New Scholarship of Honor at West Point Academy

We are proud to announce a newly established Scholarship of Honor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This award will pay tribute to a living Medal of Honor Recipient, Robert Foley. The first annual Robert Foley Scholarship of Honor at West Point will be presented during the Commandant’s Awards Convocation at West Point Academy on May 27th, 2008.

Photo: Nick Del Calzo

United States Army Lieutenant General Robert Foley’s bravery in combat above and beyond the call of duty while serving his country during Vietnam earned him the nation’s highest honor for valor. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 5, 1966.


The scholarship will recognize a West Point Cadet who has gone through difficult circumstances and overcome obstacles while a Cadet. He or she will have established themselves as a true “leader of character” excelling in all four developmental pillars-Intellectual, Military, Physical and Moral-Ethical while at the same time reflecting and epitomizing the motto of West Point – “DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.”

Why in honor of LTG Foley? And why at West Point? The week of Brian’s funeral, a letter arrived from West Point inviting Brian to consider applying to the United States Military Academy. At that time Brigadier General Robert Foley was Commandant of Cadets. It is easy to see how in General Foley’s life he also made his journey the reward through his commitment to his country, family, the Academy, and accomplishments along the way.

A Special Donation...

Through the generous support of the Weyers Family Foundation of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the endowments for 20 Scholarships of Honor established in 10 states will continue to solely fund their respective scholarships. The costs to maintain the scholarships are being funded by the Weyers Family Foundation through an annual preservation pledge. This preservation pledge helps with annual maintenance costs which include: the Scholarship of Honor Medal, engraving, presentation box, shipping, framing (like the one pictured right) etc. This allows only the scholarship award money to be taken out of each trust fund annually. This is the single largest donation that Brian’s Foundation has received in its 15 year history. In addition, the Weyers Family Foundation is also the proud sponsor of the John Bradley Scholarship of Honor endowment and two annual Poland Scholarships. We can not thank the Weyers Family enough for their support in our Journey and the lives of so many others.

Pictured above: Ron and Colleen Weyers (right) with Mrs. Betty Bradley and 2007 John Bradley Scholarship of Honor recipient, Luke Justman

Brett Favre Autograph Packers Helmet

A special thanks to Ed Martin of HJ Martin and Sons, Inc. in Green Bay for the donation an official Green Bay Packers Helmet signed by Brett Favre, which includes special details on his 3x MVP record, total passing yards and touchdowns make it extra special. We can see why one just like this was recently auctioned at a Notre Dame Fundraiser event for $4000. Martin proudly serves on the Green Bay Packers Executive Committee.

Midwest Airlines’ Gift of Travel helps Continue the Journey...

Through the generous support of Midwest Airlines, the memory of our nation's service men and women, and their commitment to duty, honor and country, live on through the Scholarship of Honor Program established by the Brian LaViolette Foundation.

This new year marks a milestone in the history of Brian's Foundation. With scholarships now being award in 10 states and 2 countries. As much as our family and board members would like to attend every scholarship presentation, the cost to do so would not allow us. But with the kindness of Greg Aretakis, of Midwest Airlines, we've been fortunate to participate and share in some of the scholarship presentations that take place coast to coast.

Thanks to Midwest Airlines our message will continue to thrive by those scholarship recipients who share a passion for community service and love of country. Their message of ’’The Best Care In The Air'' certainly holds true in our mind!

Photo: Kim LaViolette presenting Greg Artakis one of the Foundation's Scholarship of Honor Medals at the 2007 Medal of Honor Convention in Green Bay, WI.

Foundation mentioned in the latest Sports Illustrated!

Walter Iooss Jr./SI


Sue LeTourneau, a member of our Foundation Board and also our family, has been a HUGE Packers fan her entire life, but after we started the Foundation, she began to tailgate for a reason. Brats for Brian has been a staple in the Lambeau Field parking lot every home game for years. With the help of many others and Nueske meats, Packers fans and opposing team fans (yes, even Viking fans) have walked away satisfied and touched by the story of Brian’s Foundation. A few weeks ago, Sue was approached by Sports Illustrated and later interviewed for an article they were having on Brett.

(Page 5 of 10)...But he does much more than just raise money and inspire others from afar. At a fund-raiser for Green Bay's Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, Favre came on stage to play drums with the house band. "When that happened, a bunch of us old ladies in the crowd started screaming," says Sue LeTourneau, who helps run the scholarship program named for her late nephew, who died in a swimming accident.

(Page 10 of 10) Sue LeTourneau of the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation: "On his 30th birthday, I held up a sign in the stands here at Lambeau. When he ran onto the field, he looked at me and gave a thumbs-up. Oh, my God, I thought I was going to die right then and there!"

To see the entire story, please visit: Sports Illustrated- December 10, 2007