Club Meeting Recap--April 6, 2015
Deanna Gumpf, Notre Dame Softball Coach,
Addresses the Club about
the "Strikeout Cancer" Initiative
Club President Chuck Grodnik rang the bell calling to order the April 6th meeting of the Elkhart Rotary Club
Dick Kallenberg offered the invocation and led in the pledge. Jeff Peat gave the foundation minute. He mentioned that the club has exceeded the goal for this year but still wants to continue raising funds. He highlighted some people that are very close to a Paul Harris award. The sergeant for the day was Doug Thorne, who exacted fines in the spirit of the NCAA championship games.
The featured speaker was Deanna Gumpf, Notre Dame Softball Coach. She has been coaching at Notre Dame for 14 years and has led them to four conference titles. She and her staff have won "Coaching Staff of the Year".
She talked about the Strikeout Cancer initiative they have started. It was formed four years ago and has raised $100,000. The purpose is to raise money to help children and families of Memorial Hospital who are fighting cancer. Some of the things they have been able to do are:
Pay for lodging and gas to help families who have to travel for treatment
- Sponsor kids to "Camp for Kids"
- Pay for therapy dogs
- Provide backpacks and school supplies
- Provide birthday cards and gifts
- Sponsor 6 or 7 kids at Christmas and buy them gifts
- Provide Ipads for the chemotherapy clinic
- Provide desktop computers for the chemotherapy clinic
- Support the Samantha Hickey playroom at Memorial Hospital
- Sponsor 5 wish trips for kids who are too old to qualify for "Make a Wish"
The organization is holding a Trivia Night on Friday, April 17 to raise funds. It will at St. Joe Farm, 52682 Currant Road, Granger. Form more information you can call Kasey at 574-631-3750 or by email at KOCONN17@ND.EDU.
Chuck Grodnik asked the trivia question for the week and the meeting was adjourned.
Upcoming Programs:
April 13th - The Indiana Youth Council
April 20th - Dr. Michael Hartman, Orthopedist