GREEN BAY. - Ben Haas knew the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation was the right person for the job - before he knew delivered via the invitations by hand Mason in the locker room of the Green Bay Packers Crosby, or print directions during home or inkjet factorization commitment the charity tournament, as their possibilities piled in free agency.
It was 2012, and once proud Lombardi Golf Classic had lost much of its cache. At its peak, the tournament had celebrity boasted a who's who list of guests - from the baseball legend Mickey Mantle, host Bob Hope and former President Gerald Ford in the 1970s with big name players Packers past and present in the 1980s and 90s ,
As one of the five annual events Lombardi Foundation - which raised completely over a million $ 15, because the love was established after the death of the legendary coach of cancer in 1970 - it was the golf tournament yet funds for the fight against increasing cancer, but has no off-season stop on the day of the event, it was. In fact, as the board of the foundation to stop the event, which began in the 1971st
With its Co-long Hall of Fame Area Bart Starr and his wife Cherry, reduced its stake, Haas knew that. As the new president, who needs a player that had pulled into the cabinet and a strong balance Defence Community
Enter Crosby, a veteran Packers kicker, who had not lost a tournament since the Packers accession as a rookie sixth round pick in of 2007.
"I think Mason might be a trap. I never knew Mason would be as involved as he is," Haas, CEO of GO Riteway, a company based in Wisconsin transport with Rich said. "See you in [charity] is is transactional almost to them. For him, it really is two sides. I've seen it. Someone him come thanked spend time, and it is thanks to them in exchange for participation ,
"I think it's a guy like us to show was - that is a father, a man -. And I think that calls for a lot of people, yes, he draws a green and gold uniform on Sunday, but it is a be like the rest of us normal people. the return was exponentially for all ".
Many professional athletes talk a good game when it comes to charity; others do, that no good deed goes not published means of social communication. But while Crosby does not help, in fact it is one of the most dedicated player community-Packers. He said he and his wife Molly weighed his involvement in the Lombardi Cancer Foundation and the Wisconsin Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation, when he as the water free agent this spring. Testing
"To think back and go elsewhere - and not what to bear in the situation I mean the last nine years'm really invest - it would have been difficult," met Crosby, the Starr in his first classic Lombardi Golf in 2007 he said, and he has been involved with Make-a-Wish Foundation before an official spokesman Wisconsin to be in 2012 for a good cause.
"When Molly and I were talking after the season is, think about to go somewhere else and start again, one of the things we talked about was the way we have our heart and a big investment in Wisconsin and our community. All organizations we are involved, it is not something that we take for granted or take lightly. it is really factor in our decision, which wanted to do [with the Packers] something to keep track of these things. "
Starr, of several strokes and a heart attack in September 2014 but made an emotional return to Lambeau Field Thanksgiving off-the-field inspiration for many players, even -to-be Hall of Fame has suffered quarterback Brett Favre and the current Packers ~~ POS = TRUNC Aaron Rodgers, the Starr called his "personal role model." Crosby, Starr during this first golf tournament met not only the ground for his role with the tournament to prepare today, but helped crystallize on community activities his philosophy.
"It was one of the first events that I have attended [after being selected by the Packers], and this time, I still remember very well," Crosby said. "Road in North Hills Country Club and found Bart Starr and Cherry. And they are like those who already knows around them, only the presence of both [is] overwhelming. It was another event, and immediately it was something I knew I wanted to be part of it. "
To remain a part of it, Crosby had restarted surpassed the worst season of his career in 2012 when he was just 21 of 33 shots made to put his future with the team in danger. He responded - with a little help from his former teammate Charles Woodson - making 84 of 98 attempts (85.7 percent) in the last three regular seasons, plus 20 field goals in consecutive postseason a series that dates back to of 2010.
This achievement has been to benefit capable on the open market. But Crosby, the franchise of all time leading scorer, do not leave it until then. Instead, he reached an agreement with the Packers in early March, inking him $ 16.1 million compared to four years, the third highest paid kicker in the league.
The contract was not only a victory for the Packers, who were re-sign Crosby a priority, but for non-profit activities and Crosby.
"For Mason, who runs the heart. That's clear. He is very attentive," said Patti Gorsky, President / CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation Wisconsin. "I think he and Molly are a couple who recognizes his blessing with three beautiful children healthy, and want the voices to rotate we do -. The Packers are one of the most popular [national] desires - Mason was on the front in response to these children.
"I think he saw firsthand the power of a wish come true, and that made want to hire him. And yet, it was never really any advertising associated with him. He and Molly has always quietly and respectfully. But they as indelible marks Result done. "
Haas Foundation and Lombardi were happy to keep Crosby, also. Among those who had especially enjoyed Crosby return Lynn Dickey, who played the fourth when Starr led the Packers in the 1980s and was a staunch defender of Lombardi classic since its debut in 1977th
"The most important thing he did, Mason was before the recovered younger. It was so long, long time. And the current players are what the world go round making" Dickey, who played nine seasons in Green Bay said ( 1976- '85). "A mixture of older boys is needed, too, and all who know the history of the Green Bay Packers, there surprised many old names. And it was a very good cast of characters there for years.
"Mason got the younger before, and that has helped revive the tournament and put into some juice again. There is so excited."
So much so that, in addition to their traditions and where more than a dozen current players every year invitations-and-indications - pivots near Richard Rodgers, safety Micah Hyde, catcher Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis and kicker Tim Masthay and receiver Pro Bowl, Jordy Nelson two years ago - in her lap Crosby has helped with several new corporate sponsorship to ensure auction items, and participate even signed several quartets. Haas said the 46-year-old, the tournament five seasons Crosby was Co-President has sold, and the event in May this year, more than double the net proceeds from the issue 2012 Design.
"We had a sponsor to shoot now, because we fully had house. I mean, I had a ball disc this year sponsor," Haas said, laughing. "These are the things that have happened there five years or even two years ago. The revival is simply remarkable in the past five years."
And with an agreement to 32 years to keep up with the Packers until 2019 - to keep up with the hope Crosby joined about 40 years to 43 years old, Kicker Indianapolis Colts, Adam Vinatieri - Crosby and his wife plan to expand his love in the future ,
"Molly and I went to the event Make-A-Wish Foundation [before the company return] and that kind of looking at each other and said:". "Crosby said," Can we really give 'We feel like we offer you our passion can help here, and it's certainly something that I am pleased to continue the next four years - .. to continue to be part of these causes "
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