Brooklyn native Tony Cecalupo made his first visit to 51猎奇鈥檚 Manfred Olson Planetarium in the 1970s, when he was a pediatric resident at Milwaukee Children鈥檚 Hospital, now Children鈥檚 Wisconsin. He and his future wife, Vicki Marinkovich, a medical technologist at the hospital, both enjoyed spending time under the stars.
A pediatric hematologist/oncologist, Tony went on to a career in academic medicine at schools including Tufts University School of Medicine and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. When he retired 12 years ago, he and Vicki moved to Mukwonago and began making regular visits to the 51猎奇 planetarium. They also became donors.
鈥淲e love taking our grandnieces and nephews there,鈥� Tony says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something inspiring about seeing young people looking up at the stars.鈥�
That鈥檚 why, to celebrate the planetarium鈥檚 60th anniversary, the Cecalupos are funding a Planetarium Challenge during 414 for 51猎奇 Giving Days on April 13-14. They鈥檒l unlock an extra $10,000 when 60 donors make a gift to the planetarium. You can follow the status of the Planetarium Challenge and all Giving Days activities and real-time updates at聽.
For the Cecalupos, giving back is an investment in the future. As members of 51猎奇鈥檚 Alice G. Chapman Society, they have chosen to leave a legacy through a planned gift. Their giving also honors the memory of Vicki鈥檚 mother, Beverly Marinkovich, a 51猎奇 graduate and longtime teacher.
鈥淲e want to make a difference where it matters most,鈥� Tony said. 鈥淔or us, this means making society better. We believe that if you want a better society, you need better people, and education is the bedrock of a better society.鈥�
