Welcome Larry Lucier to our Advisory Board!

We are proud to announce Larry Lucier has joined our team as an advisory board member!  Brian's Foundation has been dear to Larry's heart and he has been a friend of our family for going on 40 years.

To quote Larry, "I'm very honored to be asked to help with the future direction of The Journey. The growth and expansion of the Foundation over the past twenty-four years has been simply phenomenal, due to the incredible dedication of the LaViolette family and many generous supporters.

The scholarship recipients have crossed many borders throughout the world. Who would have imagined? While Doug and Renee will continue to be the driving spirit of Brian's Foundation, Kimberly LaViolette will assume an even more prominent leadership position in the years ahead. It will be challenging, yet exciting, to assist in drawing the next roadmap of The Journey."

Larry Lucier is President and CEO of Green Bay Seven-Up Bottling Company. Raised in Green Bay and married to Jeanne Lucier, they are proud parents of two children, Alex, Green Bay and Claudine, Austin, Texas. He is a graduate from St. Norbert College, earning a degree in business.

Larry is a long-time parishioner of Resurrection Church and a twenty-five year member of the Allouez Optimist Club. He has served as President of the Seven-up Bottler's Association and on the board of the Wisconsin Soft Drink Association. He has also served as an advisory board member of the YMCA and Wells Fargo Bank. He continues to be active at St. Patrick's Food Pantry.

To relax, Larry's hobbies include international travel, reading, golf, biking, movies, and playing bridge.

Can you believe that 767 students have received scholarships through Brian's Foundation?  You are part of something BIG!  

The first scholarship recipient, Todd Simonis is now a minister in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 

The 297th scholarship recipient, Zach Sites is an EMT in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

The 461th scholarship recipient, Andisani Tsengiwe, did his schooling in South Africa.

The 603rd scholarship recipient, Renata Bruzdziak graduated from the University of Warsaw in Poland this past year.

And the 706th scholarship recipient, Donglin Zhang is...

If you are a past scholarship recipient, we'd love to know where you are now... please drop us a quick email to let us know!  

You can now find the Foundation on Twitter!

https://twitter.com/bdlfoundation

 

Thank you to Board member, Jen Mulhall for being our Twitter master!

2016 Brian LaViolette Scholarship Recipient!

We had a 'Publishers Clearing House' moment last week. Let me fill you in...

We surprised the 2016 Brian LaViolette Scholarship recipient, Eric Hess of Bay Port High School.  This scholarship award is $10,000 and will go to towards Eric's education at the University of Minnesota where he will study biomedical research. 

In the Partners in Education school district there were 3600 Seniors in the class of 2016.  One was selected to receive Brian's Scholarship. 

Through the administrative help of Partners in Education, one student from the 17 schools in the Green Bay district is asked to apply.  The committee narrows it down to 5 and our family, along with Ashley of Partners in Education interview the finalists. 

 Our surprise happened to be during Eric's choir class.

 

 

They even sang us a song!

 

This was the crew that was a part of the surprise. Bay Port High School's counselors, superintendent, principal and our family. Fun!

 

We heard from Eric after the surprise...

"Although it is true that the scholarship is certainly rewarding financially, I have to say that I am much more honored by the fact that a family such as yours, which has seen so many possible candidates for scholarships, selected me out of the crowd of many. 

I am still in a little bit of shock over it, because yes, like anyone else, it is easy to doubt myself, but 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."

Congratulations Eric, we look forward to following your Journey!

Martin Baxa receives the Brian LaViolette Spirit Award

Martin Baxa epitomizes leadership, dedication and support to the citizens of Plzen, Czech Republic.  For those of you who had the opportunity to hear Plzen's Mayor, Martin Baxa address the audience at the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay Wisconsin on 11.12.13 you may have a better understanding of the man he is.

Deputy Mayor Baxa has passion, compassion and spirit for the American Veterans who liberated Pilsen on May 6, 1945 and the American people today.   As the Mayor of Plzen, he was instrumental in helping to establish the General George S. Patton Scholarship of Honor.  Martin is a history and geography teacher in the secondary schools in Plzen and believes strongly in education.

Martin was presented The Brian LaViolette Spirit award at the 5th annual Scholarship Of Honor reception on May 8, 2016 at the home of Barb and Partrick Foye by Brian's Dad, Doug LaViolette.  He is pictured here with his wife, Simona.