MACC Fund

The MACC Fund - Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc.- was founded on December 10, 1976, during the retirement of Jon McGlocklin from the Milwaukee Bucks. Jon's friend, Longtime Milwaukee Bucks Broadcaster Eddie Doucette, and his wife, Karen, had a son, Brett, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2. Brett's diagnosis coincided with the timing of Jon's retirement. It was decided to use Jon's departure from professional basketball to announce the start of the MACC Fund. During a half-time on the floor of the Milwaukee Arena, the MACC Fund came into being.

Jon McGlocklin was named the organization's President, an office he holds today, and Eddie was named Vice- President. Living in California since 1978, Eddie is the now the MACC Fund's Honorary Vice-President.

Brett Doucette, the MACC Fund's first success story, is married and living in Arizona. His dad Eddie is working as a consultant with the NBA and Jon does color commentary for Bucks televised games with Honorary MACC Fund Athletic Board member, Jim Paschke.

Local athletes, celebrities and community-minded business people comprised the Fund's original Board of Directors. All three groups are still involved. In addition, tens of thousands of people from throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest have embraced the MACC Fund and its mission to offer a special gift of "Hope Through Research to Children with Cancer and Related Blood Disorders."

Fund-raising is based on the concept of "a good time for a good cause." Special events led the way in the beginning and still comprise about 75% of the Fund's annual income. Brewers home runs and doubles, Packers sacks and interceptions and Bucks 3-point baskets and opening tips raised funds from generous sponsors and cooperative sports teams. Cause-related marketing programs with donations for each purchase followed suit along with a telethon called MACC*ATHON. Women for MACC took up the fight in 1982 with its own impressive fund-raising events.

A yearly telethon/auction of signed and game-used sports memorabilia to benefit the fund on WTMJ-TV has been a staple of the holiday season since the late 1980s, along with the "MACC Star", a yearly Christmas ornament available for sale designed by a child currently undergoing cancer treatment. The MACC Fund's largest annual event is the Trek 100 Ride for Hope, which has raised over $8 million since 1990. Since 2009, the Trek 100 has been held in early June and begins and ends at the home of Trek Bicycle Corporation in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Riders raise at least $2 for each mile they ride, following routes that range from 19 to 100 miles. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers also raised $50k for the fund after winning Celebrity Jeopardy.

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Wikipedia