The Green Bay Packers 65 Roses Sports Club hosted the Mike Sherman Celebrity Golf Open, Monday. Proceeds from the tournamanet, now in its 17th year, are donated to the St. Vincent Hospital's Cystic Fibrosis Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Wisconsin.
Since its inception, the tournament has raised over $450,000 for research efforts.
Featured guests this year included Packers head coach Mike Sherman, several assistant coaches, players and staff from the organization, plus more than 144 golfers who had a chance to mingle and hit the links with the Packers.
"We have to thank the Green Bay Packers for helping with this event year after year," said tournament co-chair Chuck Lane, who is director of public relations at Humana. "It's their participation that makes this a success and it's why we have a waiting list of golfers every year."
Dozens of area businesses help to sponsor the event, with Humana taking the lead by sponsoring the event since its beginning.
"Through the years, we've raised more than $450,000 dollars," said tournament co-chair Tom Olejniczak of Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C. "The money has helped pay for things such as local CF clinics, so that patients and their families don't have to travel to Milwaukee or Madison for routine medical care. In addition, the local team of CF medical staff members is able to attend international seminars, where members learn about the latest and most effective treatment options."
"We often hear from CF patients and their families that they are very grateful to have local treatment options and medical personnel who are educated on the most recent treatment advances," said Perry Kidder, president of the 65 Roses Club and general manager of WFRV-TV. "Plus, by donating to research efforts, we're helping in the race to find a cure for CF. It's a pleasure to be able to continue funding such worthwhile endeavors."
Cathy Dworak contributed to this report.
