Lending A Hand

A hand up not a handout for medical crisis

BY JANELLE BRANDON PHOTOS BY JILL OCKHARDT

In April 2013, Freemont Pender, a 30-year resident of Sabin, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer. The type of cancer treatment he underwent was intense, expensive and left him unable to work. Luckily, he had a loving community rallying around him and in October 2013, a benefit was held for Pender. Dakota Medical Foundation’s (DMF) Lend A Hand program was involved in the benefit every step of the way to make the community’s donations stretch even further for the Pender family. Lend A Hand provided planning and marketing help, coordinated online contributions and raised $5,000 in matching funds for Freemont Pender. Today, he is cancer-free.

DMF’s Lend A Hand program assists caring community members in raising funds for families experiencing a medical crisis. All contributions are distributed to eligible families living in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.

“The great thing about the Lend A Hand program is that the dollars given are not a handout,” said Shelly Pingel, lead volunteer for the “Fight for Freemont” benefit last fall. “The recipient is doing the most work. They are often fighting for their lives. That’s why ‘Fight For Freemont’ was a wonderful way of telling him we wanted to help him fight and give him a hand up.”

On March 29, there will be a benefit for Davies High School basketball standout Lexi Bolstad, who suffered a traumatic brain injury last August. Lend A Hand is helping Bolstad’s friends and family plan and promote the event along with providing up to $5,000 in matching funds.

“Lend A Hand has evolved to become an effective program and giving tool to help local families experiencing a medical crisis,” said Pat Traynor, DMF President. “The Lend A Hand program provides fundraising resources, online giving options and matching funds 365 days a year to inspire and compound generosity for individuals burdened by substantial medical expenses.”

DMF covers all costs to administer the Lend A Hand program, so 100% of every gift is distributed to families to help pay for expenses related to medical care and rehabilitation.

In the past year, Lend A Hand and caring community members raised and distributed more than $1 million in contributions and matching funds to help 50 families in Cass and Clay counties burdened by substantial medical challenges.

“The Lend A Hand website provides information about upcoming benefits and giving options that qualify for matching funds, enabling people to help a family 365 days a year,” said Jeana Peinovich, Lend A Hand Program Director. “Individuals may contribute online to Lend A Hand by designating a specific individual/ family fund or by making a contribution to the Giving Fund allowing the program to help many more families.”

Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online giveathon hosted by DMF. This Giving Hearts Day concept was originally developed and submitted to the foundation by Peinovich. In addition to Giving Hearts Day and several benefit events scheduled for families in February, an annual Bowlin for the Colon event hosted by Team Chip to raise funds for Lend A Hand is scheduled for February 8. [AWM]

For more information about how you can become involved and help your community members who are experiencing a medical crisis, visit dakmed.org/lendahand or call Jeana at 701.356.2661.