Three Chapters Unite to Raise Over $20K for a Family Facing a Terminal Cancer Diagnosis
Jeremy Z.’s terminal cancer diagnosis turned his entire family’s world upside down. On top of the emotional toll, it brought financial stress as he was no longer able to work to support his wife, Jennifer, and their four children.
When Jennifer’s friend Joyce L. heard the devastating news, she turned to her fraternal chapter network to help. What began as a goal to raise a few thousand dollars quickly grew into something much bigger as three Trusted Fraternal Life chapters joined forces, tripling their impact.
Woman’s Life Chapter 72 Kaukauna, Wisconsin, partnered with Catholic Financial Life Chapters 64 Kaukauna, Wisconsin, and 103 Hollandtown, Wisconsin, to host a ninepin bowling fundraiser. Joyce is secretary of Chapter 72 and president of Chapter 103, while Chapter 64 also has ties to Jeremy’s family.
“Our community is always there for each other,” Joyce says.
Jeremy and his family attended the event and were overwhelmed with gratitude as the total climbed beyond expectations—exceeding $20,000, including $500 per chapter in matching funds. The family expressed deep appreciation for the generous donation, which helped cover Jeremy’s medical expenses and the family’s household bills.
“This collaboration is a true reflection of what it really means to be a family of brands,” says Lisa Pilon, member engagement representative for Woman’s Life.
By coming together, the chapters expanded their reach, their volunteer base and ultimately their impact. Volunteers spent weeks gathering donations, organizing activities and spreading the word—and the community showed up in full force. Nearly 200 people attended the event, filling 29 bowling lanes and participating in a bake sale, raffles and a silent auction.
“The fundraiser was extremely successful,” says Ann M., secretary/treasurer of Catholic Financial Life Chapter 64, who sits on a church committee with Jeremy’s mother-in-law. “Everyone was very generous.”
The chapters collected over 75 donations for the silent auction, stocked a sucker tree with about 150 lollipops tied to mystery prizes and sold raffle tickets for several weeks in advance for the big-ticket item—a grill.
For Susan M., treasurer of Woman’s Life Chapter 72, the joint effort was as meaningful as the outcome.
“I was very impressed with what was generated with the three groups working together, and it helped a local family going through a very difficult time,” Susan says. “Our chapter took in more from registrations than we have ever raised for one fundraiser.”
Beyond the dollars raised, the event reflects something larger—a shared commitment to showing up when it matters most. In a spirit of collaboration, these chapters turned compassion into action that grew into far more than what they could’ve done on their own.