By Doug LaViolette
May 29, 2020 was a special day for our family. Our grandson, Walker, turned two years old and as a family, we walked his age in miles through their neighborhood.
After one of our Board members, Darrel Burnett, heard we were doing this, he suggested we have a “Walk with Walker” to benefit Brian’s Foundation and challenged our Board of Advisors to pledge for each mile walked.
Clearly with only 2 miles no one could get too terribly hurt, and at the same time we could take a huge step (no pun intended) to help fund and fulfill our mission.
With that as a backdrop “Walk With Walker” was born and the journey began…
He was bright eyed and raring to go as he started from home. And that energy and joy carried throughout his entire walk. This is Walker on the final leg of his 2 mile “marathon” proudly showing his mom and dad the way.......
It took a little longer than we expected, 1 hour and 45 minutes, because Walker stopped so many times to read letters on yard signs or anything he could find…
And what an amazing success it was… Our board really stepped up to a point where we raised enough money to fund two scholarships we awarded this year.
With Walker’s Walk taking place in Asheville, North Carolina, it seemed fitting that we remember and honor the memory of a fallen Asheville soldier Ken Hess at AC Reynolds High School.
Ken was very proud to serve his country and had plans of making a career out of the Army. Ken served in the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He was a father, a husband, brother and a friend.
Sadly his life was lost after 6 years of service in April 2006.
NWTC recipient, Dustin Olsen
At the same time, we looked once again to the future and the great work of the students in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Brian’s Foundation has awarded scholarships at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College for the last two decades. We support all they do in shaping new generation of students pursuing their passion and life’s calling.
We’re truly blessed…Doug and Renee LaViolette
