“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” -John Quincy Adams
It’s hard to believe that a little over five months ago, the Life on Life Initiative didn’t even exist. While the staff was gathered for the monthly “All Hands Meeting” at the Life Leadership World Headquarters yesterday, a roster of the community outreach events from around the world was read aloud. The effects were obvious, as everyone realized how much of a difference both the corporate employees and the Life Leadership members have made in such a short amount of time. This initiative, under the direction of Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady, is truly “setting people free” on the functional side of life. Continue reading to learn from a Life Leadership member in Wisconsin about yet another great Life on Life event!
Life on Life Fundraiser for a Medical Alert Dog
Saturday, October 3, 2015, was a cold, cloudy, windy day in Fond du Lac, WI (located on the southern edge of Lake Winnebago). Just a perfect day for an outdoor burger and brat fry/bake sale fundraiser! Four members of the Stealth Red Eagles team had set a Life on Life challenge to each other back in September to simply “Find a need and Make A Difference” in their local area. Various ideas were passed around. Our team might have been small but in the end, great things occurred. Michelle Jors and Shaunna Miller were aware of a family in Fond du Lac who have a dire need for a MEDICAL ALERT DOG for their three beautiful daughters who all suffer from a life-threatening Adrenal Insufficiency disorder, and had just set up a fundraising page in an effort to gets things started.
Roland and Jenny Westphal are the proud parents of Emma (9), Chloe (6) and Olivia (4). All 3 girls suffer from an extremely rare genetic Adrenal Insufficiency disorder. This insufficiency creates life-threatening crisis for each of the girls and many hospitalizations throughout the year. A common cold to you and I can be the start of a crisis for them.
This puts a heavy strain on Roland, who often works out of town for a large commercial construction company; and Jenny, who homeschools the girls in order to keep them “germ free” and is with them 24/7. Their main source of help has been from Roland’s mom who is “trained” to stay with the girls. On top of all that, Roland’s dream is to be a policeman. He has been taking classes as time and money allows. Roland and Jenny have been through some heavy trials in their 10 years of marriage, but they are committed to each other and determined to have their girls lead fulfilling lives in the midst of very difficult health issues. To help ease their burdens, their physicians have urged them to get a four-legged helper–a medical alert dog!
Medical alert dogs can be trained to do amazing things, but they come with a large price tag. The Westphals, as you can imagine, have already incurred some hefty medical bills, so paying up to $20,000 for a trained medical alert dog seemed overwhelming. They had done some fundraising on their own, but were at the point of “What can we do next?” when the team of Stealth Red Eagles approached them with an idea to help. Michelle Jors, Shauna Miller, David Secord, Carole Eldredge and Jan Eldredge worked together to do a Burger and Brat Fry fundraiser. Shaunna organized co-workers and friends to donate baked goods, Jan made signage, and a local Life Leadership customer donated use of her commercial property and equipment. We were so happy that Roland and Jenny were able to be with us during the event. Jenny was great with everyone. There was a lot of interest in the girl’s unique medical needs, and Roland turned out to be our top-notch burger flipper and grill master.
It was an amazing day, and in the end our small group was able to donate more than $1,000 towards their need. Our gift included an unexpected and very generous donation, as well.
The Red Eagles that did the fundraiser have urged other Life Leadership members and customers to come on board and help make an impact on this family who now have been impacted by the Life Leadership community. During the fundraiser, the Westphals asked a lot about the Life on Life Initiative and the Life Leadership community. They were surprised to learn how wide and far-reaching Life Leadership really is. They were so grateful and in the end, their family has been touched for many years to come by the challenge of Life on Life. Jacob Guell, Tails for Life, from Lomira, WI, is the dog trainer that they are working with; and Jenny stated they have set the goal to have the dog trained and ready to work in the next 12 months.
Despite 20 MPH wind gusts, overcast skies and a temperamental grill, our day was a huge success! After our day together, Jenny asked Life Leadership member, David Secord, if our group all “daily worked together“ (i.e. at a job). He replied with a smile, “No, we do not; but because of being a part of Life Leadership, we have learned to work as a team and we all do our part”.
What a privilege it was to serve the Westphal family here in Fond du Lac, all due to a Life on Life challenge to impact those around us!
“We had a great day, and in the end it looks like we will have helped with over $1,000, but more importantly stepped up and encouraged a family that was feeling overwhelmed by their need. Thanks to Life Leadership!” -Michelle Jors (Life Leadership Member)
No matter the size of the team, Life Leadership members are getting it right by helping those around them that need a hand up. It’s the little acts of unselfish service like these that will create the culture and momentum to change the world. Life Leadership is proud to be represented by the Stealth Red Eagles in Wisconsin.
Do you know of a family in need? How can you get creative to give that family a hand up today? Make sure to leave a comment below!
Life Leadership: Setting People Free
Hester Horwitz says
What a beautiful act of kindness and compassion ~following in the footsteps of the Master ~to be the hands and the feet to serve the world
Robby Palmer says
WOW!! I love it!
Lloyd Weiler says
Beautiful!!
Melanie Gingrich says
What an awesome way to make a difference in people’s lives!
Deanna Suggitt says
What an inspiration!!! One of my favorite parts of the day is reading Life on Life posts. Love to see acts of “paying it forward” or kindness and servant attitude in action. Great job and keep it up!!!
Cathy K says
Wow, what a wonderful thing to do, Red Eagles Stealth Team! You found a need and are helping to fill it, with hard work and love.
Elizabeth Sieracki says
This brought tears to my eyes ? Small but mighty!!! What an amazing example you all are. ??
Cheryl Slavinsky says
I love to read these stories about the Life on Life Initiative, especially knowing that LIFE Leadership members are doing this in many places and meeting many different kinds of needs. Bravo!
Monica Koenig says
Wow! Truly amazing! Inspires me to do more for others, I’m forever grateful to be a part of such a great community, #lovelifeleadership!!
John Kraft says
Hats off to the Red Eagles Stealth team. So Proud to be associated with these amazing men and women, going out and making a difference one person at a time. Love Life Leadership.
Deb Wright says
It is heart warming to see that not only do we talk about TEAM work but we actually do it. People do not understand the cost involved in acquiring a service dog. The average person can not afford the extra expense that would take from the rest of the family. Great work guys!
Michelle says
Team Stealth Red Eagles, you have raised the bar for all of us to LOOK and LEAD….LOOK for the needs of those in our area and LEAD by example by stepping out to serve them! As a former pediatrician, I can testify that this family has a tremendous ongoing health challenge. Your donation of time, effort, finances and, most importantly, your love and encouragement, has most likely provided this family so much hope. Thank you for your example of courage, compassion and faith! We are the Red Eagles and we are FIRST TO SERVE!
Suzanne Stoltzfus says
So inspiring! God bless!
Cindy Dillon says
what a great cause!
Joan & Fred Malmstone says
Beautiful !!! Yes we can make a difference !
so proud to be part of an amazing org.
Sabra Barnett says
God honored your commitment to help w/outstanding results. I believe that other caring members & customers will click on that link & speed up the process of getting that service dog. These are people with a heart to serve.
A few years ago before this initiative was launched, our team contributed to the funds needed for a service dog for seizure alert notice & also donating time & labor to build a house for Habitat for Humanity for a family member of Roy & Carolyn Hamilton. When this team finds a need, they can definitely make a difference.
Aaron Knelsen says
WOW! Great to see the impact being made all over!!
Beth barnes says
It is great what life leadership is doing in the community. What a blessing!!
jody says
Awesome!