ASHWAUBENON (NBC 26) — Joseph Scala guesses he’s performed the national anthem roughly 400 times over the last ten years.
“It’s an honor and a privilege," he said. "Whether you’re singing for 20,000 people at a U.W. game, or 100 people at the Menasha VFW, to me it’s all the same.“
Tonight, the Northeast Wisconsin volunteer of the year sings the song for a special cause: Alzheimer’s night at the Green Bay Booyah baseball game.
“My involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association started when my mom developed it," said Scala. "And it’s just something that I have tremendous passion for.”
In Wisconsin alone, more than 120,000 people are living with the disease, and that number is expected to double by 2050 with our aging population, said Maggie Lamal, development manager for the local Alzheimer's Association chapter.
“There’s still sort of a stigma around Alzheimer’s," she said. "People just don’t really want to admit that their loved one has the disease.“
Last year, the Alzheimer's Association was not able to have its Walk to End Alzheimer's in person, due to the pandemic. This year, Lamal and Scala are excited that the walk will be back, because the event helps raise critical funds for research and awareness; the walk is the world's largest event for this cause, said Lamal.
For Scala, this isn’t the only cause near to his heart. He is also a dedicated volunteer with the American Cancer Society.
“My dad developed cancer when I was 16," said Scala. "And that sort of thrust me to a lifelong commitment with them that continues to this day.“
Scala likes to say he’s the poster child for everything that’s great about this country.
“It starts with family," he said. "I’m the youngest of eight. I come from very humble beginnings. My parents were first generation immigrants. We were very poor growing up, but my mother just kind of always instilled in us, even if you don’t have much, you share what you have.“
The Booyah will be playing against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The game starts tonight at 6:35 p.m. If you use this link to purchase tickets, $5 from each ticket will go towards the Alzheimer's Association.
