The Karen Wellington Foundation (KWF) aims to make cancer easier for women and their families. Karen Wellington was the inspiration for it all. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 30 years old and passed in 2007 at the age of 40. The foundation strives to capture Karen’s energy, zest for life and spirit by focusing on the joy of living.
In 2024, KWF will have given more than 3,000 gifts of fun to women living with breast cancer. They are nonprofit and donation based and the magic happens thanks to the support of more than 500 hundred volunteers and 11 staff members. The KWF team is a family affair. Karen’s husband, Kent, is the founder and chair of the advisory board. Karen and Kent had two children together – Robby, who sits on the advisory board, and Angeline, who is the digital marketing manager.
In addition to their home base in Cincinnati, there are nine chapters of the foundation located in Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Wooster, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo, Denver, New England and South Florida.
Although the foundation's language is geared toward women, they honor all individuals living with breast cancer. “We have recipients of all genders,” explains Emma Hooi, the marketing and events manager for the foundation. “Breast cancer is not as common among men, but we will help anyone and everyone who is nominated.”
The nomination process asks individuals about their idea of fun, and the goal is that everyone nominated gets a gift. “Our mantra is ‘we give first,’” Emma explains. “I encourage people to nominate anyone they know.”
Karen was an advocate for cancer not defining you. Emma adds, “After she passed, it was a goal of the Wellington family to honor her in that way. They started with the goal of sending one family on a vacation per year. In 2023, we had 2,000 gifts given in total.”
Lori Falke was nominated and received a gift from KWF in 2016. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2015 and has been cancer free for almost 10 years. Lori and her family enjoyed a one-week vacation to Lake Lanier in Georgia.
Lori says that when she was awarded her gift of fun, she had not heard about the foundation. Her son was in high school at the time of her diagnosis and she was nominated by her son’s wrestling team.
“When you’re diagnosed with breast cancer that is all you’re thinking about in your life. It’s constant doctor appointments, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation,” she explains. “The foundation gave us this trip and it was the first week we were able to not think about cancer and put it in the rearview mirror. That vacation was a great gift to be able to relax and enjoy my family. It made me realize I would be OK and I still had a lot of living left to do.”
Lori was so moved by the trip that she was determined to give back. She started volunteering with KWF and now works part time for the foundation. “After our trip, I thought every woman living with breast cancer needs to get a gift. The last thing on your mind when fighting cancer is having fun. KWF comes in and puts that fun back on the calendar to help women who are having the worst year of their life,” she says.
In 2019 the foundation expanded its outreach program.“They started a recipient ambassador board, and asked me to chair it,” Lori shares. “It started a platform for recipients who are interested in giving back and I still chair it today.”
That same year, Lori also joined the board of directors, and in 2022 the Recipient Ambassador Board started the KWF Fun Run 5K and Recipient Celebration.
The Fun Run began as a humble endeavor by KWF recipients (breast cancer survivors) eager to give back to the foundation and has blossomed into a much-anticipated community event. In 2024 alone, they raised enough money for the foundation to give more than 120 women and families living with breast cancer gifts of fun. “Our entire KWF Recipient Ambassador Board works hard to pay it forward and feels it is a blessing to do so,” shares Lori.
Emma notes that October is breast cancer awareness month.“We will have activities all month long to encourage nominations and giving,” she says. “All information is on our events page or you can find us on social media @kwfliving.”
For more information about nominations, donations or volunteering, visit KarenWellingtonFoundation.org.
“Our mantra is ‘we give first.’ I encourage people to nominate anyone they know.”
“It made me realize I would be OK and I still had a lot of living left to do.”