More than 200,000 hats were sold throug the Packers Pro Shop and American Family Insurance.
The Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance, along with Deanna Favre, were recognized Thursday at the state capitol by the Wisconsin Legislature with a joint resolution honoring the successful Packers Breast Cancer Cap campaign.
The campaign, which began last July and ran trough the 2005 season, raised more than $1 million for the fight against breast cancer.
Representing the Packers in Madison were Ave Bie, a member of the Packers' Board of Directors, Kandi Goltz, marketing entertainment coordinator, and Aaron Popkey, assistant director of public relations. They were joined by Rick Fetherston, vice president of public relations for American Family Insurance. Green Bay area representatives Phil Montgomery and John Gard introduced the resolution that was co-sponsored by state Sen. Robert Cowles.
The campaign saw more than 200,000 pink baseball caps sold through the Packers Pro Shop and American Family Insurance and its statewide agents. Initial goals were to raise more than $100,000 to benefit three breast cancer charities focusing on prevention, treatment and research. Because of the tremendous support the endeavor received and the $1 million raised, 12 charities each received more than $80,000 from the program.
The groups that received donations from the campaign follow:
- After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD), Milwaukee (treatment support)
- Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation, Inc., Madison, Wis. (treatment support)
- Froedtert Hospital & Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (research and treatment)
- Green Bay YWCA Encore Program, Green Bay, Wis. (treatment support)
- Gundersen Lutheran - Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care, La Crosse, Wis. (treatment support)
- Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wis. (treatment)
- Ribbon of Hope Foundation, De Pere, Wis. (treatment support)
- St. Mary's Hospital - A Women's Place, Green Bay, Wis. (prevention)
- St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center, Green Bay, Wis. (research)
- UW Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, Madison, Wis. (research)
- Wisconsin Well Woman Program, Madison, Wis. (prevention)
- Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, Hattiesburg, Miss. (treatment support)
More than 200,000 women each year are diagnosed with breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in the United States. In Wisconsin, breast cancer accounts for approximately 33 percent of all female cancer cases.
Following is the language used in the resolution:
**2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
2005 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 84**
February 28, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives MONTGOMERY and GARD, cosponsored by Senator COWLES. Referred to Committee on Rules.
Relating to: commending the Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance, along with the help of Deanna Favre, for raising more than $1,000,000 for 12 charities focused on prevention, treatment, and research of breast cancer.
Whereas, the Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance started the Packers Breast Cancer Cap campaign to raise breast cancer awareness and raise funds for the effort; and
Whereas, Deanna Favre was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2004; and
Whereas, Deanna's courageous effort to overcome breast cancer provided a renewed sense of hope to the more than 200,000 women diagnosed with the disease each year; and
Whereas, Deanna drew strength from her public battle with breast cancer to start the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, an organization that provides breast cancer screening and treatments to low-income and uninsured women; and
Whereas, employees of the Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance created a public service announcement to raise awareness for the Packers Breast Cancer Cap campaign; and
Whereas, with the overwhelming help of supporters in Wisconsin and around the country, sales by the Packers Pro Shop and American Family Insurance went well beyond the initial order of 35,000 pink caps to sell over 200,000 pink caps, raising more than $1,000,000 for breast cancer advocacy groups; and
Whereas, the overwhelming success of the Packers Breast Cancer Cap campaign provided 12 advocacy groups - in Madison: Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation, Inc., UW Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, and Wisconsin Well Woman Program; in Green Bay: YWCA Encore Program, Ribbon of Hope Foundation, St. Mary's Hospital, and St. Vincent Hospital; in Milwaukee: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Froedtert Hospital and Medical College of Wisconsin; in La Crosse: Gundersen Lutheran-Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care; the Marshfield Clinic; and the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation - with $87,500 each to advance breast cancer research, treatment, and prevention; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature thank the Green Bay Packers, American Family Insurance, and Deanna Favre for their continued efforts to provide aid and hope to individuals and families affected by breast cancer.
