MILWAUKEE – December 12, 2023 – As part of its ongoing efforts to alleviate the financial burden of families affected by childhood cancer, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation and Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program, is dedicating $500,000 in combined scholarships to 50 childhood cancer survivors and childhood cancer siblings. With this addition, nearly $2 million has been awarded to 262 scholars since the inception of the program in 2017. Milwaukee residents Madeline Dove and Nicholas Welnetz have been recognized as two of the company’s 2023 Childhood Cancer Scholarship recipients, each receiving a $5,000 renewable scholarship (for a total of $10,000).
“A childhood cancer diagnosis affects families in many ways, and for many there is a financial burden – from treatment and medication to travel and lodging,” said Steve Radke, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “To allow students affected by childhood cancer the opportunity to pursue their dreams, regardless of the financial implications associated with this disease, Northwestern Mutual is announcing the opening of applications for our 2024 Childhood Cancer Scholarship Program.”
Both of Madeline Dove’s younger sisters were diagnosed with leukemia just two years apart up, which led her to spend a lot of time in hospital rooms trying to ease her sisters’ fear and pain by playing board games and watching movies. Although it was stressful seeing her sisters undergo treatment, Dove was inspired by the nurses and grateful for their patience, support and kindness. Now a nursing student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Dove hopes to become a nurse to help kids diagnosed with cancer in the same way these nurses helped her sisters.
“Realizing that I could be the nurse that leaves a lasting impression on a patient is one of the only positive outcomes of my siblings’ cancer diagnoses,” said Dove. “Northwestern Mutual’s scholarship is helping me advance my studies and get closer to my dream job working at Children’s Wisconsin hospital.”
Nicholas Welnetz began his lifelong battle with cancer at six years old. He has been diagnosed with cancer three times and relapsed in April 2022, causing him to take a semester off to receive a bone marrow transplant. Currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Welnetz is studying nursing and hopes to become an oncology nurse to help patients impacted by childhood cancer. Despite having to manage permanent side effects and a childhood continuously interrupted by cancer, Welnetz would not change his experience as he believes it has given him a new perspective on life and helped mold him into the person he is today.
“As a nurse, I will be able to connect with my patients on a very empathetic level and help them through familiar difficulties,” said Welnetz. “Receiving my bachelor’s in nursing with the support of Northwestern Mutual will allow me to provide the same great care I’ve received for many years.”
Applications for the 2024 scholarship program are being accepted now through February 1, 2024. The program is administered through Scholarship America, an organization dedicated to developing scholarship solutions for student success. Northwestern Mutual helps identify the criteria Scholarship America uses to select each year’s recipients, including the student’s essay, family income level, grade point average and geographic location. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate studies and students must be a childhood cancer survivor or sibling of someone who had or has childhood cancer to qualify for the scholarship. To learn more and apply, visit:
Since 2012, Northwestern Mutual’s Childhood Cancer Program has been committed to accelerating the search for better treatments and cures for childhood cancer while providing support to families and survivors living with late effects of treatment. To date, the company has contributed more than $50 million to the cause and funded more than 600,000 hours of research. To learn more about Northwestern Mutual’s continued efforts in the fight against childhood cancer, visit its Foundation’s website here.
