Branden Lombardi ’01

Prior to enrolling at Arizona, Lombardi had already battled, and beaten, cancer once. After raising $20,000 through a golf tournament to help improve the quality of patient life, Branden headed off to the U of A, and rushed Kappa Sigma. As an undergraduate he was the 2002 Homecoming Chair, received the 2002 Community Involvement Award and was a winner of the Matt Whaley Scholarship in the Spring of ’03.

The cancer returned, cutting his academic pursuits (temporarily) short. After multiple surgeries over several months, he beat the disease, again, and continued his Foundation efforts… The Branden Lombardi Foundation (www.theblf.org) has completed projects in 15 hospital and cancer centers over the past decade, with another 5 projects currently in the works.

Lombardi’s efforts lead to him being chosen to carry the Olympic Torch prior to the 2002 Winter Olympiad in Salt Lake City.  During that process he met then-Diamondback pitcher and fellow torch-bearer Curt Schilling and the two collaborated on a new program, “Rallycaps”, a program designed to give major league ball caps to cancer sufferers as they undergo treatment.

Branden is an Senior Analyst with Arizona Land Advisors, and was involved in the brokering of Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear, Arizona in 2005-2009, a $450MM sale.

When not in the office or working on his foundation, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Celeste, and their daughter, Sophie.

He is also a current member of the Gamma-Rho Housing Corporation. Brother Lombardi financially supported the chapter after leaving school, including the 2005-06 refurbishing of the Chapter Room. In recognition of ongoing efforts with his Foundation, the Gamma-Rho Chapter has named the philanthropy award after him… The “Branden Lombardi Community Service Award.”

“The Chapter and Fraternity helped create a sense of belonging on a large college campus. It helped instill in me the value and importance of friendship, and also what you put into an endeavor you are repaid 10 fold. Kappa Sigma, my brothers and the alumni have supported my Foundation and my personal pursuits. The sense of brotherhood is strong, and does not disappear even if you see someone infrequently or years apart.”