MACC Fund Then and Now

The MACC Fund, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. was founded on December 10, 1976 during the retirement night of Jon McGlocklin from the Milwaukee Bucks. Jon's friend, Eddie Doucette and his wife Karen, had a son, Brett, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2.

Brett's diagnosis coincided relatively closely with the timing of Jon's retirement. It was decided to use Jon's retirement to start the MACC Fund at a ceremony on the Milwaukee Arena floor during a Bucks game.

Jon was the Bucks first All-Star and a starting guard on the World Champion 1971 Bucks playing with Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Jon was considered the "original Buck" and was nicknamed "Jonny Mac" by his friend and Bucks broadcaster Eddie Doucette. Doucette captured the excitement of the Bucks during each game and coined phrases like the "Toaster", the "Cyclops", the "Rainbow Jumper", the "Greyhound" and the famous "BANGO!"

On the night that Jon's number 14 was retired by the Bucks, the MACC Fund took its first breath. Jon was named its President, an office he still holds today, and Eddie was named Vice President. Living in California since 1978, Eddie is the Fund's Honorary Vice President.

Now, nearly 25 years later, the MACC Fund is celebrating its Silver Anniversary. Brett Doucette, the MACC Fund's first success story, is married 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 fellow MACC Fund Board member, Jim Paschke. Jon is President of Healy Manufacturing in Menomonee Falls, producers of awards and plaques.

Local athletes, celebrities and business people comprised the Fund's original Board of Directors. All three groups are still involved. In addition, tens of thousands of people from throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest have embraced the cause of the MACC Fund, to offer Hope Through Research to Children with Cancer.

Fund-raising revolved around 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. Brewers home runs and doubles, Packers sacks and interceptions and Bucks 3-point baskets and opening tips raised funds from generous sponsors and cooperative sports teams. Cause-related marketing programs with donations for each purchase followed suit along with a telethon called MACC*ATHON. Women for MACC took up the fight in 1982 with its own impressive fund-raising events. The Trek 100 Ride for Hope, the MACC FundŐs largest annual event, has raised nearly $3 million since 1990.

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 2000 was $2.5 million. The MACC Fund has a full-time staff of 4 that coordinates the activities. The 10-year average administrative and indirect fund-raising expense is about 17%.

The MACC Fund has contributed $17.5 million for pediatric cancer research thanks to the generosity and commitment of people taking the time to care for a child with cancer. This research impacts children throughout the country since the successful protocols become the standard for patient care everywhere. The research is first put into practice at the bedside of patients at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

The primary beneficiary of MACC Fund support is the Midwest Children's Cancer Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Since 1988, the research has been conducted in the MACC Fund Research Center on the College's Wauwatosa campus. The 6-story, 141,000 square foot facility stands as a symbol of hope for children with cancer everywhere. In addition, the MACC Fund provides support to researchers at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center in Madison.

The MACC Fund committed nearly $1 million for the Midwest Children's Cancer Center's annual budget in fiscal 2000. This is about 30% of the Center's annual budget. In addition, it supports a $300,000 commitment for the MACC Fund Endowed Professor's Chair which is a $1.8 million pledge that began in 2000. This followed the completion of the $4 million pledge for the MACC Fund Research Center pledge. Support to the UW Cancer Center totaled $150,000 in 2000.

The MACC Fund Scientific Review Board was formed in 1980 to review the work of the Midwest Children's Cancer Center and to review grants submitted from outside this Center. It is made up of leading pediatric oncology practitioners from around the country. The Board does a biennial site review of the Cancer Center. The current Review Board is headed by Dr. Robert Arceci of Johns Hopkins Medical School. Past MACC Fund Scientific Review Board Chairs have hailed from medical schools such as Yale, Harvard, UCLA and The University of Southern California.

The research that the MACC Fund is supporting has had a significant impact in the field. The overall cure rate for all types of childhood cancer has risen from 25% to 65% in the past 25 years. Wilms tumor of the kidney is now 90% curable. Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia is about 85 % curable. The Center has performed more successful non-related bone marrow transplants than any other Center in the country.

Great strides have been made, but far more needs to be done until all of the children play a leading role in a success story. Wouldn't it be great if the MACC Fund didn't have to celebrate its Golden 50th Anniversary in 2026.