vince Lombardi Award of Excellence

Pat Connaughton has picked up a number of notable titles during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks: NBA world champion, Dunk Contest participant (remember that?) and now he can add 2024 Award of Excellence recipient courtesy of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

The award – given to "individuals who capture legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s spirit of commitment and pursuit of excellence," according to a release – will be given to Connaughton at the foundation's annual Award of Excellence Dinner, hosted at The Pfister Hotel on Saturday, March 2. Recent recipients of the award include Erin Andrews, Russell Wilson, the Walter Payron family, Jim Kelly and, last year, TNT sports host Ernie Johnson. 

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Chellee Siewert
Cousins Subs presented $50,000 check at Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation event

Cousins Sub's presented the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundations (VLCF) Starr Children's Fund with a check for fundraising efforts from their Catering for a Cure Campaign. 

The event took place on Friday, Nov. 3. Throughout the month of September, Cousins Subs and their Make It Better Foundation pledged to donate $15 from every 20-piece Party Box sold, up to $50,000, to the Starr Children's Fund. 

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Chellee Siewert
'You Guys are the Real Warriors': Green Bay Packers Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft visit Children's Wisconsin in Milwaukee

Two Green Bay Packers visited Children's Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital on Tuesday, to help boost the spirits of tiny Packers fans battling childhood cancer.

The tight ends were visiting as part of the Packers vs. Cancer initiative, which was launched seven years ago and aims to raise awareness for all cancers. The Packers partner with Bellin Health and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

“Seeing the kids' faces light up when the Packers players walked in was truly heartwarming,” said Christine Baranoucky, vice president of engagement & stewardship for Children’s Wisconsin.

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Chellee Siewert
A New Breakthrough in Pediatric Cancer Gets Researchers One Step Closer to Finding a Cure

A new discovery in childhood cancer could be the next step in learning how to best fight and treat a challenging pediatric cancer. New research from Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, funded by the Starr Children’s Fund and Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, shows that cancer genes thought to be on at constant high levels might vary in being on or off depending on the phase of cell duplication. This pediatric cancer discovery, which has been published in Leukemia Research, creates more opportunities to learn critical subsequent information in the fight against cancer in children. 

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Chellee Siewert
Targeting brain tumors in kids could help find better, less toxic drugs

In order to help kids with cancerous brain tumors, Jezabel Rodriguez Blanco has to cobble together grants from different foundations to fund her work.

Sometimes, it means looking up who the foundation was named after. Rodriguez Blanc, an assistant professor at Hollings Cancer Center at Medical University of South Carolina, has received grants from cancer foundations named for two legendary sports figures. One is from the V Foundation, founded by the late North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN personality Jim Valvano. More recently, she got a $100,000 grant from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation and the Starr Children’s Fund, named for respectively the former Green Bay Packers coach and his star quarterback, Bart Starr. 

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Chellee Siewert
Phoenix Children's Hospital Chosen as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation's Leader for a Cure Award

The winner of the Super Bowl this Sunday will take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but today, it was on display at the Phoenix Children's Hospital. It's a unique honor since the hospital was chosen as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation's Leader for a Cure Award. The award recognizes members of the Super Bowl host's community dedicated to winning the battle against cancer.

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Chellee Siewert
Vince Lombardi Award of Excellence Announces Impressive Lineup of Guest Speakers

Milwaukee's own and TNT NBA broadcaster Ernie Johnson Jr. will return to his hometown to accept the Award of Excellence from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation on March 3 at Fiserv Forum.

There will be multiple guest speakers at the ceremony, including Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin, Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, Vince Lombardi's grandson John Lombardi and many more!

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Chellee Siewert
Fight cancer at Lombardi Foundation's Award of Excellence at Fiserv Forum

Cancer fighters and NBA fans alike will have something to celebrate when NBA Announcer Ernie Johnson, Jr. returns to his hometown to accept the Award of Excellence from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

During the annual event, which will take place on the evening of March 3 at Fiserv Forum, 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., guests will have the opportunity to take a stand against cancer while experiencing the city’s newest arena in an unique way.

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Chellee Siewert
Lemons of Love receives grant from Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation for chemo care packages

The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation (VLCF) board of directors and medical advisory committee are proud to announce VLCF is financing a $25,000 grant request from nonprofit Lemons of Love in Plymouth, WI. 

Elkhart Lake resident Jill Swanson founded Lemons of Love in 2014 after she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received a small gift from a friend to help her through chemotherapy treatment. Inspired by the small but significant gesture, she created Lemons of Love to deliver care packages to hospitals and oncology centers in Wisconsin and Illinois. 

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Chellee Siewert
Announcer Ernie Johnson, born in Milwaukee, will receive Lombardi Award for Excellence

Ernie Johnson, the studio host who serves as the connective tissue for one of the most entertaining sports programs on television, will return to his hometown Milwaukee on March 3 to receive the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation's Annual Award of Excellence, acknowledging Johnson for his efforts to raise cancer awareness.

All proceeds from the event support the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s mission to fight cancer in honor of its namesake Lombardi, who died at age 57 of colon cancer.

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Chellee Siewert
For Packers punter Pat O'Donnell, working with the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation starts with his late father

Packers punter Pat O'Donnell helped launch Lake Louie's Hang Time Pale Ale to raise money for the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

Helping the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation in its mission to raise funds for cancer research and treatment programs is a way to honor his dad, Terence O’Donnell, who was a longtime coach known as “Coach Terry” in Palm Beach County, Florida.

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Chellee Siewert
Dine for a cause with nationally recognized St. Louis Chef Ben Welch on Nov. 5

The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation will be hosting St. Louis culinary star, Chef Ben Welch for their upcoming Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner on Nov. 5 from 6-10 p.m. at The Wisconsin Club City Club, 900 W. Wisconsin Ave.

In fact, the dinner is a unique opportunity – not only to support the foundation’s mission to prevent, fight and cure cancer – but also to taste a meal prepared by Chef Welch without the need to travel to St. Louis.

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Chellee Siewert
Chef Ben Welch cooks for father and cancer warriors at Lombardi Foundation Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner

James Beard Award-nominated Chef Ben Welch cooks for his father and other cancer warriors at the Lombardi Foundation Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner.

The event is part of the two-day Food and Wine Experience. Welch honors his father’s fight and remembers former NFL Coach Vince Lombardi. Lombardi died of rectal cancer in 1970. The Super Bowl trophy was named for Lombardi. The event raises money to support families served by the Lombardi Foundation.

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Chellee Siewert
Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience returns on Nov. 4

One of Milwaukee’s premier food and wine events is back. The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation will once again host their Food & Wine Experience on Friday, Nov. 4.

The food and beverage-filled event offers the opportunity to enjoy a fun night out while contributing to cancer care and research at the same time.

The event, which takes place on Friday, Nov. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pfister Hotel, will feature two ballrooms filled with award winning dishes, wine, cocktails and craft beer from over 40 restaurants, wineries, distilleries and breweries.

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Chellee Siewert