| Deanna and Brett Favre still support Wisconsin charities, donating to Make-A-Wish, Ribbons of Hope |
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by Tony Walter
Source: Green Bay Pressgazette.com
Feb. 11, 2010
Brett Favre's interest in Wisconsin charities didn't leave the state when he did.
I know some people feel jilted and that he wasn't going to help people in Wisconsin," said Christie Ladner, Favre's sister-in-law, who manages the Favres' foundations from her home in Hattiesburg, Miss.
"But he loves the people of Wisconsin, and as long as we have funds, we'll continue to contribute to Wisconsin."
The Favre Fourward Foundation, formed 13 years ago to help disadvantaged children in Wisconsin and Mississippi, recently merged with the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation that raises money to fight breast cancer.
Both are now part of the Favre #4 Hope Foundation. Ladner said they are looking at the possibility of adding some Minnesota charities to their list of recipients, but will continue to donate to causes for children in Wisconsin and Mississippi.
Ladner said the foundation recently donated an unspecified amount to Make-a-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin to help fight children's diseases, and $100,000 to Ribbon of Hope Foundation in Wisconsin, which fights breast cancer.
"The foundations just got bigger than we could handle," Ladner, Deanna Favre's younger sister, said of the decision to merge them. "We were getting 20 to 30 requests for donations per day to Deanna's foundation. The demand was too great."
Favre left the Green Bay Packers in 2008 and spent a year with the New York Jets before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings last year. Those moves have not slowed the sales of Favre memorabilia or charity donations, Ladner said.
"His decisions didn't affect the foundation," she said. "All that about 'Is he going to come back?' didn't change anything."
The No. 1 merchandise sellers right now are Vikings related, but the sales of Favre-related Packers items have not dried up.
The most expensive items on the foundation's Web site are signed Packers, Vikings and New York Jets helmets, and autographed Vikings jerseys for $599.99. Also featured is an 8x10 autographed photograph of Favre celebrating after throwing a touchdown pass against the Packers Nov. 1 at Lambeau Field. It sells for $149.99.
"We're still getting lots of requests from Wisconsin for things like silent auctions," Ladner said. "People are still curious."
Ladner, a nurse practitioner, said the work of the foundation will continue after Favre retires for good.
This year?
"Do you think I really know?" she said.
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