Bridger & Essex Grebe Softball Challenge

We are proud to have raised more than $500,000 since we started the Softball Challenge, including more than $30,000 this year.

Where does that money go? To find out, check out the letter we recently received from Amanda Hope of the INADcure Foundation, and thanks for your continued support!

From the letter …

I am pleased to report that 100% of the funds you contributed to our Foundation went to support medical research initiatives for INAD. The majority of the funds we distributed in 2018 went to Dr. Paul Kotzbuaer’s Lab at Washington University. As you know, Dr. Kotzbauer is working on gene therapy for INAD. Gene therapy is a revolutionary approach to treating genetic diseases. It involves a one-time delivery of a normal copy of the defective gene which ideally causes the body to naturally produce the missing enzyme, which is what is causing the neurodegeration in INAD. It is the most promising ‘cure’ for our children. …

 To date, the INADcure Foundation has raised approximately $600,000. Over 90% of our funding has or will go towards research. We keep our overhead extremely low, as we continue to be run and advised by a working board of directors and multiple advisory committees. We only have one part-time consultant that assists with day to day operations and development. Our goal has always been to direct as much of the funds raised as possible towards research. 

On behalf of our entire Board of Directors and the families and children suffering from this heartbreaking disease, I want to thank you again for your support. None of the accomplishments above would have been possible without the generous gift from the Bridger and Essex Grebe Fund.

We’ve uploaded photos from the 2019 game here.

Thanks, Suzanne Mock, for the terrific shots!

This year’s event is on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Helfaer Field, with the family tailgate starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by the game at 1 p.m.

Registration is now open! Cost to attend the event is a $40 donation per adult, payable online (preferred), by check (see below), or at the event. Children under the age of 18 are complimentary. There are two steps to registering …

Start by clicking on the button below to fill out the registration form …

Then, after registering (if you are paying online), please remember to come back to this page and click on the Donate button below to pay for your registration. Choose “Donation for the softball challenge” from the drop-down menu when paying for your registration.

Want to be on the field? Bid to be a player here.

Other Ways to Contribute

If you can not attend, you can make a contribution to the event by clicking on the Donate button and choosing “Make a Contribution” from the menu. You can also donate directly via check (to The Bridger & Essex Grebe Fund) here …

The Bridger & Essex Grebe Fund
Kelly Grebe
11417 N. Spring Avenue
Mequon, WI 53092

Visit the Register & Donate page for more information.

Thanks, Suzanne Mock, for the wonderful pictures from this year’s event!

For each of the past eight years our family has been humbled by the support of many friends at the Bridger and Essex Grebe Softball Challenge.  This year was certainly no exception.  We could not overstate our appreciation and gratitude for everything that all of you have helped us accomplish through the Bridger and Essex Grebe Fund – as well as helping us keep the memories of the boys alive.  Thank you.

Perhaps above all we want to once again express our gratitude to Connie and Reik Read for creating this special way to help other families while we remember both Bridger and Essex.  The funds raised during the event support the Bridger and Essex Grebe Fund, which in turn supports families with children who have needs similar to those that Bridger and Essex had, but who do not have the good fortune to be able to afford the life-changing therapy, assistance, and equipment that those children need.  In addition, while we have talked about our hope that someday we will be able to support efforts to develop a cure for INAD, this year that dream is beginning to become a reality.  Although we are still counting the proceeds, the event will have raised more than $25,000 which will go directly to the INADCure Foundation to help fund new research that is designed to find a cure for INAD.  We cannot imagine a better legacy for Bridger and Essex than to help drive the development of a cure.

Again, thank you.

For those of you who were able to attend, you witnessed an entertaining game, if not one that was consistently played at a high level.  We continued the new tradition of young guns versus old men, with some new faces.  The young guns once again prevailed, this time after eleven innings and in spite of the ringers recruited by the old men – including especially the USM Varsity baseball and football coaches!   As always, the winning bidders definitely contributed – thanks to Laine Bolton and George Schelble on the “young guns” and Mark Behnke on the “old men.”

We hope everyone enjoyed the event.  Pictures will be uploaded on the website in the next few weeks.  If you weren’t able to make the event but still want to make a donation you are – of course – still able to do so online.  http://www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/donors/give-online/give-bridger-stowe-grebe-fund/

As always, we really cannot adequately express our appreciation for the remarkable generosity and support of friends, family, and colleagues – especially when that support has been so enduring and extends far beyond one summer afternoon.  Our family is blessed in many ways, not the least of which is being part of this wonderful community.  We are grateful for that every day.

We look forward to seeing you next year at the Ninth Annual Bridger and Essex Grebe Softball Challenge!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything.

The Grebe Family

Congratulations to Laine Bolton, George Schelble and Mark Behnke!

Help us keep Bridger and Essex Grebe’s memories alive by taking part in the 2018 Bridger and Essex Grebe Softball Challenge. 

• When: Sunday, August 19, 2018
• Where: Helfaer Field at Miller Park
  • 11:30 a.m. Family Tailgate
  • 1 p.m. Softball Game: Amelia Island Angels vs Spring Street Sounds

The Bridger Stowe & Essex Hart Grebe Fund was established to provide support to families who have children with their condition or similar conditions,  including funding programs or institutions that support those children, provide therapy for those children, or work to develop better treatments – or even a cure.  The fund is supported through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. Since its inception, the Fund has raised over $350,000.

In 2017, the Fund provided $50,000 to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation for support of the undiagnosed and rare disease program. 

Thank you!