KATHRYN
Kathryn passed away at the young age of 37 after a two year battle with breast cancer. Her six children at the time of her passing ranged in age from 3 to 15 years old. The most important thing Kathryn did was to instill in each of her children a legacy of faith, service, love and compassion. Nelson Memorial Foundation was created to help us continue that wonderful legacy. Kathryn could al
ways be found doing kind things for those around her. She epitomized charity. Thankfully, some of Kathryn's friends collected memories from family and friends and compiled a book about this legacy. One cannot help but be inspired by the stories of Kathryn's caring and giving spirit that fill the pages of this book. It is with that spirit that we created this foundation. HOW WE GOT STARTED
How do you thank someone for taking an interest in you after your mom passes away from breast cancer when you are nine years old? How do you thank someone for taking you shopping and spending time with you when you have a huge gaping hole in your heart? How do you thank someone for helping you through those awkward pre-teen and teenage years and for doing things for you that you yearned for your mom to help with? How do you thank someone for loving and caring about your kids when you want so much for your mom to be here loving them? Then how do you watch this same friend who is now a mom with three young kids fight her own cancer battle? And how do you cope when she tells you the doctors tell her she is down to only weeks left to live? How do you stand by now and watch this family struggle and not try to do something for them? I wanted to thank my dear friend in the only way I knew how-- by making the last months of her life full of happiness and creating lasting memories with her family! But at the time, I was not in a financial place to help much. We knew we needed help. People who loved this family began donating a little money here and a little money there. Others were donating their sky miles and hotel rewards to send them on a trip. Photography services. Tickets to athletic events and amusement parks. It amazingly all came together in a mere week! Unfortunately, it was too late. My friend's health declined rapidly. She passed away only one week after they gave her two months to live. I will always regret not starting sooner. Not doing more. I never wanted to feel that way again! But in the process-- I learned a great lesson:
People who want to make a difference usually know they cannot cure cancer, but they often don't know what they can do. For someone fighting cancer or other hardships, sometimes just a little help goes a long way, even if the help is just a small amount that is contributed to a larger project. Through this experience, The Kathryn R. Nelson Memorial Foundation, named after our wonderful mother, was born. THE NONPROFIT
The Kathryn R. Nelson Memorial Foundation is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to brightening the days of cancer warriors. The foundation is named after our wonderful mom, Kathryn, who passed away from breast cancer at the young age of 37. She was the epitome of love and service and it is in her honor that we serve. The purpose and goal of the Kathryn R. Nelson Memorial Foundation is to simply brighten the day of cancer warriors. We hope that by giving gift baskets, dinners, chemo care kits, doing grocery shopping, providing house cleaning or lawn care services, end of chemo celebrations, creating blogs to keep loved ones updated, helping coordinate child care, rides, and fundraising, providing family photography sessions and dress up clothes, crafts, and art supplies for our younger friends that we can simply help these warriors remember that they are not fighting alone. We hope that we can simply help them forget about being sick-- even if it's just for a short time. We hop that we can simply brighten their day. Nelson Memorial Foundation is strictly a volunteer organization. Zero donations go to pay salaries or overhead costs...100% of all donations are gifted to our cancer fighting friends. THE LOGO:
In colonial America, hostesses would set a fresh pineapple in the center of their dining table when visitors joined their families in their homes. Visiting was the primary means of entertainment and cultural exchange, so the concept of hospitality was a central element in colonial life. The pineapple, then, symbolized the warmest welcome a hostess could extend to her guests, and then often it also served as the dessert for the meal. Kathryn embraced the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality and her home was adorned with pineapples. From the door to the pattern on the couch, the symbol of hospitality was both visible and experienced in the Nelson home. This tradition continues today with Kathryn's children.
