Milwaukee, WI – On March 1, 2025, NFL kicker and all-time leading scorer of the Green Bay Packers Mason Crosby, along with his wife, Molly Crosby, a lung cancer survivor, will accept the prestigious Award of Excellence from Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

The foundation will honor the Crosbys at its 34th Award of Excellence Dinner on March 1 at the Pfister Hotel. The Award of Excellence recognizes individuals who capture legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s spirit of commitment and pursuit of excellence. Honorees have the same desire as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation to prevent cancer, provide the best care to those battling it, and find a cure. 

“Molly and I are truly humbled and honored to accept the Vince Lombardi Award of Excellence from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation,” said Mason Crosby. “This recognition is not just a reflection of our personal journey with cancer, but a testament to the incredible strength of those battling cancer every day. It is an honor to be listed amongst the previous recipients of this award.”

Tickets to the black-tie event and corporate sponsorships are available at lombardifoundation.org.

An individual ticket is $300 and a table of 10 is $3,000. All tickets include dinner, a Q&A with the Crosbys, an open bar during the reception and complimentary valet parking. Funds raised will support cancer research and treatments.

“There is no moving forward in the fight against cancer without individuals like Mason and Molly Crosby," said Emily Phillips, Financial Advisor, Phillips Ristau Group – Baird, and Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation board member and Award of Excellence Dinner co-chair. “They have been extraordinary in supporting the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s mission to advance cancer research and care.”

This year, a new Private VIP After Party will follow the award ceremony, located in the Pfister Hotel's Mezzanine, overlooking the lobby. Sponsors and their VIP guests will enjoy exclusive access to a lively atmosphere to continue celebrating after the event, complete with a bar and space to gather with Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation board members and others.

“The Crosby family, like so many others before them, represent what is best about the Award of Excellence Dinner – that is, they embody courage and hope," added Kate Braasch, Chief of Presidential Affairs, Marquette University, and Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation board member and Award of Excellence Dinner co-chair. “The stories shared at this event are what inspire me, and all our supporters, to live a life of faith and purpose.”

Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation is also accepting donations in honor of individuals who are currently battling or have battled cancer, as well as in memory of individuals who have passed away from cancer at lombardiaward.givesmart.com. The names and photos of these individuals will be included in the event’s printed program.

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About Mason and Molly Crosby

Mason Crosby is the Green Bay Packers' all-time leading scorer and holds the NFL record for the most consecutive postseason field goals made with 20. He also won a Super Bowl with the Packers and set the franchise record for most field goals, including a dozen game-winning kicks.

Mason and Molly Crosby met at the University of Colorado – Boulder, where Mason played football and Molly was a cheerleader. In 2019, Molly was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. She underwent surgery on Aug. 31, 2019, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to remove a neuroendocrine tumor from the bottom lobe of her right lung.

The Crosbys have five children and have been deeply involved with the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. Both Mason and Molly have served as co-chairs of the Vince Lombardi Golf Classic and have supported numerous initiatives to fight cancer.

About the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation

The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was established in 1971 and has raised over $24 million in memory of five-time NFL Championship Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi. Coach Lombardi’s spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence touched countless lives. On September 3, 1970, he lost a battle to colon cancer, dying at only 57. In his honor, the foundation is dedicated to preventing cancer, caring for those who are battling it and finding a cure. Its national Medical Advisory Committee reviews grant requests to ensure the foundation is funding the most innovative and cutting-edge cancer projects. For more information on the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, visit lombardifoundation.org.

MILWAUKEE, Wisc., November 13, 2024 – The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation awarded more than $300,000 to its 2024 grant recipients, which included healthcare institutions across the country that support the foundation’s mission to prevent cancer, provide the best care for those fighting it and find a cure.

This year, the foundation provided $320,000 in grants to eight organizations across the country, including its largest gift of $80,000 to the Medical College of Wisconsin to pursue a new scientific research project specifically related to therapies for cancer metastasis, which is responsible for most cancer-related deaths.

“I am incredibly grateful to receive support from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. This award will help us make fundamental discoveries in how pancreatic cancer liver metastasis occurs and identify novel therapies to prevent disease progression. It is an honor to receive this funding in the name of a Wisconsin-based inspirational figure,” said Nikki Lytle, a Medical College of Wisconsin assistant professor in the division of Surgical Oncology.

The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, with guidance from its Medical Advisory Committee comprised of national oncology experts, selects grant applicants to receive awards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 from two main funds: the VLCF Fund and Starr Children’s Fund.

This year the foundation received 23 applications for the 2024 grant cycle in three categories: scientific research, clinical research, and patient/caregiver support.

Other local organizations awarded include the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County’s LIVESTRONG program, which is a 12-week program for cancer survivors to build community and overall health, and Aurora Health Care’s Team Phoenix program, a 14-week exercise rehabilitation program for cancer patients and survivors to gain health and wellness by training for a sprint-distance triathlon.

“Thanks to our Medical Advisory Committee for sharing their time and expertise to review many compelling applications, and to our Board of Directors for their thoughtful consideration of the submissions. We are so pleased to award over $300,000 in grants to organizations these partners in the fight against cancer,” said Ann Marie Moss, executive director of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation 2024 Grant Recipients

• Medical College of Wisconsin (Disabling metastasis through blockade of desmoplastic stroma formation) $80,000

• Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
  (Patient Navigation Center) $75,000

•  Team Phoenix at Aurora Health Care $52,814

• University of Michigan (Optimizing Survivorship Among Younger Adults with Colorectal Cancer) $50,000

• YMCA of Greater Waukesha County (LIVESTRONG) $15,000

  Starr Children’s Fund 2024 Grant Recipients

• Children’s of Alabama (Protein Phosphatase 2A Reactivation as a Mechanism to Target MYCN) $50,000

• Children’s of Alabama (Bart and Cherry Starr Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Fund) $10,000

• Hopecam Inc. $10,000

To build on the success of the 2024 grant cycle and achieve increased funding in 2025, the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation also launched a $50,000 year-end matching grant campaign thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who is currently battling cancer. Funds from the matching campaign will go to support the foundation’s mission to prevent and cure cancer and care for those fighting it.

For more information on the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s grantmaking process, please visit lombardifoundation.org.

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The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was established in 1971, in memory of five-time National Football League Championship Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi. His spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence touched countless lives. On September 3, 1970, he lost a battle to colon cancer, dying at only 57. In his honor, the foundation is dedicated to preventing cancer, caring for those who are battling it and finding a cure. For more information, visit lombardifoundation.org.

MILWAUKEE, September 19, 2024—The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, Green Bay Packers, and Bellin Health have partnered for the eighth year of the Packers vs. Cancer initiative to raise awareness of all cancers, raise funds for research and care and remind fans that early screening can save lives.

Green Bay Packers, Bellin Health, and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation will formally kick off the Packers vs. Cancer campaign when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Packers at Lambeau Field on September 29.

The game will be presented by Bellin Health and attending fans will receive a Packers Vs. Cancer rally towel. The game will also incorporate several game entertainment elements that will honor cancer survivors and their loved ones.

“We’re pleased to launch the Packers Vs. Cancer effort for another year to demonstrate our support for those fighting cancer and their loved ones,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We are proud to join with our partners, Bellin Health and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, to build on the impact this campaign has had over the first seven years. From raising funds for cancer research to reminding our fans and fellow community members to get screened, we’re looking forward to another year of joining the fight against cancer.”

Each hat sold will include a $5 donation directly to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. Fans visiting the Packers Pro

Shop can also add $1 or more to their purchases in support of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

In the first seven years of the Packers Vs. Cancer initiative, the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation has directed the funds raised toward a variety of programs, including pediatric care research and childhood cancer treatments, programs for women cancer survivors and developing therapies for leukemia.

“The Green Bay Packers and Bellin Health are valued partners in the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation’s work to prevent cancer, provide superior care to patients, and find a cure,” the foundation’s executive director Ann Marie Moss said. “The Packers vs. Cancer initiative unites a strong Packers football fanbase in the fight to end cancer, and we are excited to see the impact of this year’s campaign.”

The Packers vs. Cancer initiative will run through October and feature a limited edition Packers vs.

Cancer hat available for purchase in-person and online at the Packers Pro Shop.

For more information on the event, how to purchase tickets or become a sponsor, please visit lombardifoundation.org.

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The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was established in 1971, in memory of five-time National Football League Championship Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi. His spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence touched countless lives. On September 3, 1970, he lost a battle to colon cancer, dying at only 57. In his honor, the foundation is dedicated to preventing cancer, caring for those who are battling it and finding a cure. For more information, visit lombardifoundation.org.

MILWAUKEE, Wisc., September 9, 2024 – The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation will host its 21st annual Food & Wine Event at the Pfister Hotel and Wisconsin Club-City Club on November 1-2, 2024.

Tickets are now on sale for the two-evening celebration, one of the foundation’s signature events. The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, founded in 1971, boasts a mission of partnering with and supporting organizations that will help prevent cancer, provide the best care to those fighting it, and find a cure.

“Food & Wine is an opportunity for all of us to gather and celebrate Milwaukee’s culinary excellence while also remembering the many people in our own lives who have been impacted by cancer,” said Ann Marie Moss, executive director of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. “In our 21st year, we hope to welcome guests from across the country to join in our mission to prevent and fight cancer and support those battling it.”

Friday’s Tasting Experience, on the seventh floor of the Pfister Hotel, will feature Milwaukee’s finest restaurants, top wineries and breweries from across the country. Guests will enjoy three hours of food and beverage samplings and live music throughout the historic hotel.

In 2023, the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation welcomed celebrated culinary artists, including Indulgence Chocolatiers, Mason Street Grill, The Bartolotta Restaurants - Lake Park Bistro, La Crosse Distilling Co. and the J. Leinenkugel's Barrel Yard.

Tickets for the Friday Tasting Experience are $125 per person.

For Saturday’s Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner, guests will experience the culinary excellence of James Beard Award-winning chef Vishwesh Bhatt. The evening includes a five-course meal paired with wine and cheeses at the picturesque Wisconsin Club-City Club in downtown Milwaukee.

Bhatt, the executive chef at Snackbar in Oxford, Mississippi, worked his way up from prep cook to his current role. He was the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef South and Southern Living’s Southerner of the Year in 2019. His cuisine intertwines Southern and subcontinental foodways.

Tickets for the Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner are $300 per person. The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation is offering a special promotion for a table of eight. The $2,400 price includes the Saturday night fine dining experience and two complimentary tickets to the Friday Tasting Experience.

For both the Tasting Experience and Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner, all guests must be 21 years of age or older.

For more information on the event, how to purchase tickets or become a sponsor, please visit lombardifoundation.org/food-wine.

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About the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation

The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was established in 1971, in memory of five-time National Football League Championship Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi. His spirit, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence touched countless lives. On September 3, 1970, he lost a battle to colon cancer, dying at only 57. In his honor, the foundation is dedicated to preventing cancer, caring for those who are battling it and finding a cure. For more information, visit lombardifoundation.org.

Milwaukee LGBTQ+ Center, Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, Special Olympics Wisconsin, Make-A Wish Wisconsin and the Milwaukee County Parks Foundation are all represented in the tournament by one of the Summerfest pickleball team.

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Join Nev’s Ink for a day of fun, competition, and giving back on Sunday, June 23rd from 11am- 2pm! For the past 8 years, the Waukesha community has rallied together for the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, and last year, Nev’s Ink, Inc. raised an incredible $47,923 during this 3 hour event!

Register Here

After nearly seven years without having an executive director as part of its leadership structure, the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Board of Directors has appointed Ann Marie Moss to the role.

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MILWAUKEE, WIS. – It’s been nearly 54 years since NFL coach Vince Lombardi died of cancer in 1970. In his honor, Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation has awarded funding to four organizations fighting the disease: Aurora Health Care, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care, Children’s of Alabama and Johns Hopkins University.

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Cherry Morton Starr, 89, passed away peacefully at her Birmingham home with her family and close friends at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bart Starr (2019) and her son Bret (1988). She is succeeded by her son Bart Starr, Jr. (Elaena), grandchildren Shannon (Ryan), Jenny, and Lisa, and her six great-grandchildren (Bryan, Teddy, Violet, Dillon, Skyler, and Caden). She was a figurative mother to many more.

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The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation is excited to announce David Kriete as the new president who will lead the foundation in 2024 and 2025.

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Pat Connaughton has picked up a number of notable titles during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks: NBA world champion, Dunk Contest participant (remember that?) and now he can add 2024 Award of Excellence recipient courtesy of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

The award – given to "individuals who capture legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s spirit of commitment and pursuit of excellence," according to a release – will be given to Connaughton at the foundation's annual Award of Excellence Dinner, hosted at The Pfister Hotel on Saturday, March 2. Recent recipients of the award include Erin Andrews, Russell Wilson, the Walter Payron family, Jim Kelly and, last year, TNT sports host Ernie Johnson. 

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Cousins Sub's presented the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundations (VLCF) Starr Children's Fund with a check for fundraising efforts from their Catering for a Cure Campaign. 

The event took place on Friday, Nov. 3. Throughout the month of September, Cousins Subs and their Make It Better Foundation pledged to donate $15 from every 20-piece Party Box sold, up to $50,000, to the Starr Children's Fund. 

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The Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation today announced two new board members, Kate Braasch and Doug Hafemann, who will support the nonprofit’s work to prevent cancer, provide the best care to those fighting it and find a cure.

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Two Green Bay Packers visited Children's Wisconsin Milwaukee Hospital on Tuesday, to help boost the spirits of tiny Packers fans battling childhood cancer.

The tight ends were visiting as part of the Packers vs. Cancer initiative, which was launched seven years ago and aims to raise awareness for all cancers. The Packers partner with Bellin Health and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

“Seeing the kids' faces light up when the Packers players walked in was truly heartwarming,” said Christine Baranoucky, vice president of engagement & stewardship for Children’s Wisconsin.

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It’s time to mark your calendars for the 20th Annual Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine, an event that not only commemorates two decades but supports the Foundation’s ongoing mission to fight cancer in honor of NFL Coach Vince Lombardi.

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A new discovery in childhood cancer could be the next step in learning how to best fight and treat a challenging pediatric cancer. New research from Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, funded by the Starr Children’s Fund and Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, shows that cancer genes thought to be on at constant high levels might vary in being on or off depending on the phase of cell duplication. This pediatric cancer discovery, which has been published in Leukemia Research, creates more opportunities to learn critical subsequent information in the fight against cancer in children. 

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In order to help kids with cancerous brain tumors, Jezabel Rodriguez Blanco has to cobble together grants from different foundations to fund her work.

Sometimes, it means looking up who the foundation was named after. Rodriguez Blanc, an assistant professor at Hollings Cancer Center at Medical University of South Carolina, has received grants from cancer foundations named for two legendary sports figures. One is from the V Foundation, founded by the late North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN personality Jim Valvano. More recently, she got a $100,000 grant from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation and the Starr Children’s Fund, named for respectively the former Green Bay Packers coach and his star quarterback, Bart Starr. 

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The winner of the Super Bowl this Sunday will take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but today, it was on display at the Phoenix Children's Hospital. It's a unique honor since the hospital was chosen as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation's Leader for a Cure Award. The award recognizes members of the Super Bowl host's community dedicated to winning the battle against cancer.

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Milwaukee's own and TNT NBA broadcaster Ernie Johnson Jr. will return to his hometown to accept the Award of Excellence from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation on March 3 at Fiserv Forum.

There will be multiple guest speakers at the ceremony, including Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin, Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, Vince Lombardi's grandson John Lombardi and many more!

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Cancer fighters and NBA fans alike will have something to celebrate when NBA Announcer Ernie Johnson, Jr. returns to his hometown to accept the Award of Excellence from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

During the annual event, which will take place on the evening of March 3 at Fiserv Forum, 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave., guests will have the opportunity to take a stand against cancer while experiencing the city’s newest arena in an unique way.

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