What do John Hancock and Brian have in common?

41 years ago, the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association created National Handwriting Day to honor and preserve the handwritten word and to sustain the art and importance of handwriting for future generations.   

That same day, January 23, 1977, Brian LaViolette was born.  From an early age, Brian was inspired by the words of great leaders and kept a collection of handwritten sayings.   

His favorite saying was, "The Journey is the Reward" which many of you know has become the inspiration of the Brian LaViolette Foundation.  Thousands worldwide have joined this journey over the past 25 years, making positive change in the lives of others.

We believe in the power of the 'pen'. Without pen to paper, great ideas or history may have been forgotten. Have you heard of John Hancock? His birthday is also January 23rd.

Milestone moments - whether it is signing a birth certificate, driver's license, college application, marriage license, military oath, or homeowner's paperwork - all share a signature.

The Brian LaViolette Foundation has partnered with Riteline Writing Instruments of Dallas TX, for the Foundation's exclusive program Pens With a Purpose.

Pens With a Purpose gives individuals or companies an opportunity to write a new chapter for their business or personal lives while, at the same time support the Brian LaViolette Foundation for generations to come.  

These are just a few of the companies that have joined us on this Journey.

For more details on Pens with a Purpose, visit our website or email Kim LaViolette Mosteller at kim.laviolette@gmail.com.

An Unexpected Honor for a young Green Bay man

One of our board members was so moved after hearing Riley Garbe's story of overcoming a lot of adversity to graduate from college, that he created the Riley Garbe Scholarship to help other students do the same.

Thank you WBAY-TV2 for sharing the story!

Remembering Thomas J. Hudner

From Doug LaViolette…

“I knew it was coming, but the phone call I’ve been dreading came late yesterday afternoon.  Thomas Hudner passed away surrounded by his loving family.  

I distinctly remember the first time I met Tom Hudner; it was September 30, 2004 in Columbia, South Carolina.  The last time was April 1, 2017.  Both dates have an indelible mark on my life.

In Columbia, SC, I proudly represented the City of Green Bay with a proposal to host the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Annual Convention that was ultimately held in 2007.   The last time I saw Tom was in Bath, Maine as I witnessed the Navy ship being Christened in his name, the USS THOMAS HUDNER DDG 116. 

Tom and his wife, Georgea in Green Bay in 2005 on one of his visits. 

For the past 13 years, our family had the privilege to get to know Tom and to call him a friend. 

Tom had visited our area over the years and he also presented the Thomas Hudner Scholarship of Honor twice.  This annual scholarship has been awarded through Brian’s Foundation since 2005 and will forever keep his memory alive in the hearts and minds of the scholarship recipients.

Tom with scholarship recipients, Lucas Benish (2012) and Margaret Viola (2011)

They will learn, as we have, of Tom Hudner’s commitment to his fellow man and his lifelong quest to help others.   Tom Hudner truly was not only an American War Hero but a gentlemen who cared deeply about making the world a better place.   

Thank you Tom. For everything."

Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/ Boston Globe

Margaret Viola received the Tom Hudner Scholarship of Honor in 2011.  She knew aerospace was for her when she was teaching in Somalia in East Africa.  She found herself volunteering at the area's airport and returned to the U.S. with a dream of receiving her private pilots license.  She has achieved that and more with a career at Virgin Galactic and now Airbus.  She shares what Tom's scholarship means to her in the video below...

"This award means many things to me but above them all, it means honor. This award also means legacy to me.  It is not just my legacy that it holds, it is the legacy of the people that fought and died for our country even when they knew what lied ahead.  I would just like to thank you again for choosing me for this award an scholarship, it truly means the world to me."  

Michael D Chanda, Thomas Hudner Scholarship of Honor 2016

"Scholarship Season"

Spring is what we call "Scholarship Season" around here, but that does not mean scholarships are finished being awarded for the year in May or June.

There are several scholarships proudly awarded after the main "scholarship season" that we would like to highlight for you.

Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor

Every August 28th the Nainoa Hoe Scholarship of Honor is awarded at the Lt. Nainoa Hoe Mission Training Complex at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu Hawaii. 

August 28th commemorates Nainoa's birthday- this year would have been his 40th birthday and marked the 11th annual Scholarship of Honor awarded in his name through Brian's Foundation. 

This years' recipient, Cadet Vanna Nguyen is a sophomore at the University of Hawaii, at Manoa and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Animal Science with the goal of serving as a Veterinarian in the U.S. Army.

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"Aloha to a very special family whose legacy has touched countless lives and made a difference in immeasurable ways."  Allen Hoe, Nainoa's Dad

Bellin College Scholarship

Bellin Hospital is where Brian and Kim LaViolette came into this world, so it holds a special place in our hearts.  We started this scholarship to honor and thank the nurses who spend their lives helping others. 

Corrina Dart from Algoma Wisconsin, received this years' Bellin College Scholarship through Brian's Foundation.  

She is a sophomore in the nursing program and is looking forward to clinicals where she will decide what she will be specializing in. She is pictured here with Renee and Doug LaViolette.

"I am so very grateful for the support I have been given and feel honored to have been chosen for it. I hope that my future in nursing leads me to more people who are as generous and caring as you all have been, and that I can give back in the best way I know how; caring for others. I cannot thank you enough!"  Corrina Dart, Sophomore Traditional BSN Nursing Student, Bellin College

NWTC... Sometimes Scholarships run in the family

For the past 17 years, Brian's Foundation has been awarding and recognizing graduating seniors from Oconto and Suring High Schools moving on to higher education at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College.

Last month John Christenson from Suring High School and James Merline from Oconto High School were awarded this years scholarships. John is studying Radiography.  James is studying Automation Engineering and Electro-Mechnaical Technology.

Sometimes scholarships run in the family too! John's, brother Cody received the same scholarship a few years ago and is now a police officer. John and Cody are pictured with their dad, Ron and Doug and Renee LaViolette.

Poland International Scholarship of Honor

Over 70 scholarships through Brian's Foundation have been awarded to date in Poland. In 2003, the Foundation teamed up with the Nidzica Local Fund in Poland to coordinate the selection process for these scholarships.  

Nidzica is a small, rural area and our scholarship helps students attend universities in larger towns to pursue their dream of college education.

Next month, Dominika Wozniak will receive this years' scholarship sponsored by Darlene Nueske.  Dominika is in her second year at Warsaw Polytechnic, studying Biotechnology.

St. Norbert College Scholarships

St. Norbert College was one of the first scholarships the Foundation awarded. Since 1992, young men and women from DePere High School attending St. Norbert College have had a chance to pursue their goals and dreams with the help of Brian's Foundation. These awards are based on academic and extracurricular excellence and are announced later this month.

We look forward to springtime when most of the scholarships are awarded, but for Brian's Foundation, "Scholarship Season" is all year long.

AN OPEN LETTER TO A LOCAL TEEN                                               WHO DROWNED 25 YEARS AGO

BY PAUL SRUBAS

Here’s an open letter to Brian LaViolette, a guy who has been dead for 25 years.

I’m not sure how else to reach him, so I’m giving this a try. If you’re not him, go turn to the sports section or something, and give me and Brian a moment, would you?

Dear Brian,

You don’t know me, I don’t believe. We’ve never met face-to-face, and, with all due respect, I hope we don’t for a good many years. I don’t think the Press-Gazette delivers to where you are now, but we’re online now, too, so who knows? Maybe you’ll see this.

Anyway I feel like somebody ought to tell you some of what has been going on in your name over the last 25 years since you’ve been gone.

Yep, can you believe it? It’s 25 years ago this week that you drowned off Chambers Island. In fact, today would be the 25th anniversary of the very day they recovered your body. You were 15, which means you’d be 40 today. Crazy, eh?

As you can imagine, your death crushed your ma and dad and kid sister. In fact, I was talking to your dad, Doug, just this week about you, and he’s a pretty strong guy, but even 25 years later, he still had to keep apologizing for stopping mid-sentence and blinking way too much. 

“We think about our son every single day,” Doug told me.

But wounds heal in different ways for different people. For Doug and your mom, Renee, it motivated them to start the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation shortly after you died. It’s meant to keep your memory alive, but you’d be amazed at what a big deal it’s become.

I got to thinking about that this week. Your foundation had a full-page ad last Tuesday in the Green Bay Press-Gazette listing people who got scholarships with your name on it. There were 781 of them.

But the way I figure it, your influence on people's lives has been exponentially greater than that.

Help me do the math here. That’s 781 people who got scholarships ranging from $500 to $10,000, That's 781 people whose lives were changed by catching a financial break and getting an education that’s allowed them to go into the workforce prepared to do better for themselves, their families and the world. And that’s roughly 781 parents or sets of parents who caught a break in sending their kid to college. So how many are we up to?

Your foundation has become sort of an umbrella foundation for 55 other scholarships, set up by other grieving parents in the names of their dead kids, all over the world. Now how many are we up to?

Your dad said to me, “This has gotten to be so much bigger than Brian.” I almost thought saying that would make him a little sad, but it was the opposite. He was proud. Of you.

Then there are all the hundreds of donors, pouring money into your scholarship fund and these 55 others. You have to count that as an impact, too, because giving money to a cause has a way of changing the donors' lives.

About 300 of those folks showed up at a big shindig held for you this week.

It was held in the Legends Club at Lambeau Field, up on the fourth level. Oh, wait. You were a big Green Bay Packers fan, I understand, but you don’t know anything about the big stadium renovation, do you? Well, anyway they have this big conference space up there, and they held a nice dinner, and an auction where people could bid big money for signed footballs and stuff, to raise money for scholarships.

A bunch of past-year scholarship winners were introduced. The guy whose boat was used to help find your body in the bay was there. The lady who was the on-duty nurse at Bellin Hospital the day you were born was even there. It felt like a scene out of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Your kid sister Kim organized the event. She’s executive director of your foundation now, keeping track of tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of other people’s money, applications, putting on events and everything, can you believe it? She was only 12 when you died, but she's quite the young lady now. She's getting married in three weeks, you know.

The guest speaker for the party was a veteran named Sal Giunta. He’s a Medal of Honor recipient from Iowa, the first living recipient since the Vietnam War. He did some incredibly heroic stuff a few years ago in a war that you wouldn't have heard about yet. Now he’s got a scholarship going, under that Brian LaViolette umbrella I was telling you about, but his is named after two buddies that died in battle.

All Giunta could talk about was how he was in awe of the idea that your scholarships, his scholarship, all the scholarships being given away under the Brian LaViolette Foundation umbrella, go to not just smart students but students who have shown a spirit of volunteerism, a sense of community, a desire to help others.

I thought maybe he'd strike a John Wayne pose and say something like, "There I was, cannons to the right of me, cannons to the left of me..." His speech wasn't like that in the least.

“I am in awe of the men and women in this room,” said the guy who got a Medal of Honor from the president of the United States and then GAVE IT AWAY to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat team that he had been a part of. Did I mention he also has a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster?

That means not only is your foundation helping people go to college, but they’re coming out prepared to make a difference in the world. That’s really the exponential thing I was talking about, Brian. All these people not only going to school on your dime, but they’re also coming out to make changes that impact other people’s lives for the better. How many are we up to now?

Pretty cool, isn’t it? But then, there’s another way to look at all this.

A buddy of yours from your old Allouez neighborhood spoke at the party, too. A guy named Scott Andler. 

He agreed that your foundation had become something big and wonderful, but then he said something I think a whole lot of people in the room were thinking. He said, “To be honest, I wish my friend was here today and this foundation never happened.”

It was really something. You should've been there. Well, anyway, I hope this letter finds its way to you somehow. And keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Paul Srubas,                                                                                                                                  USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinPublished 11:10 a.m. CT Aug. 10, 2017

Tomáš Hataj

"Brian's story is probably the biggest inspiration in my life"--Tomáš Hataj, 2016 General Patton Scholarship of Honor recipient, Plzen Czech Republic. Tomáš speaks of the scholarship process and what it means to him  to this day.

Sal Giunta, special guest speaker on August 8th

Salvatore "Sal“ Augustine Giunta was born on January 21, 1985 in Clinton, Iowa. The oldest of three children of Steven—a medical equipment technician and Rosemary—a pre-school teacher, Giunta grew up in Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha, Iowa. At age 18, while working in a Subway sandwich shop, he decided to enlist and he joined the Army in November 2003. He attended Infantry One Station Unit Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, before being assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy, on May 24, 2004. Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in 2009, Giunta completed two combat tours to Afghanistan totaling 27 months of deployment.

On October 25, 2007, while conducting a patrol as team leader, Giunta and his team were navigating through the treacherous terrain of Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Giunta’s body armor and his secondary weapon. Without regard to the ongoing fire, Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security.

For his extraordinary gallantry, unrivaled courage and selfless leadership in action on October 25, 2007, Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony on November 16, 2010. Staff Sgt. Giunta was the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq or Afghanistan, the first living service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War and the eighth service member to receive the nation’s highest military decoration for valor in Iraq and Afghanistan. His other military decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal w/oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal to name a few.

He retired from the Army in June 2011 and is the author of Living with Honor (2012). He currently resides in Colorado with his wife Jennifer Giunta and two children.

More details on our 25th anniversary event

Lambeau Field, August 1992

August 8th marks the 25th anniversary of when Brian's life was lost in a swimming accident. That same day, we were supposed to be at Lambeau Field, as a family, to attend the Green Bay Packers first preseason game. Plans changed and that brings us to today...heading back to Lambeau Field to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. 

On the evening of August 8th...

• Hear from scholarship recipients and others who have been involved with Brian's Foundation since the beginning and ultimately have made the world a better place.
• Bid on unique and fun items during our live and silent auction.
• Enjoy a performance by former Miss Wisconsin and Brian LaViolette scholarship recipient Kimberly Sawyer Larsen.
• Be inspired by special guest speaker, Medal of Honor Recipient, Sal Giunta. 
• Witness the surprise presentation of the Brian LaViolette Spirit Award to four community leaders who are committed to improving their community and Brian's Foundation.

The schedule for the event is...

4:30-5:25       Meet a true American hero, Medal of Honor Recipient, Sal Giunta during an exclusive book signing for those attending this event.  The reception will be open to our guests during that time. 

5:30-6:25        Reception and Silent Auction 

6:30                Dinner is served

7:15                Evening Program

You can find more details and see our sponsors here.

If you would like to be involved in this milestone anniversary, please contact me at 828-242-3790 or kim.laviolette@gmail.com or Doug LaViolette at 920-655-4098.

A Promise Made, A Promise Kept

A 25 Year Journey…

For the past 25 years the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has been changing lives through scholarships awarded to high school seniors. It began with a single scholarship in Brian’s name, with the promise of great things being accomplished in his memory.

With the formation of the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation that single scholarship grew to over 50 annual scholarships in Wisconsin, 14 other states and three foreign countries. In addition to bearing Brian’s name, the scholarships were expanded to remember the lives of so many other individuals who served our communities and country.

To date 781 scholarships have been awarded to students with the same vision of doing great things for their community.

After 25 years, Brian’s Foundation is celebrating their accomplishments and the countless lives touched by Brian’s inspirational words, “The Journey is the Reward.”

On August 8, 2017 witness how a single promise made, and kept, continues to inspire others. 

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

5:30pm

Lambeau Field Legends Club Room

Three recipients for the Ray Zimmerman Scholarship

Gloria Zimmerman and her husband Paul, established the Ray Zimmerman Scholarship three years ago at West High School in honor of Paul's father who was a former teacher.

Paul Zimmerman past away last October and in honor of his life, two additional scholarships were awarded by Gloria at the award ceremony last week. 

Her speech shared a little more about each recipeint...

First, Cora Shefchik.  She will be attending Loras College and majoring in Political Science to pursue a career as a Child Law Attorney Advocate.  She wants to help children have a voice and be a strong helpful person that they can rely on. 

Next, Sarah Snyder.  She will be attending either Wisconsin Lutheran or Concordia University.  Her courses of study will be Chemistry and Pre-Pharmacy.  While in college she would love to go on a mission trip and participate in community services as a way to ‘paying it forward’.

Lastly, Katelyn Stasck.  She will be attending Silver Lake College.  Her field of study will be Biology/Pre-medicine with plans to attend medical school for cardiology.  Her decision to pursue this field of study is due to the impact a neurosurgeon had on her family’s lives when he saved her father’s life. 

Each of these graduates wants to ‘pay it forward’ which was also the goal of Brian LaViolette.  It is something they have already been doing during their years here at West and it is truly an honor to present these scholarships to them. 

For more details on the Ray Zimmerman Scholarship, please visit http://www.briansjourney.com/scholarships/ray-zimmerman-scholarship

The power of Education.

"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela.   

This was quoted in the essay of the 2017 Brian LaViolette Scholarship recipient, Rachel McMorrow.  We believe that she will change many lives in this world.

We surprised Rachel during her Human Anatomy class this week at West DePere High School.  

This scholarship award is $10,000 and will go to towards Rachel's education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she will pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

 Left to Right-Principal Russ Gerke, Doug LaViolette, Rachel McMorrow,  Renee LaViolette, Kim LaViolette and Superintendent John Zegers.

Through the administrative help of Partners in Education, one student was selected from about 4,000 Seniors in the Green Bay district.  A student from each of the 17 schools applies.  The committee narrows it down to 5 and our family, along with Ashley of Partners in Education interview the finalists. 

This year, you have helped financially support and inspire the lives of 53 students, many families, teachers, counselors and all those that pay it forward through their service.

Other-Worldly Wisdom by Rick Sense

This past winter my friend Doug presented me with a gift box containing a journal and pen honoring his son’s legacy. Embossed with his late son Brian’s handwritten mantra, “The journey is the reward,” I spent weeks contemplating how to properly utilize such a meaningful and thoughtful expression of friendship. (To learn more please click here.) So I placed the charcoal colored box, with the journal and pen securely inside, on my desk as a way to remind me of my quest of finding a fitting use for such a purposeful gift. More on this later…. 

I like to read. I am not a fan of fiction, but prefer reading biographical works, historical tomes and about leadership put into practice. However, over the last few months my reading list has been centered on people who have developed what I call "other-worldly wisdom" from the observations, lessons, challenges and adversity they have faced in their own life's journey. 

One of these people oozing “other-worldly wisdom” is Alexis de Tocqueville. While eating lunch on a cold February afternoon, I stumbled across a quote of his that really hit me as the right perspective needed to face adversity. The quote, taken from Democracy In America-de Tocqueville’s quintessential treatise on America, is this: “Life is to be entered upon with courage.” 

After reading this quote, I immediately took a scrap of napkin, wrote it down, folded the scrap in half and put it in my coat pocket (I refuse to mark up a book with notes and highlighting-that’s why napkins and sticky notes were created). When I returned to work, I took the scrap of napkin out of my pocket, unfolded it and stared at it, wondering how was I going to capture these “other-worldly wisdom” words properly? Then it hit me! Do you remember that wonderful gift I received earlier? I can write de Tocqueville’s quote in the journal that Doug gave me! 

After entering de Tocqueville’s words of wisdom in the journal, I stumbled on another quote later that afternoon. This one was from author Ray Bradbury. He said, “We are all born to be who we are. Our job is to finish the job on earth that we were created for.” Again, I grabbed the journal and began to transcribe.

Since that cold winter’s day in February, I have been writing down quote after quote after quote. The journal has become a go-to place for the thoughts and wisdom gathered from glimpses into other people’s journeys of living life on a daily basis. I have many inclusions in my journal and am always looking for more. I encourage you to share one with me, and others who may read this article, by leaving an attributed quote as a comment to this post.

In conclusion, I have found myself leafing through the pages of my journal, re-reading my handwritten transcriptions on many occasions. The interesting revelation to me about the quotes that I have captured so far is this: life is truly a long lesson, a lesson taught by experience. What better way to learn is there but to rely on the experiences of those on their journeys that have developed “other worldly-wisdom” and are willing to share? The benefit of their life experiences coupled with my own reminds me that Doug’s son Brian had correctly figured out life when he wrote, “the journey is the reward.”

"I have spent my life feeling the rewards"

Perry Kidder serves on the Brian LaViolette Foundation Board of Advisors.  He is an active member of the community and is involved with many other organizations in Northeast Wisconsin.  He shares a little more about Brian's Foundation and why he chooses to be a board member in this short video.

Thanks to Dean Leisgang of ETP-NEW for making this interview possible.

welcome Kristin Kreuser to our Advisory Board!

We are proud to announce that Kristin Kreuser is the newest member of the Foundation's advisory board.

Kristin is Brian’s cousin and has supported the Foundation for the past 25 years by volunteering and attending all events.  

An Oconto native, Kristin earned her undergraduate degree at St. Norbert College and her master’s degree from Lesley University.   She has been a language arts teacher at Preble High School since 1995.  At Preble, she is currently the Key Club advisor and Academic Decathlon coach.  

Kristin and her husband live in Green Bay with their two children, Sydney and Michael.  Her hobbies include traveling, reading, scrapbooking, and playing with her Vizsla named Ginger.  

Honoring his mother with contribution

By Marc Cannizzo

Thank you for this opportunity to honor my mother, Marianne Cannizzo-Bigler, who completed her journey in July 2016. She was born in Bern, Switzerland, and grew up in a household challenged by the great depression. After World War II, she met John, my father, who was serving with the US Army in Germany and they married in 1949 in New York City, where she became a naturalized US citizen. She spoke no English at the outset, but by the end of her life, had developed a fluency and vocabulary—based on a life time passion for reading—that attracted comment and admiration from her friends and family. Though she did not go to college, she was supportive of my father’s academic endeavors under the GI Bill, and together they created a home for us kids that was based on self-reliance, respect for others and a lifelong commitment to learning.

My parents persevered in running their own household until their 89th year of life (and nearly 66 years together). When nursing care became inevitable, our whole family came to appreciate the valuable services provided by healthcare professionals, whose efforts supplemented and enhanced the love and attention given by family members.

My parents would surely join me in thanking all those who have mastered the art of serving the public interest without undermining private dignity and the virtue of self-reliance.

There is much more to this sweet story.  Marc's niece, Stephanie shares more through the words of Marianne and John themselves by clicking here.

Write from the hand. Right from the soul.

Almost 25 years a young 15 -year-old Brian LaViolette picked up a ballpoint pen in the summer of 1992, he jotted down ‘’The Journey Is The Reward’’ on a 3 x 5 card.  We never realized that those poignant words Brian cherished would ultimately be the inspiration for the foundation that bears his name. 

Bringing us back to ballpoint pens in a world of smart phones and tablets, the pen is a tool that makes our civilization human. We believe that without pen to paper, great ideas would be forgotten. History, could be forgotten. Great achievements would lack humanity.

Milestone moments – parents signing a birth certificate, students penning a driver’s license, college application, marriage license, military oath, homeowner’s paperwork – all share a signature.

This poetic reality influenced the initiative behind the exclusive LaViolette Silver Anniversary Pen from the Brian LaViolette Foundation.  We’re pleased to introduce a new program in partnership with Riteline Writing Instruments of Dallas, TX.

The LaViolette Pen, in classic black with silver highlights, will write new chapters for you, and for future generations.

Your brand, company logo or personal statement will be put in the hands of people who are accomplishing great things in their personal and business lives. At the same time, you will help build an endowment that enables Brian’s Foundation to carry on for generations.

This exclusive pen will reward the hard work and community service each Brian LaViolette scholarship supports. Together, we can assist students on their educational journeys as they continue to make positive and everlasting marks on this earth.

Call us and find out how your brand, your company your logo or your very own inspirational statement can be put in the hands of people who are accomplishing great things in their personal and business life at the same time you will be helping to build an endowment that will enable Brian's Foundation to carry-on for generations to come.  

You will be in good company.  We are proud to share with you, these Friends of the Foundation who have signed on as our very first sponsors in this nationwide program.

For more details on how you can be part of a chapter in this amazing story, contact Doug LaViolette at 920-655-4098

Sponsors

Platinum- $1000.00 level:

                   Hewlett Packard, Ariens, Nicolet National Bank, Pierce Manufacturing

Silver- $400.00 level:

                  Nueske's Applewood Smoked Meats, Oshkosh Airport Products

Pens with a Purpose

“Our experience ordering “Pens for a Purpose” for Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats, was fast and easy. 

With each pen we share, we are supporting the achievements of hard-working scholars through the distribution of the Brian LaViolette Foundations’ scholarship programs. The pens look slick and write with super-smooth ink flow.  

Thanks to the Foundation for offering us a quality promotional good with the added benefit of helping others.”

Megan Dorsch, Marketing Manager, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats

For more details on Pens with a Purpose, visit http://www.briansjourney.com/pens-with-a-purpose/

2017 Scholarship Presentation Dates!

This year marks the 25th year of awarding scholarships through the Brian LaViolette Foundation.  Starting with one scholarship at DePere High School, the Foundation now awards nearly 51 scholarships annually in the memory of others, allowing their spirit to live on.

Thomas Hudner: Fox Valley Civil Air Patrol- April 22nd

Sal Giunta: JFK High School, Cedar Rapid, IA- April 24, 6:30 pm

Joel Gentz: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN- April 29, 6:00 pm    

General George S. Patton: Pilsen, Czech Republic,- May 6th

Kyle Hemauer: Chilton High School, WI-May 10, 7:00 pm

Victoria Parmentier Scholarship: Ashwaubenon High School, WI-May 10, 6:30

Matt Atkinson: Green Bay East High School, WI- May 15, 7:00 pm  

Len Keller: Auburn High School, Rockford, IL- May 16, 6:00

Joe Welke: Rapid City Stevens High School, SD- May 16, 7:00pm

Samantha Rose Cuene: DePere High School, WI- May 17, 6:30 pm

David Parmentier:  DePere High School, WI- May 17, 6:30 pm

John Bradley: Appleton West High School, WI- May 17, 6:30pm

Ken Kubsch: Manitowoc High School, WI- May 17, 7:00pm

Ron Sager: Fox Valley Lutheran High School, WI- May 17, 6:00 pm 

Isaiah Hunt: Bayport High School, WI- May 19, 9:00 am

Ken Hess: AC Reynolds High School, Asheville, NC- May 23, 6:00 pm

Rachel Bosveld: Waupun High School, WI- May 24, 6:00 pm 

James Cathey: Reno High School, NV- May 24, 6:00 pm

Danny Dietz: Heritage High School, Littleton, CO- May 24, 6:30 pm

Wendell and Shanna Ellsworth (2 scholarships): Belding High School, MI, May 24, 7:00 pm

Nichole Frye: Lena High School, WI-May 24, 7:30 pm 

Nueske Family (2 scholarships): Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School, WI, May 24, 7:00 pm  

Brent Vroman: Omro High School, WI-May 24, 6:30 pm 

Robert Foley: United States Military Academy, West Point NY- May 25, 5:00

Ryan Jerabek: Pulaski High School, WI- May 25, 7:00 pm

Andrew Brownfield: North High School, Akron OH- May 26, 9:00 am

Above and Beyond Scholarship: Oconto High School, WI-May 24, 6:30 pm 

Esther Cleveland Safford: Oconto High School, WI- May 24 6:30 pm  

Robert Safford: Oconto High School, WI- May 24, 6:30 pm

"The Journey is the Reward": Oconto High School, WI-May 24, 6:30 pm  

NWTC Scholarship: Oconto High School, WI- May 24, 6:30 pm  

Jerome Hatfield: Tunstall High School, Dry Fork VA- To be announced

Brian LaViolette: Partners in Education- Late-May

Ollie and Helen Bogsted: Suring High School, WI- May 27th

"The Journey is the Reward": Suring High School, WI- May 27th

NWTC Scholarship: Suring High School, WI- May 27th

Eric McColley: Gettysburg High School, PA-May 25, 7:00 pm 

Ken Stumpf, Elmer Burr: Menasha High School, WI-May 30, 9:00 am 

Jesse Thiry: Luxemburg Casco High School, WI, May 31, 9:00 am 

Ben Edinger: Green Bay West High School, WI- May 31 6:30pm 

Ray Zimmerman (3 scholarships): Green Bay West High School, WI- May 31, 6:30 pm

Mike Colalillo: Denfeld High School, MN-June 1, 6:30pm

Nainoa Hoe: 1Lt Nainoa K. Hoe Battle Command Training Center, Schofield Barracks, HI- August 28th

LEAP School Science and Math, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa-Summer of 2017

Poland Scholarships (2 Scholarships): Nidzica Foundation Award Ceremony, Nidzica Poland- September 2017

Bellin College Scholarship- Green Bay, WI- October 2017

St. Norbert Scholarships (2 Scholarships): DePere, WI --October 2017

Junior Achievement- Business Challenge-Awarded February 2017

Nonprofit Spotlight for Go Valley Kids Organization

Go Valley Kids is a complete community guide for family activities and information in Northeast Wisconsin, focusing on the Fox Valley area. As proud local parents we love sharing all our community has to offer by educating, entertaining and empowering families to lead happy, healthy lives.

Brian's Foundation is featured as their Non-profit Spotlight for March!  Thank you for sharing our story, GVK!

http://govalleykids.com/brian-laviolette-scholarship-foundation/