Each year, Gilda’s Club provides support to thousands of people with cancer and their loved ones with a free service that relies solely on funds raised.
At the May 21 Waunakee Rotary Club meeting, Lannia Stenz, Gilda’s Club executive director, talked about the nonprofit, noting since the pandemic and the use of virtual meetings, it now serves people throughout Wisconsin.
Its mission is to uplift and strengthen people impacted by cancer at any stage of the illness. The organization also tries to ensure that they, along with their entire circle of friends and family, do not feel they are facing it alone.
Lannia talked about Gilda Radner, the original Saturday Night Live cast member who inspired Gilda’s Club. She showed clips of Radner’s characters – Emily Litella, Lisa Luebner and RoseAnn Rosannadanna – noting that rooms at the Middleton Gilda’s Club are named after them.
After Gilda died, her husband, Gene Wilder, and others organized the first Gilda’s Club.
Since then, cancer survivors have begun living longer and facing more challenges from the treatments’ side effects.
Gilda’s Clubs offer support groups around different types of cancers and circumstances, for instance people with children with cancer. They also act as patient advocates helping individuals through claims issues and with family and patient counseling.
Gilda’s Club Wisconsin had 8,200 program visits in the past year with 1,319 active participants in 37 different Wisconsin counties.
That’s resulted in better treatment and outcomes, and better communication among family members.
Lannia said Gilda’s Clubs are located throughout the United States and urged Rotarians who know people outside of Wisconsin to spread the message that if they have cancer, they can locate the Gilda’s Club closest to them.
Lannia’s role as Gilda’s Club executive director has a deeper, more personal meaning. She does this for her mother, she said, adding when her mother was battling cancer, Lannia was her caregiver.
“One of my jobs in my life was to make her laugh every day,” she said.
She appreciations being part of an organization that works with individuals facing cancer and uses humor.
Gilda’s Club Wisconsin has three major fundraisers, the Backyard BBQ on June 11, the Red Doors Golf Outing with tastings at every hole on Aug. 17, and Gilda’s Run on Oct. 4. It receives no other funding.
There are a number of ways to volunteer, as well. For information, visit the Gilda’s Club Wisconsin website.
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Other news:
Ken Pesik updated the club about fundraising for the arch project. The Endres Manufacturing Foundation donated $50,000 toward the project and that should allow it to begin. Linda Olson noted that club members can donate to the Waunakee Rotary Foundation for the arch project and receive points toward a Paul Harris Award. Usually those points are awarded when donating to the Rotary International Foundation.
The recipients of the Waunakee Rotary Foundation’s Service to Humanity Scholarships have been chosen. They are: Adrian Lopez Mateus, Waunakee High School, $3,000; Hayden Janus, Waunakee High School, $2,500; Andrew Berger, Waunakee High School, $1,500, and Alianna Reefe, Edgewood High School, $1000. Adrian is attending Marquette University next year, Hayden and Andrew are attending UW-Madison, and Alainna is attending the University of Tennessee.
Nick Mischler donated a check for $57 in celebration of his 57th year of marriage to Elaine. Congratulations to the happy couple.
The Interact Club’s hygiene drive is continuing through June 7, so just a couple more weeks left.
Coming Up
June 8: Madison West–Middleton Golf Outing
June 24: Steak Fry and Changing of the Guard at Drumlin Ridge
June 11: Midnight Splash cruise on Lake Mendota
Greeters: May 28, Shelley Moffatt and Jean Elvekrog; June 4, Veronica Castillo and ??
To sign up to greet or to find out when you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
