Once Upon a Time...

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.

Once Upon a Time... Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation unveils “Watch Project.”

29 years ago this week at his funeral, Brian’s family made a promise to accomplish great things in his memory. Now, the foundation created in his name, is embarking on its greatest fundraising mission yet, centered around time.

“It’s been said that the foundation has a ripple effect and so we do what we can to make the world a better place and each life that has been changed through the foundation goes on to make a difference. We’ve been really fortunate to witness that the last 29 years,” adds Kim LaViolette Mosteller, Brian’s sister, and Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation Executive Director.

As foundation eyes its 30th anniversary, the passage of time is not lost on the LaViolette family. “Our runway is running short, or shorter, and as you reflect on time, time has always been something we held dear in our family, in our life,” says LaViolette.

Brian age 4 looking at his first watch, a Green Bay Packers watch.

In seeking to grow an endowment that can fund scholarships for the next 30 years, LaViolette came up with an idea after hearing about Paul Newman’s famous Daytona watch selling for $17 million.

“Brian himself loved watches, he was really passionate about watches, he started wearing his first watch when he was just four years old, and it was a Green Bay Packers watch, Swiss made,” explains LaViolette.

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.

LaViolette’s watch wish list aims high, but he has some great connections to acquire ones from past foundation supporters like Jay Leno and Brett Favre, as well as watches from Mario Andretti, George W. Bush, and even the Pope.

“People who help shape the world, they don’t necessarily have to have really expensive watches, and Pope Francis wears this Casio,” says LaViolette.

Just like a teenage boy from Green Bay did almost 30 years ago.

“Every single day I proudly wear Brian’s Casio watch,” says LaViolette with a smile. You can learn more through the WBAY-TV2 story here.

The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation will roll out its collection of watches to be auctioned on February 22, 2022.

Has it been 29 years already?

It isn't often that we meet someone who was there the day Brian drowned.

After seeing the local tv news stories about the Foundation's 1000th scholarship, a Door County paramedic who was on duty the day Brian went missing reached out. We had never met before, but her kindness reminded us that Brian's journey is ongoing. That the Foundation in his memory is far-reaching and that we have no idea how many people are touched in some way by its work.

“It is gratifying for me personally to see what a tremendous difference you have made in people's lives, not only in northeastern Wisconsin, but across the globe.

When Brian drowned, I was one of two paramedics on duty in northern Door County. At the time, we were encompassed by the tragedy of someone so young losing their life, but to see what you have done in his memory gives hope to even those in their darkest days.

I have been privileged to have seen both the despair and the joy of Brian's journey, and count myself among the blessed. Thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do." -- Anne Alberts

It's no surprise that running a small non-profit organization is hard work and has its challenges. Yet in 29 years, we are continually humbled by people like Anne. After she reached out and we asked if we could share her story, she said, "to be able to help you and others, even in a small way, is soul-changing for me."

Thank you all for letting us serve you and the community for so many years. It is truly soul-changing.