Joey’s lasting gift

Fundraiser in O’Brien’s honor continues to impact community

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff writer

After seven years, Kevin O’Brien can say he’s OK.

“That’s it,” said O’Brien, who lost his son, Joey, after a brief, but intense, battle with leukemia in the summer of 2005. Left behind was Kevin, his wife, Cyndi, and two daughters.

“It goes OK,” Kevin explained.

Each year around this time, the O’Brien family and numerous volunteers gather to celebrate Joey’s life and raise money for the Joey O’Brien Foundation – which helps fund leukemia research at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and scholarships at Burlington and Catholic Central high schools.

It’s the latter that helps Cyndi O’Brien look forward.

“It’s really an honor at those ceremonies we go to, to give those kids something,” she explained. “It’s such a wonderful night. It is so nice to hear and be a part of.

“It’s an emotional moment that everyone’s proud to be a part of,” she added.

That moment comes courtesy of this weekend’s seventh annual Joey O’Brien Memorial Golf Outing, which will begin at 10 a.m. at Browns Lake Golf Club on Saturday.

Already, more than 120 golfers have registered for the event. Golfers will go out in a shotgun start, in a four-person scramble format, at 11:30 a.m. following a bratwurst luncheon.

A silent auction will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with dinner, refreshments and a live auction starting immediately after.

Even if you aren’t a golfer, there is a dinner and auction only ticket available. And this year, a “no hassle” pass will allow golfers to participate in all the different events out on the golf course.

Costs run from $125 for an individual golfer or $500 for a team, and the “No Hassle” pass is an added $40 ($50 the day of the event). Dinner only is $25.

The dinner will be pork chops cooked by Ralph and Mary Rice, with potatoes from the Grater Tater, corn on the cob and fresh fruit and vegetables plus salad. There will also be a bar available (run by the golf course), with free beer, soda and water available on the course.

The silent and live auctions will include items ranging from sports memorabilia to collectables, but the big item this year is a Harley Davidson raffle. The foundation purchased a Harley at a discount, and it – along with a trailer donated by the Ken Asboth family – will be raffled. Tickets are $20 apiece or seven for $100.

“It’s a great day,” Kevin O’Brien said. “To see all the people who come back to support us. And the new faces. It’s awesome.”

Cyndi O’Brien said she likes the impact the money raised has. This year, the Joey O’Brien Courage Scholarship was awarded to Scott Kivisto, Aaron Deutsch and Paige Thompson at BHS, and Paul Lloyd at CCHS.

“Just being able to give these kids money for college is a wonderful gift,” Cyndi said.