MACC Fund
The MACC Fund - Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc.- was founded on December 10, 1976, during the retirement of Jon McGlocklin from the Milwaukee Bucks. Jon's friend, Longtime Milwaukee Bucks Broadcaster Eddie Doucette, and his wife, Karen, had a son, Brett, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2. Brett's diagnosis a year earlier served as the impetus for starting the MACC Fund during McGlocklin's retirement ceremony from the Bucks during a Bucks half-time on the floor of the MECCA.
Members
Jon McGlocklin was named the organization's President, an office he holds today, and Eddie was named Vice- President. Living in California since 1978, Eddie is the now the MACC Fund's Honorary Vice-President and remains active with the Fund.
Brett Doucette, the MACC Fund's first success story, is married, the father of a two-year-old daughter and living in California. His dad Eddie is working as a consultant with the NBA and Jon does color commentary for Bucks televised games with Honorary MACC Fund Athletic Board member, Jim Paschke. McGlocklin is also on the staff of the MACC Fund forging relationships to help the cause which he has dedicated his life to since retiring from the Bucks.
Local athletes, celebrities and community-minded business people comprised the Fund's original Board of Directors. In addition, tens of thousands of people from throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest have embraced the MACC Fund and its mission to offer a special gift of "Hope Through Research to Children with Cancer and Related Blood Disorders."
Fund-raising and donations
Fund-raising is based on the concept of "a good time for a good cause." Special events led the way in the beginning and still comprise about 75% of the Fund's annual income. A yearly telethon/auction of signed sports memorabilia to benefit the fund on WTMJ-TV has been a staple of the holiday season since 1981, along with the "MACC Star", a yearly Christmas ornament created in 1988 available for sale designed by a child who has benefited from MACC Fund supported research. The MACC Fund's largest annual event is the Trek 100 Ride for Hope, which has raised $15 million in net proceeds since 1990. The Trek 100 is held in early June and begins and ends at the home of Trek Bicycle Corporation in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Riders raise at least $2 for each mile they ride, following routes that range from 19 to 100 miles.The Trek 100|website=www.trek100.org| Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has supported the MACC Fund since 2010 helping to raise $2.8 million through 2017.
Traditional donations, memorials, corporate and foundation support and estate planning gifts fill in the other 25% of the Fund's annual income. Total income in 2016 was $5.7 million. The MACC Fund has a full-time staff of 5 and two part-time positions that coordinates year-round activities.
The MACC Fund has contributed $62 million for pediatric cancer and blood disorders. This research impacts children throughout the state of Wisconsin, the nation and the world. Research is conducted in the MACC Fund Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, the MACC Fund Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin's Carbone Cancer Center in the MACC Fund Childhood Cancer Research Wing and at Marshfield Clinic. The MACC Fund commits over $3.2 million to research annually at these institutions.
The MACC Fund Scientific Review Board (SAB) was formed in 1980 to review the work of the beneficiaries supported by the MACC Fund. It is made up of leading pediatric oncology practitioners from around the country. The Board does site reviews every 2 -4 years. The current Review Board is headed by Dr. Sue Cohn of the University of Chicago. Past MACC Fund Scientific Review Board Chairs have come from prestigious medical schools and hospitals such as Yale, Harvard, UCLA, The University of Southern California, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the National Cancer Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital and Johns Hopkins.
The research that the MACC Fund supports has had a significant impact. The 5-year survival rate for all types of childhood cancer has risen from 20% to 80% in the past 40 years yet even children in the 80% category can relapse and have "late effect" issues which require more research.