Sterling Lawyers Sponsors Trivia Night with Andy North, Raising $135,000 for Cancer Research
On January 29, 2026, Sterling Lawyers, LLC joined other local businesses in sponsoring the Emerging Leadership Board‘s Trivia Night with Andy North at The Sylvee in Madison. The evening brought together Wisconsin businesses, volunteers, and community members, raising over $135,000 for the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. The event brought the Madison community together to fund cancer research that directly benefits Wisconsin families.
Supporting the Emerging Leadership Board
Our work in Madison extends beyond the courtroom. We invest in the health and well-being of the communities we serve, and the Emerging Leadership Board shares this vision. Since 2011, this group of young professionals has raised over $400,000 for the UW Carbone Cancer Center fundraising and donated more than 2,400 volunteer hours.
Attorney Nikole Messerschmidt, an attorney at our firm, serves on the Emerging Leadership Board. Her involvement connects our firm directly to the board's work and mission. The Emerging Leadership Board brings together professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are committed to advancing cancer research in Madison.
$135,000 for Local Cancer Research
The 2026 Trivia Night surpassed both the 2025 event ($130,000) and the 2024 record ($125,000), reflecting Madison's growing support for local cancer research. The impact is tangible.
Andy North, two-time U.S. Open champion and cancer survivor, put it simply during the event: “There's a lot of national organizations that are really good that people give money to, but it gets spread all over. Every bit we hear stays right here in town, which is really cool.”
Every dollar raised stays in Wisconsin, funding research and patient care at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. The money directly supports our neighbors, colleagues, and family members battling cancer.
The UW Carbone Cancer Center
The UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center is Wisconsin's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, a distinction shared by fewer than 60 institutions nationwide. Since 1973, the center has treated patients and advanced cancer research, serving more than 30,000 patients annually.
Researchers here developed Mohs Surgery for skin cancer. The center also produced 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy, tamoxifen for breast cancer, and TomoTherapy radiation treatment. UW researchers established SPF ratings for sunscreen. These achievements represent real treatments that have saved lives across the country and around the world, stemming from research conducted right here in Madison.
More than 330 physicians and scientists from 50 departments and nine schools work at the center. World-class cancer care happens here, accessible to Wisconsin families who need it. A couple of attorneys from Sterling Lawyers attended Trivia Night because they understand this connection between local research and local lives.
They represented our firm that evening. We practice law in Madison, and we also live here, raise families here, and invest in the future of this community. Supporting events like Trivia Night alongside other local sponsors connects us to the causes that shape our city and the people who call it home.
Getting Involved
The fight against cancer requires ongoing community support. Visit emergingleadershipboard.org to learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. You can make a direct contribution through the Wisconsin Medicine campaign at give.wiscmedicine.org, or explore andynorthandfriends.com to discover additional fundraising initiatives.
The Emerging Leadership Board stays active throughout the year with happy hours, community gatherings, and fundraising events. Follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for updates.
Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, and supported this year's Trivia Night. Together, we're making a difference in the fight against cancer.
