Leroy Butler to serve as honorary chair of Annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

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Leroy Butler to serve as honorary chair of Annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

29 September 2012

The Advisory Board of The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County is pleased to announce that Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame safety LeRoy Butler will serve as the Honorary Chair of the organization’s annual Red Kettle Campaign.

In this capacity, Butler will participate in a variety of Red Kettle Campaign events throughout southeastern Wisconsin, including a benefit concert on Fri., Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at The Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, featuring a performance by Frank Sinatra, Jr.

From a disabled youth, spending much of his childhood in leg braces, Butler went on to become the most durable defensive back in the storied history of the Green Bay Packers. Playing in more games than any other defensive back (181), Butler was consistently productive, as he is the fourth ranked interception leader in team history (38).

Surviving an impoverished childhood in a poor area of Jacksonville, Florida, and suffering through serious leg and foot problems that confined him to a wheelchair as a youth, Butler experienced a miraculous healing in the seventh grade. He went on to be a three-year starter at Florida State before becoming the Packers second round pick in 1990.

Butler became a starter in his second season, and remained there until he retired after the 2001 season. Butler is the originator of the “Lambeau Leap” beginning when he jumped in the end zone stands after he returned a fumble for a touchdown in 1993. Selected to the Associated Press All-Pro team four years in a row in the mid 90’s, Butler was part of the Packers Super Bowl winning team in 1996 and was also named to the NFL 1990’s All-Decade team.

Butler has remained active in the community through many ventures, including his Leroy Butler Foundation, which assists women undergoing breast cancer treatment obtain the assistance they need to focus on the job of healing versus the financial impact to their families. His other philanthropic work centers on empowering young people to use their individual strengths and talents while working together as a team to inspire their peers to better the community.

The Salvation Army’s relationship will include the organization being recognized on Butler’s new cookbook, with a Salvation Army logo on the back cover, and a 300-word narrative on The Salvation Army included in the book. In addition, the organization will work with Butler on its annual winter coat and toy drives.

The November 2 benefit concert is titled “Sinatra Sings Sinatra” and features songs that Frank Sinatra, Sr., sang in over 50 years of performing, many of which Sinatra Jr. witnessed first hand. A portion of the show includes a photo gallery depicting Sinatra’s “look” throughout each decade while Sinatra, Jr. sings the songs that best represented the times. The show includes such classics as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “One For My Baby,” “New York, New York,” “Luck Be A Lady” and “Strangers In The Night.” Tickets, on sale for $125, $85, and $60, can be purchased by calling 414-286-3663 or visiting www.pabsttheater.org.

For more information, call 414-302-4300 or visit www.SAmilwaukee.org