Three leaders known for their philanthropic support of Marshfield Clinic were recognized this spring at the annual Spirit of Giving event.
Awards are given to acknowledge individuals and organizations whose support allows the Clinic to fulfill its mission to provide high-quality patient care, research and education.
Receiving Spirit of Giving awards from Clinic President Brian Ewert, M.D., were:
- Dr. Dean and Lorrie Emanuel, Legacy of Philanthropy
- Associated Bank, Outstanding Philanthropic Organization
- Rich Seubert and the Seubert family, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising
All three recipients were described as "giants" in some way by their peers.
Lorrie and Dr. Dean Emanuel
Dr. Emanuel, a retired cardiologist who began working at the Clinic in 1958, was once referred to as a "Clinic giant" by George Magnin, M.D., himself a distinguished physician and teacher and the first director of Medical Education at Marshfield Clinic.
Dr. Emanuel and his wife were supporters of the Lawton and Laird Centers to house research efforts at Marshfield Clinic. Dr. Emanuel was a pioneering researcher and was instrumental in establishing the Auction of Champions. That annual gala has raised more than $2 million since its inception in 1982 to support the National Farm Medicine Center, a program of Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.
He was known for his work in identifying farmer's lung, an inflammatory disease of the lungs, and helped the Research Institute get its first National Institutes of Health grant in 1960 to study that disease. The Dean Emanuel Endowed Chair at the Marshfield Clinic National Farm Medicine Center is named in his honor.
John Baur (left) and John Evans of Associated Bank
Associated Bank is considered a giant in the banking industry and for its philanthropic ways. Associated Bank and its parent company, Associated Banc-Corp, one of the top 50 publicly traded, U.S. bank holding companies, are headquartered in Green Bay.
Associated Bank is a 40-year supporter of Marshfield Clinic and has been involved in events such as Auction of Champions and Mike's Run, which raises funds and awareness for mental health. Associated Bank recently donated $250,000 to support the Clinic's third mobile health unit, which began providing service this summer.
"It's part of the bank's culture to give back to the communities where we live and work," said John Baur, Associated Bank Marshfield community bank president.
Rich and Jodi Seubert
Rich Seubert played for the New York Giants and helped win a Super Bowl with the team in 2008. He became a giant supporter of the Clinic during that season, when he partnered with the Clinic to create the Rich Seubert Celebrity Trap Shoot.To date, the event has raised more than $1 million to establish the Celine Seubert Distinguished Physician/Scientist Endowment in Cardiology Research at Marshfield Clinic. Seubert partnered with the Clinic to start this event to honor his grandmother, Celine Seubert, a 20-plus year heart transplant survivor. Seubert's family has played an important role in the trap shoot, with his parents catering lunch and his sister coordinating volunteers.
"We hope that, someday, someone else will see their grandmother live that long after a transplant," Seubert said.
