How Brett Favre introduced me to Brian LaViolette, by Mark leland

"The year was 1999, and Packers Quarterback Brett Favre was opening a restaurant bearing his name not far from Lambeau Field. Favre would be there for an event to kick off the opening. His name was certainly a draw for many guests that night in March.

The big event that night was not just the opening of the restaurant, but a fundraiser for a local scholarship fund. Little did I realize at the time that Favre would be the one ultimately to introduce me to the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.

At the time I was anchoring the news at WGBA-TV and went by in between broadcasts to cover the event. My visit was short, but what I remember clearly is Favre making an appearance and playing drums with a band front and center in the crowded room.

Other than running into Favre in the back hallway of the restaurant it was not unlike numerous other events I've covered. Keep in mind at the time he was already a Super Bowl winning, MVP, NFL quarterback. And even though I had, at that point, interviewed Favre on at least three other occasions over the years for sports related stories, it was still a thrill.

Fast forward three years when I met with Doug LaViolette. I was impressed with how far the foundation had come in a relatively short period of time. I told Doug I'd be thrilled to help.

It started with The Business News articles, then working on foundation brochures, newsletters, correspondence to potential supporters. We shared a lot of ideas.

The foundation's work gave me the opportunity to be on the forefront of news making events. While in my current job at WLUK-TV, I traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to interview Medal of Honor recipient Sal Guinta and the awarding of the inaugural Sal Guinta Scholarship of Honor through the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. There was a trip to Long Beach, California to celebrate the USS Green Bay being put into service. And we traveled to Pilsen, Czech Republic in 2013 for the city's annual Liberation Festival celebrating American World War II veterans and their role in granting them freedom. The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation presents a scholarship award during the festival, sponsored by friends of the foundation and by the grandson of General George S. Patton.

Brian's foundation, under Doug's leadership, the watchful eye of his wife Renee, and managed day-to-day by Brian's sister Kim for over two and a half decades, continues to find new connections to people and places. It continues to change lives and encourage people to make their world a better place. It's why the foundation's motto-"The Journey is the Reward" is so fitting. The saying was one Brian had in his room.

When Doug LaViolette asked me to be a part of the Foundation, I had no idea where the journey would take me. I wasn't looking to get anything out of it, I was more focused on how I could help. And that as I discovered has truly made the journey, the reward.

And to think, it all started with Brett Favre.

Internationally renowned photographer is inspired by Brian’s story

Photographer Nick Del Calzo travels the country. His photography tells personal, deeply emotional stories.

Nick started as a journalist and moved to public relations yet he felt unfulfilled until he picked up a camera . He has photographed Holocaust survivors and Medal of Honor recipients. Last week, Nick photographed Doug LaViolette as part of his portraits of people who inspire and impact him.

"I'm thrilled to have that opportunity to do it as a gift for them for what they've helped me do," says Nick.

Nick DelCalzo

Doug LaViolette is the President of the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. In 1992, Brian died in a swimming accident when he was 15-years old. His family made it their mission to honor Brian's life by helping others succeed.

“When I receive the phone call from Nick DelCalzo a couple of months back that he wanted to photograph me I was stunned.  I believe I actually laughed out loud and said  “why me of all people?”  After Nick explained more details that he is creating a series of portraits of individuals who have made an impact on his life I was clearly moved. 

It was such a humbling experience to be included in the company of the extraordinary people whom he has photographed.  Nick did not disappoint with his attention to detail, thoughtfulness and incredible care in creating my portrait.  It was wonderful because it gave us a chance to have a lot of quiet time together, something we’ve really never experienced in the decade and a half since I’ve known him.  

Please click on the link below for the full story by Sarah Thomsen that aired on WBAY-TV2 this past Friday.

Link to full story HERE

At Brian's funeral came a promise to accomplish great things in his name and memory. The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation has granted 892 scholarships to students.

These people receive these scholarships and ... did that impact that for a higher purpose? I don't know," says Doug. "But it is pretty amazing."

Doug is still emotional to talk about his son. However, Doug is smiling in his portrait. He's proud of what he's accomplished in Brian's name. He also holds a sculpture depicting the void a family feels when losing a child.

The ripple effect of these good deeds are felt far beyond the room. "It goes on and on and on. It really does," says Doug.

A seed is planted

We met Rose Scannell in 2005 after her son, Ben was killed in the War in Iraq.

Friends, family and the community came together to help establish the Ben Edinger Scholarship of Honor through Brian's Foundation at Green Bay West High School in 2005.

Rose has been involved with the scholarship process since the beginning.

Rose was asked what impact she feels Brian's Foundation has had...

"The Brian LaViolette Foundation has an impact that no one will really be able to quantify.

• There are people like me and my family.

• Then there are the recipients who have the ability to go to school.. that impacts that individual and every person that individual touches.

• Those individual involved in the Foundation, which are so many community members... They really care.

• But there is more. Those people at the awards night- just at West High School-every year and then multiple that by every school... I can't even imagine.

A seed is planted they have information they didn't have before. Their hearts are touched in a way that they weren't touched before and they take that

information and that feeling with them and there is no way to know where all those ripples and all those effects go, but they are all there and it is all so positive.

So that is what I see."

Learn more about Rose's experience about having a scholarship in her son, Ben's name in this 5 minute video.