GREEN BAY – On a special evening that has been a tradition now for 10 years, the "Ladies of Lambeau" came together once again for a much greater purpose.
Monday night's mission – to provide area hospitals and youth community centers with murals painted by a generous group of women hoping to add some joyful color into the lives of others.
"Ladies of Lambeau" is an inclusive group of women that are bonded together through their association with the Packers organization.
Laurie Murphy, wife of Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy, established this organization back in 2011 and is more than appreciative of what it's become today.
"It's been so great because I kind of made up the whole idea and so it took a little while for us to figure out what it would be," she said.
"These are all women that are 'doers' and they want to make a difference in the communities, so getting everything set up and having people come in and do the job was great. It's worked out really well."
Tables in the Lambeau Field Atrium were filled with returning faces as well as new ones, and each member had the opportunity to showcase their art skills by painting a mural.
A key partner with the "Ladies of Lambeau" is the Foundation for Hospital Art. This organization strives to decorate local medical facilities with colorful artwork. The charity's vision is "to make hospitals our most beautiful places for healing."
Since the start in 2011, the "Ladies of Lambeau" have been busy giving back to the community in a variety of ways, with a new project each year. In 2019, for example, Operation Shower partnered with the group and packaged baby gifts were donated to families of deployed military members.
Further, in 2016, the group worked tirelessly to assemble 2,500 backpacks filled with hygiene necessities for immigrant students living in Milwaukee. And, throughout the last decade, the "Ladies of Lambeau" have made an enormous impact on the Rise Against Hunger organization by donating 100,000 meals to hungry kids.
Seeing the immediate impact that these projects can have in the local community is what makes this one night a year at Lambeau Field a special one.
"It's been amazing, and to have this many women a part of this organization that show up to do this, just shows how amazing this organization really is," said Bre LaFleur, wife of Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
Another reward for Murphy and the group is seeing their hard work come full circle.
"I ran into someone at the Door County Boys and Girls Club the other day, and she has one of our posters we did up there hanging on the wall to motivate the kids and inspire them," Murphy said.
"We're going to be donating our art supplies to the Boys and Girls Club from tonight so it's all a big circle. I'm so proud of the Packers for everything and all the good things we do for the community. That's really what it should be about."
As the night's decorative, Packer-themed murals travel to area hospitals and youth community centers, this united group of women hope the cheer and excitement they had making them will be felt in the hallways where they are displayed.
"I think they're going to be extremely excited to receive all of this," LaFleur said.
"That 'G' goes a long way and it shows just how much we love our community, we love our state, and we love our Packers, so I hope they feel that same love when they get these murals in their organization."
