Brian’s Story featured in “A Second Wind”

In “A Second Wind”, Pastor Arni Jacobson and writer Robert Mims explore what happens when life’s greatest successes and spiritual victories are unexpectedly followed by stunning setbacks, doubt and depression. All these accounts are connected by the need for the spiritual equivalent of what all long-distance runners crave — the breath and grace to finish what remains ahead. That second wind is the blessing to rebound from victory-to-valley experiences to even greater triumphs in life.

The LaViolette family met Arni in 1992 shortly after his family had moved to Green Bay to start Bayside Christian Fellowship Church in Green Bay. Arni and his congregation became devoted supporters of his Foundation. He continues to support as he serves on Brian’s Foundation Board of Advisors.

Arni is a pastor, mentor, church planter, motivator, author, father, and grandfather. He has more than 30 successful years in ministry and has built dynamic churches in Merrill, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; Salem, Oregon; and pioneered a church of more than 3,000 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Arni and his wife, Jan, have two children, and are very proud of their grandchildren.

For more information on Second Wind or how to obtain a copy please contact Arni at arni@citychurchlive.org

"By Remembering One, We Honor All"--John McColley

John and Susan McColley spearheaded the National Wreath Project with the help of Stan Clark of Gettysburg. The parents of Eric McColley who was killed in the War on Terror in February 2006 started placing wreaths on his grave around Thanksgiving of 2006.

Each time they visited the cemetery with a new wreath they would place the existing wreath on the grave of a neighboring Marine. They noticed that many of the other graves were not being decorated and from that day forward they decided to honor as many as they could. In 2006, they placed 515 wreaths.

This year, with the help of so many, they were able to put over 2700 wreaths total- 500 wreaths on grave sites at Gettysburg National Cemetery and over 2,100 at Quantico National Cemetery.

The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation was so proud to financially support this noble and worthwhile cause. Foundation Board Member, Captain Tony Mitchell and his two young sons (above) helped with this effort.

The Eric McColley Scholarship of Honor was established in 2007 at Gettysburg High School and is awarded to a graduating student going into the military or a form of community or public service.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jimmy!

Katherine Cathey was 5 months pregnant when her husband James was killed while conducting combat operations in Iraq on August 21, 2005. On her son's first birthday, United States Marine Colonel Steve Beck presents Jimmy Cathey with the Scholarship of Honor medal in honor of
his Dad, USMC 2nd Lt. James Cathey.

The inscription to little Jimmy on the back of the medal reads: Your selfless service, heroic deeds and love for your Marines will never be forgotten. From this day forward, the manner by which you lived your life, with enthusiasm, with vigor, and with an energy rarely witnessed, will forever stand as an inspiration to those who take on the noble challenge of serving their fellow man. “Happy 1st Birthday Jimmy, your daddy is watching over you.” 22 December 2006

The James Cathey Scholarship of Honor was established at Reno High School and first presented in 2007. Thanks to the Remembering the Brave Foundation, this will be a perpetual tribute to James. Maybe one day James' son, will present this scholarship in honor of his Dad...what a great honor that would be!

Dad had the chance to meet Katherine at the Medal of Honor Patriot Dinner in Denver this past September where she was recognized as a Gold Star family.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jimmy, your daddy continues to watch over you.

Col. Steve Beck and Jimmy Photo by: Judy DeHaas, Rocky Mountain News
Katherine Cathey with Doug LaViolette

Scholarships presented in Nidzica, Poland

Thanks to our sponsors, 7 students received a life-changing scholarship in Nidzica, Poland on September 26, 2008. The Casey Cuene family, the Robert Nueske Family, Dr. Michael and Susan Smullen and the Weyers Family Foundation, along with the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation make this possible annually. Brian’s Foundation has worked with Nidzica Community Foundation in Poland since 2003.

Each scholarship recipient is awarded $500, along with a specially designed engraved Scholarship of Honor Medal. The inscription on the back includes the name of the recipient along with the saying:

With commitment your strength will endure
With compassion you’ll share understanding
And through knowledge, the world will be a more peaceful place.

The pure white ribbon holds the medal close to your heart, signifying our common bond, the international symbol of peace.

The photo features our 2008 Scholarship recipients (left to right): Andrzej Zawieska (Nidzica Community Foundation), Grzegorz Bruzdziak, Jakub Piasecki, Mr Tadeusz Hinc (Community businessman), Jakub Siedlecki, Bartosz Karla, Joanna Pfajfer and Ewelina Stepien. Anna Moszczynska (photo on left) also received the scholarship at an earlier date.

"First Tee" Scholarship Recipient Heads for College

Five years ago, Brian Summerfield, received our $1000 First Tee Scholarship at the Brian LaViolette Leadership Camp. Brian's Foundation partnered with the Golf Foundation of Wisconsin (GFW) in 2001 . The GFW provided children across the state with affordable and accessible facilities to have the opportunity to learn not only about golf, but also about the values the game promotes such as integrity, patience, honesty, self-confidence and leadership. The Camp was created to mirror the ideals of excellence, hope and perseverance that Brian held dear.

Brian Summerfield received the scholarship when he was 14 years old and is now heading to the University of Milwaukee.