While Brian LaViolette's childhood idol, Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud was playing for the Green Bay Packers from 1980 - 1983, Brian began wearing his very first watch in August 1981 at the age of 4.
That watch was the Green Bay Packers watch shown here.
As the Brian LaViolette Foundation eyes its 30th anniversary next year, the passage of time is not lost on the LaViolette family. In seeking to grow an endowment that can fund scholarships for the next 30 years and beyond, Doug LaViolette came up with an idea after hearing about Paul Newman’s famous Daytona watch selling for $17.8 million.
Brian himself loved watches, he was really passionate about watches. In his short life, Brian collected seven watches, and now, the foundation is on a mission to collect some famous ones for its “Watch Project."
“We’re looking to gather watches from people who have helped shape this country and the world and eventually auction those watches off. Right now, according to what I’ve been able to research, there’s over four billion watches in the world and we’re only looking for 22,” says LaViolette.
The foundation is off to a great start, with watches from Jerry Lewis, Priscilla Presley, Medal of Honor recipient Sal Giunta, and Brian’s childhood idol, Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Jan Stenerud, already in safe keeping at Nicolet National Bank.
“What Doug and his family have done is phenomenal, I know he’s getting a lot of help but to keep Brian’s memory alive and be able to help people from law enforcement families, military, first responders is a phenomenal cause, I’m so proud of them and it’s humbling to be part of such a wonderful cause,” said Jan Stenerud during an interview with Jeff Alexander of WBAY-TV 2.
Brian took the liberty of drawing Jan's football card he had hanging on his bulletin board in his bedroom. One unique thing about Jan Stenerud is he also played soccer which drew Brian to him. Pictured below is Jan’s Green Bay Packers watch.
You can learn more about the Watch Project and hear from Jan himself during this WBAY-TV 2 story here.Brian's Foundation will roll out its collection of watches to be auctioned on February 22, 2022.
For more details on the "Once Upon a Time Watch Project", please contact Doug LaViolette 920-655-4098 or doug@thelaviolettegroup.com or visit our website here.
