Milwaukee's historic Pfister Hotel will host the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation's 23rd Annual Food & Wine Experience on Friday, November 6, 2026, bringing area chefs, vintners, and cancer research supporters together under one roof. The signature fundraiser pairs tastings from local culinary partners with a mission that has funded cancer treatment and prevention across Wisconsin for more than five decades.
The event, organized by the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation, is billed as a signature fundraiser bringing together food, wine, and community support, according to TMJ4 News. Guests can sample offerings from area culinary partners, while VIP ticket holders get access to an exclusive experience featuring Bacchus, a Bartolotta restaurant, and Napa Valley's Kerr Cellars, the station reports. Ticket purchases go toward cancer research and patient care initiatives throughout Wisconsin and beyond, per the same report.
Bacchus is no stranger to culinary accolades. Located in Milwaukee's historic Cudahy Tower, the restaurant has earned Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence every year since 2006 and is a Bartolotta restaurant. On the wine side, Kerr Cellars was founded by 20-time LPGA Tour champion Cristie Kerr, who launched her Napa Valley wine ventures to generate research funding and awareness for breast cancer after her mother, aunt, and godmother were diagnosed with the disease, according to Vintegrity Wine. Kerr also created Birdies for Breast Cancer in 2003 and helped establish the Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center, per Kerr Cellars.
A Foundation Born From Tragedy
The foundation traces its roots to the death of Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, who died of colon cancer on September 3, 1970, at age 57 after leading the team to five NFL championships. Wisconsin business and community leaders established the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation in 1971 with the support of Lombardi's widow, Marie, according to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. The organization's mission has centered on providing the best care for people fighting cancer, finding a cure, and preventing cancer altogether, per TMJ4's report on the upcoming gala.
The foundation traces its origins to the Vince Lombardi Memorial Golf Classic at North Hills Country Club, according to the foundation. Since 1971, the organization has raised more than $25 million to fund cancer research, patient care, and prevention programs across Wisconsin and nationally, according to the foundation's own accounting.
Funding Care Close to Home
That money has translated into real clinical infrastructure in eastern Wisconsin. The foundation maintains a long-standing partnership with Aurora Health Care, funding a network of 11 Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinics anchored by its flagship location at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, according to Aurora Health Care.
Donors looking for a year-round way to contribute can join Lombardi's League, a monthly giving program ranging from $10 to $85 per month that offers perks including complimentary Food & Wine Tasting Gala tickets and exclusive visits to funded grant sites, per the foundation's donor materials. Higher recurring tiers include VIP event passes and private receptions with grant awardees, the foundation says.
Screening Access Gains Ground in Wisconsin
Gail's Law would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for supplemental and diagnostic breast cancer imaging for patients across Wisconsin, according to WisPolitics. The law was named after advocate Gail Zeamer, who died after standard mammograms missed cancer in her dense breast tissue, the outlet reports.
The policy shift comes against a sobering backdrop. American Cancer Society data reported this month underscore the continuing burden of breast cancer nationally, according to WisPolitics.
A Fitting Backdrop for the Cause
The Pfister Hotel provides a backdrop for the cause. For a foundation built on turning personal loss into decades of local medical progress, the historic ballroom offers a fitting stage for the November 6 evening of food, wine, and fundraising.
