Anyone who watched Saturday Night Live in the late 1970’s knew that Gilda Radner was someone who made you smile. So it was no surprise when after her death from ovarian cancer in 1989 her actor husband, Gene Wilder, and others decided to build a place that would help others smile.
Enter Gilda’s Club.
With locations in 20 cities across the country, Gilda’s Club has helped countless people who are touched by cancer in their emotional recovery. Whether a cancer patient, family member of someone with cancer, or a friend of someone with cancer, Gilda’s Club welcomes individuals in need of support with open arms.
Currently, there’s a completed Gilda’s Club in southeastern Wisconsin, just outside of Milwaukee. And recently a ground-breaking ceremony took place on a second facility in the Madison suburb of Middleton — a facility slated to open in the summer of 2008. UW Madison Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and his wife Cindy are the co-chairs the $2 million campaign to build the Madison-area facility.
Gilda’s Club of Madison is hosting their signature “Noogie Night” on Monday, Feb. 4 at Heritage Hall. Organizers will have food, libations and comedians for the event. On Feb. 27, Gilda’s Club of Southeastern Wisconsin will hold a “For the Health of It” benefit at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. This event will feature chefs from the Milwaukee area and cooking demonstrations.
Gilda’s Club offers wellness and networking groups, where members come together around common needs and share their experiences, questions, and feelings while participating in support groups, lectures, workshops, and a wide variety of social events. Membership is free, but private donations supporting the club are welcome.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:
Gilda’s Club of Southeastern Wisconsin and Gilda’s Club of Madison are in need of volunteers, monetary donations, and in-kind donations. They both have events in February of 2008. To learn more about how you can help please visit:
- http://www.gildasclubmadison.org for the Gilda’s Club of Madison
- http://www.gildasclubsewi.org for the Gilda’s Club of Southeastern Wisconsin
- http://www.gildasclub.org/ for Gilda’s Club Worldwide
— The WisBusiness.com Wisconsin Non-Profit Report is an occasional feature written by Elizabeth Greer, a veteran fundraiser and event planner in the Madison area. For more information on this feature, please contact info@wisbusiness.com.
EVENTS THIS MONTH: (Submit an event to webmaster@wisbusiness.com)
“Help-Find-A-Cure” for Multiple Sclerosis Benefit Dance
Event benefits the Wisconsin Chapter of the National MS Society
Romy’s Nitingale, Black Creek
Tickets: $20 in advance or at the door
To purchase tickets in advance, call Romy’s at 920-984-3631; Baumgart Tire and Wheel at 920-739-3971; or Rick Romenesko at 920-757-8836.
January 11, 2008 – 6 p.m.
“Fight Like A Girl Against Cancer” Winter Event
Event benefits the Breast Cancer Awareness Ride/Ribbon of Hope and the Marti Spittell-Zeigelbauer Foundation
The Woods Golf Club, Green Bay
$5 donation.
Raffle tickets available at The Woods or from Anita, (920) 327-0949 or e-mail anitae@new.rr.com
January 19, 2008 – 2 p.m.
12th Annual HospiceCare Foundation Car Raffle
Event benefits HospiceCare Foundation
Madison Auto Show
Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20
608-327-7239 in Madison
608-755-1871 in Janesville
Drawing will take place on Sunday, January 20, 2008. Need not be present to win.
Children of the Rainforest, William Wartmann
Event benefits Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison
Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for children
608.246.4716
http://www.olbrich.org
January 26, 2008 – 10:30 a.m.
Unity of Friends’ 5th Annual Chili Dump
Event benefits the YWCA Encore Program
Harbor lights Resort, Suamico
http://www.chilidump.com/
January 26, 2008 – 11a.m.
Camp Bingo with celebrity ball caller WMTV’s Sarah Carlson
Event benefits AIDS Network
The Edgewater, Madison
Tickets are $15
Must be 18 or older
608.252.6540 x 21
http://www.madcampbingo.org/
January 27, 2008 – 1:00 p.m.
Soup’s On
Event benefits the Red Cross Outagamie Chapter
Grand Meridian, Appleton
Tickets are $45
Tickets can be purchased at the Red Cross Outagamie Chapter at 1302 E. Wisconsin Ave., Appleton, or by calling 920-733-4481.
January 31, 2008 – 6-9 p.m.
