UMF organizer looks forward to successful event
by Jeff Pederson
The last few weeks leading up to the 13th annual Unity Music Festival to benefit the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund have been jam packed with a flurry of activity for UMF founder Mary Ann Waldbauer of Sheboygan Falls.
Being busy is a good thing to be as the organizer of a major local cancer fundraiser, just asked Waldbauer.
It means people are taking notice and have stepped up in a variety of ways to assist those in great need throughout Sheboygan County.
This year’s show will take place Saturday, April at the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts in Sheboygan beginning at 7 p.m.
Waldbauer, who founded the Unity Music Festival in 2005 as a way to support local cancer patients struggling through financial hardships caused by large medical bills,
Over the past 12 years, the event has drawn top-notch area musical talent, as well as a loyal contingent of dedicated sponsors and supporters.
While the majority of UMF supporters have lending a helping hand for many years, the Sheboygan County Tavern League recently jumping on board as a first-time UMF supporter, much to Waldbauer’s delight.
“We are very pleased to have The Sheboygan County Tavern League get involved in helping with the UMF this year,” Waldbauer said. “I hadf ribbons designed by Amanda D’Amico from the LTC art graphic design program. There are 13 bars that are helping sell the ribbons through donations. Meyer’s Lakeview Pub in Sheboygan is in the lead thanks to all of Judy Meyer’s’ efforts.
“The Sheboygan County Tavern league donates to a lot of different charities, and this is their first year helping out the UMF,” she said. “We are just thrilled to have them with us this year.
True to form, this year’s show features four highly talented and diverse musical performers, including soloist Allison Stauber, The Rice Family, The Eldorados and The Rick Raybine Band.
“We have some spectacular entertainment in store for a truly action-packed night you do not want to miss,” Waldbauer said.
Fundraising activities will kick off the festivities begin 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 Chef Clint and Miesfeld’s staff providing the appetizers.
“Both galas are sold out,” Waldbauer said. “Due to fire codes, we can only have so many people at each facility. We have 50 silent auction items that will line the halls at the Weill Center, 11 dollar raffles, seven live auctions and a 50/50 raffle. There’s something for everyone.
“The auction items are amazing and are 100 percent donated,” she said. “It just warms my heart to see all of this stuff come in. We already have $20,000 collected this year due to the generosity of the whole community. I can’t wait to see the end results of this years event
A full 100 percent of the money raised at the show will go to support the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund, which assists cancer patients exclusively within Sheboygan County.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds go to help cancer patients and their family members in Sheboygan County,” Waldbauer said. “Anyone suffering a financial hardship due to cancer can benefit from this fund.
“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.
In 2017, the SCCCF is celebrating the 15-year anniversary of the very first gesture which was made in 2002.
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.
This year’s event will feature new faces leading the evening’s events, including master of ceremonies Randy Schwoerer and Re/Max Realty Plus & Cain Auctions Realtor/Auctioneer Nick Cain, who will be the auctioneer for the live auction during the show’s intermission.
General admission tickets are currently on sale for $20 per person.
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 23rd 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 15th St. in Sheboygan, 458-9991), Sheboygan Falls Chamber-Main Street (504 Broadway St. in Sheboygan Falls, 467-6206), Festival Foods (595 South Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, 694-6260), Oostburg State Bank (905 Center Ave. in Oostburg, 564-2336) and Trilling True Hardware (901 Michigan Ave. in Sheboygan, 457-5541).
The Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions by the public are fully tax-deductible.
“Where can you go see such great entertainment for only $20?” Waldbauer said. “ All proceeds stay local to help cancer patients suffering a financial hardship due to cancer. Who does not know someone going thru cancer?
“We still have a lot of show tickets left, so I encourage everyone to come on out for a great night of entertainment and community support,” she said.
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
For additional information or to purchase gala appetizer buffet tickets, call Mary Ann Waldbauer at 467-3303 or email umfmaryann@charter.net