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MILWAUKEE -- The priority, of course, is raising money for good causes. Christian Yelich¡¯s charity concert has brought in more than $300,000 for local charities in each of its first two years, and organizers are hoping to match or exceed that total when the Goo Goo Dolls perform at the third annual event on Thursday at the Pabst Theater.
So consider it a welcome side effect, Yelich said, that the night also brings the team and the community together.
¡°That¡¯s a goal with it,¡± Yelich said. ¡°Yeah, you want to raise money and do good, but you want people who come to the event to have fun. I don¡¯t want it to be a charity dinner where everybody sits down and listens to speeches. I¡¯ve been to that event. They¡¯re great, everybody is trying to do good, but those can be a little boring at times and it¡¯s like, ¡®I have to go to this,¡¯ rather than, ¡®I want to go.¡¯
¡°So the goal behind this was to make sure everybody has a good time while doing some good. Let¡¯s make this something people want to attend.¡±
Tickets went fast this year, Yelich said, boosted by the Grammy Award-nominated Goo Goo Dolls in addition to returning acts like Nicotine Dolls and standup comedian Charlie Berens. There¡¯s also the earlier spot on the schedule. Last year¡¯s event was in July, right around the same time as Summerfest, the Republican National Convention, the Harley-Davidson anniversary and a slew of other summer happenings in Milwaukee.
It was a particularly busy period for Yelich, too, since it was right around the time he was forced to make a hard decision about his back injury.
¡°I knew I was probably out for the season that morning,¡± he said. "I remember talking to the surgeon in the morning about how it was probably a wrap, and then I went home, took a shower and put on a suit and did the event.¡±
He¡¯d done everything he could to play. An MRI scan on the Saturday before the All-Star Game revealed bad news, but Yelich tried medication and anti-inflammatory injections in an effort to push surgery into the offseason. The All-Star Game itself provided a good, low-impact opportunity to test whether the plan could work, especially since it was followed by some days off.
¡°It basically was like a trial to see if I could do it,¡± he said.
Despite every effort, Yelich ultimately had to succumb to the injured list. His final game was July 23 in Chicago. Two days later, he put on a happy face and hosted his charity concert.
All of which is to say this year should be infinitely more enjoyable. Funds raised at the concert will benefit Brewers Community Foundation, Visit Milwaukee and The Live Like Lou Foundation, which supports families affected by ALS and funds research into curing ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig¡¯s Disease.
That cause is particularly close to Yelich¡¯s heart this year because it was a major cause for late Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who lost his daughter to ALS. Uecker passed away in January after a private battle with small cell lung cancer, which he shared with only a small circle of friends, including Yelich.
As for the entertainment, it won¡¯t be the first time the Goo Goo Dolls will play for the Brewers. Equipment manager Jason Shawger had a connection with the band¡¯s manager, and Yelich and some other veteran players picked up the tab to bring in band leader Johnny Rzeznik for a private show several years ago in what is now the Leinenkugel¡¯s Barrel Yard at American Family Field.
¡°It was a nice little hour and a half hanging out with players, staff and families,¡± Yelich said. ¡°It was pretty sweet. Now we¡¯ll get the whole band.¡±
Did he ever see this event getting so big?
¡°I think that was everyone¡¯s goal, but you didn¡¯t know if it was going to be possible,¡± Yelich said. ¡°You didn¡¯t know what kind of acts you would get. But we¡¯ve been pretty fortunate. It¡¯s been great.¡±