UMF to celebrate 14^th year of assisting Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund

For the first time in its history, the 14^th annual Unity Musical Festival to benefit the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund (SCCCF) will feature the music of a single musical act as the Vic Ferrari Band steps up to rock the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts in Sheboygan Saturday, April 7.

Mary Ann Waldbauer of Sheboygan Falls founded the Unity Music Festival in 2005 as a way to support local cancer patients in need.

Over the past 13 years, the Unity Music Festival has evolved into one of the most anticipated annual music-driven fundraising events in the Sheboygan County area with an ever growing base of dedicated sponsors and supporters.

While each of the previous 13 shows has featured a broad range of talented musical performers sharing the historic Weill Center stage for the special evening, this year’s show, which begins at 7 p.m., will belong only to the widely popular Vic Ferrari Band.

The high-energy Northeastern Wisconsin-based rock ‘n roll party band has performed over 2,500 shows in 25 states and 10 countries since forming in 1988.

“This year I was thinking out of the box and decided to do something totally new and different,” Waldbauer said. “I am so grateful to announce the Vic Ferrari Band as the one and only band for the whole evening.

“I have always hoped one day we would sell the show out,” she said. “We have 1,100 seats to fill. Maybe 2018 will be the year.”

Fundraising activities will kick off the festivities beginning at 5 p.m. with silent and live-auction viewing, as well as dollar and 50/50 raffles.

In addition, there will be two gala appetizer buffet events this year one of which will run prior to the show upstairs at the Weill Center starting at 5 p.m.

The other buffet will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. next door to the Weill Center with chefs Clint and Tina Kasprzak and Miesfeld’s staff providing the appetizers.

“I have to thank Chuck Miesfeld and our gala appetizer buffet chefs, Clint and Tina Kasprzak, as well as Tracy Messner,” Waldbauer said. “Everyone that attends the gala appetizer buffets will also have the opportunity to participate in a meet-and-greet event with members of the Vic Ferrari Band.”

A limited number of gala appetizer buffet tickets are available for $30 each by contacting Mary Ann Waldbauer by phone at 467-3303 or via email at umfmaryann@charter.net

All proceeds from this year’s show, which is sponsored by Matthews Oncology Associates-Sheboygan Cancer and Blood Specialists and Mersberger Financial Group, will go to support the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund, which assists cancer patients within Sheboygan County.

“All the proceeds stay local to support the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund,” Waldbauer said. “Its all about people helping people right here in our own community.

“Anyone suffering a financial hardship due to cancer can benefit from this fund,” she said. “We can help with heat, light, water, house mortgages, wigs, rent, uninsured medical bills, groceries or gas cards, quality of life classes, etc.,” she said. “We help make their quality of life better while going through this devastating time in their lives.”

Established in 2000, The Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund is the brainchild of local medical oncologist, H. Marshall Matthews, who recognized the need to help cancer patients through their cancer journey; it was established in 2000.

In 2002, 17 gestures totaling $2,700 were approved. Since then, hundreds of gestures, amounting to more than one million dollars, have been accepted by the SCCCF.

Waldbauer says the Unity Music Festival has made great strides in raising funds to assist cancer patients in Sheboygan County, but Waldbauer is determined to do much more this year and into the future.

“With the donations of time, great talent, generous contributions and the sponsorships of local businesses, this cancer benefit has raised at total of $363,722 over the past 13 years,” Waldbauer said. “We expect this year’s event to be even bigger and better in order to assist those who fall victim to this devastating disease.”

This year’s event will feature a live auction during intermission of the show featuring Auctioneer Daven Claerbout.

Live auction items include a Hi-Tech sport fishing charter for six people and family membership, personal training, wellness consultation, Under Armour backpack with workout accessories package donated by the Sports Core Health and Racquet Club.

Six Milwaukee Bucks tickets donated by Sheboygan Chevrolet and two tickets to the Dancing with the Stars Gala at Lakeland College.

Girls Day Out, including Blind Horse Wine & Cheese pairing for a group of eight, bottle of birdy’s white wine and two glasses, yoga class for eight by Salon Sase and Firehouse Pizza party for eight with three appetizers, three large pizzas and eight beverages.

General admission tickets are currently on sale for $20 per person and gala buffet tickets are also available for $30.

Show tickets are available in advance at  Blattner’s Piggly Wiggly in Sheboygan Falls 1166 Fond du Lac Ave. in Sheboygan Falls, 467-0477), Mary Ann or Rick Waldbauer (998 Huron Trail in Sheboygan Falls, 467-3303), Midwest Dental of Plymouth (1415 Eastern Ave. in Plymouth, 893-8458), Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts (826 North Eighth St. in Sheboygan, 208-3243), Matthews Oncology (1621 North Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, 458-7433), Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic (1222 North 23^rd St. in Sheboygan, 457-6800), Plymouth Piggly Wiggly (141 Eastern Ave. in Plymouth, 893-0741), Oostburg Piggly Wiggly (944 Center Ave. in Oostburg, 564-2234), Howards Grove Piggly Wiggly (714 South Wisconsin Drive in Howards Grove, 565-4421), Northside Piggly Wiggly (2905 North 15^th St. in Sheboygan, 458-9991), Southside Piggly Wiggly (3124 South Business Drive, 452-0411), Festival Foods (595 South Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, 694-6260), Oostburg State Bank (905 Center Ave. in Oostburg, 564-2336), Trilling True Hardware (901 Michigan Ave. in Sheboygan, 457-5541), Sheboygan Chevrolet Buick (3400 South Business Drive, 459-6804) and Falls Healing Arts (275 North Main St., 467-8690).

“Being the organizer of something this big, I often get questioned about how I am going to keep doing all this,” Waldbauer said. “My answerer is as long as God gives me my health and new ideas to keep it all interesting, I will keep doing it.

“Looking over the last 13 years, I’ve had Antonio Freeman, Chris Jackie, Mark Tauscher, and Chester Marcol of the Packers  participate in the show,” she said. “I have to thank Mersberger Financial for always providing financial support along with A Positive Attitude Jim Schnettler and many other businesses. The community has been supporting this in not only financial support, but also the live, silent auctions and dollar raffles.”

Sponsorships are currently being sought for this year’s event. Platinum ($2,000), gold ($1,000), silver sponsor ($500), bronze ($500) and friend ($50) level sponsorships are currently available.

Gold sponsors will receive four complimentary tickets to the show and the  Gala Appetizer and Wine Buffet.

Silver sponsors will receive two complimentary tickets to the show and to the  Gala Appetizer & Wine Buffet.

The sponsorship deadline for inclusion in the event program is March 16.

The Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions by the public are fully tax-deductible.d

For more information on the Unity Music Festival visit unitymusicfestival.org or the Unity Music Festival Facebook page.

More information on the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund can be found at www.scccf.org.

“Having cancer hit not only me, but my family as well,” Waldbauer said. “I know first-hand the impact this makes on families. I love to hear the stories from people about how the SCCCF helped them. It keeps me motivated.

“Above all, I have to acknowledge the support of my husband, my children, family, friends and neighbors,” she said. “I could never do this without them.”

For additional information about the 2018 Unity Music Festival or to purchase gala appetizer buffet tickets, call Mary Ann Waldbauer at 467-3303 or email umfmaryann@charter.net.