Mokena Couple Boosts Christmas Without Cancer With Seed Money

Julie Sullivan sees the issues the pandemic has brought to bear on society, and beyond, so the Mokena resident put her vision together with Christmas Without Cancer to address it.

“Cancer doesn’t slow down,” said Julie Sullivan, one of Christmas Without Cancer’s new committee members, who, along with her husband Joe, helps expand the organization’s reach into Mokena.

Sullivan’s Oak Brook Mechanical HVAC operation helped sponsor the 2019 Christmas Without Cancer 5K Walk/Run, which is now under consideration for September of 2020 and may need to operate virtually.

“I was looking for a worthwhile charity and met another committee member, Debbie Gardner.

“We have a tremendous need to generate funds so that we can continue to help take some of the burden off of our Christmas Without Cancer families.

Inspired by the generosity its of own committee members, Christmas Without Cancer's governing board announced a "fun(d) initiative" on its Facebook site, going “live” Friday, May 15 to jumpstart the effort.

Christmas Without Cancer’s founding president Gerri Neylon and vice president Renee Copeland proudly announced the creative venture “funded entirely” by its committee members, who provided seed money to launch the effort.

Sullivan and her husband generously led 17 other committee members, donating valued items to completely fill a movie-sized poster frame, showcasing $100 bills, American Express, VISA and MasterCard gift cards, lottery tickets and other valued items exceeding $1,000 face value. To date, more than 2,000 have visited the site

The poster includes $500 cash; $350 credit card gift cards and $200 in lottery tickets, which could reap its own rewards.

“It's been really hard to fundraiser right now due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Sullivan. “So, we took it upon ourselves as a committee, and we created a raffle board fundraiser.

“Without hesitation, our dedicated committee members jumped in and donated,” said Sullivan. “I couldn't be more proud to be part of this amazing organization that's run by equally amazing and kind-hearted people.”

“Gerri and Renee did an excellent job,” said long-time committee member MaryPat Heisterman, who has long supported Christmas Without Cancer monetarily and through volunteer efforts.

“I love the new idea,” said Heisterman of Evergreen Park. “Never in a million years would I be tech savvy enough to be able to do that and then go on Facebook live.”

But others like Heisterman can follow their heart and lead with their wallets.

Christmas Without Cancer, an organization started by Neylon, comes to the rescue of those impacted by cancer. The Evergreen Park volunteer group identifies needs and such things as utility bills and mortgage payments, gas, parking and children in need of wrapped presents.

Copeland has taken the grassroots organization into today’s competing arenas in which technology, especially in these strange times, is the commerce of the day.

"Our mission includes assessing need and responding, but we can't do that if we don't have the resources that come directly from the generosity of people in Evergreen Park, Morgan Park/Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Oak Lawn and now the far South Suburbs like Mokena. We expect the raffle tickets to sell briskly."

Copeland reasons Christmas Without Cancer has been a success because "people know their donations are helping people locally, right now."

Ticket sales will end Sunday, June 14 at noon; the winner will be announced at 7 that evening via Facebook live. Christmas Without Cancer will be selling raffle tickets electronically via Facebook and Instagram accepting Venmo, Zelle, QuickPay. There is also an event website in which people can use their credit card to purchase tickets.

For more information or to purchase raffle tickets, visit: https://myevent.com/ChristmasWithoutCancerNFPSpecialtyRaffle