Award of Excellence 2026

35th Annual Vince Lombardi Award of Excellence Dinner | Mar. 7, 2026
Honoring the Legacy of the Milwaukee Brewers

EVENT OVERVIEW

The Annual Vince Lombardi Award of Excellence Dinner recognizes those who capture the spirit of commitment and pursuit of excellence that define legendary Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi. This year's Award of Excellence honoree, the Milwaukee Brewers, and Champion for a Cure awardee, Cecelia Gore, are fueled by the same desire as event attendees and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation to prevent cancer, provide the best care to those fighting it, and find a cure.

Funds raised during this unforgettable, black-tie event will directly support cancer research and treatments, celebrating the legacy of Coach Lombardi in the fight against cancer.

EVENT DETAILS

Date:
March 7, 2026

Location:
7th Floor of The Pfister Hotel. 424 E Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Schedule of Events:
5:30pm: VIP Registration & Reception
6:00pm: General Registration & Reception
7:00pm: Dinner & Program
9:00pm: VIP After Party

Attire:
Black-tie; complimentary coat check available 

Parking:
Complimentary valet parking is available at the Jefferson Street entrance of the Pfister Hotel.

2026 Champion for a Cure Award Recipient

Cecelia Gore will be recognized with the Champion for a Cure Award, celebrating her resilience as a cancer survivor and her enduring commitment to advocacy, leadership, and community impact. Introduced last year, this award honors local leaders who embody Coach Vince Lombardi's spirit of commitment and excellence in the fight against cancer.

Cecelia currently serves as Executive Director of Brewers Community Foundation, the charitable arm of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club.  The Foundation harnesses the pride, passion and commitment of our fans, players and other supporters to positively impact the community.  Focused areas of support for Brewers Community Foundation include nonprofits in the areas of health, education, recreation, and basic needs, with a particular focus on low income and disadvantaged youth and their families in Greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin.

Cecelia is a founding member of the Wisconsin chapter of the American Cancer Society's CEOs Against Cancer, bringing together business leaders to advance cancer prevention and treatment. Her influence extends through her service on numerous boards, including Town Bank, a Wintrust Company, C.G. Schmidt a family-owned construction company, Greater Milwaukee Committee, and Alverno College. She recently served as a director for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Sojourner Family Peace Center, and has supported significant fundraising goals for numerous organizations throughout her tenure.

Her work has been recognized through several awards and honors, including a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa from Carroll University.

A dynamic senior-level executive with extensive experience in community and external affairs, Cecelia is a champion in many ways. Milwaukee would not be the community it is today without her contributions and leadership, and we are proud to honor her as our 2026 Champion for a Cure. 

Award of Excellence Recipients