MONROE — The Monroe Badger Days, a two-day fundraising event held each summer in Monroe, will not take place this summer.

“After much consideration, we have made the tough decision to cancel Monroe Badger Days 2020,” the event committee announced April 11. 

The canceling is a direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak that has shuttered much of the country and has infected nearly 2 million people across the globe and has killed more than 23,000 Americans in less than two months.

Sponsored by the Kubly family and Colony Brands, the annual event has raised money for the University of Wisconsin athletic department since the 1950s. Donors can play golf, tennis and mingle with prominent figures that don Bucky Badger garb on the sidelines. The event typically culminated with a banquet dinner where UW figures like football coach Paul Chryst, basketball coach Greg Gard and others gave speeches and chatted with donors.

“While we will continue to honor the legacy of this incredible 67-year tradition to support UW athletics, the uncertainty across the nation with government closures and restrictions on travel and events, and certainly the health and safety of our guests and event workers, has caused us to pause on holding the actual event this year,” the statement read.

The event is hopeful to return in 2021. Questions about the event can be referred to monroebadgerdays@colonybrands.com.