Our Mission
The mission of the Dawn E. Petersen Foundation, Inc. (DEPF) is to support families living with serious illness. We have chosen causes that we know Dawn would have loved to support. With the Foundation's fundraising efforts we will support life enhancement grants, pre-paid gas cards to traveling patients, and other projects as determined by our Board of Directors. Join us in helping others by participating in one of our events or donating to our organization.
1. LIFE ENHANCEMENT GRANTS: Each year we select several individuals or families that we can help on a personal level by providing a financial grant. These grants are distributed throughout the year as funds allow. Because our mission is to "support families living with serious illness", the Foundation does not limit the use of the funds. A family can choose to use the grant for medication or treatment needs, as income replacement for a caregiver who has taken a leave of absence, or to make the holidays a little brighter for the entire family. For more information or to print a copy of the grant nomination form, visit the Life Enhancing Grant page.
2. PRE-PAID GAS CARDS: We provide patients who are traveling for treatment with PRE-PAID GAS CARDS to cut down on personal expenses. These cards have been distributed in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin through Ronald McDonald houses, Hope Lodges, hospital and clinic oncology departments, neonatal - NICU departments in hospitals, Kathy's House in Milwaukee, WI and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Wisconsin.
Why gas cards? Dawn's support network meant so much to her and gave her strength throughout her life and illness. Keeping in touch with friends and family during an illness is essential to the care and well-being of the patient and the care-givers. With gas cards, we hope to allow family and friends to visit more often.
1. LIFE ENHANCEMENT GRANTS: Each year we select several individuals or families that we can help on a personal level by providing a financial grant. These grants are distributed throughout the year as funds allow. Because our mission is to "support families living with serious illness", the Foundation does not limit the use of the funds. A family can choose to use the grant for medication or treatment needs, as income replacement for a caregiver who has taken a leave of absence, or to make the holidays a little brighter for the entire family. For more information or to print a copy of the grant nomination form, visit the Life Enhancing Grant page.
2. PRE-PAID GAS CARDS: We provide patients who are traveling for treatment with PRE-PAID GAS CARDS to cut down on personal expenses. These cards have been distributed in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin through Ronald McDonald houses, Hope Lodges, hospital and clinic oncology departments, neonatal - NICU departments in hospitals, Kathy's House in Milwaukee, WI and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Wisconsin.
Why gas cards? Dawn's support network meant so much to her and gave her strength throughout her life and illness. Keeping in touch with friends and family during an illness is essential to the care and well-being of the patient and the care-givers. With gas cards, we hope to allow family and friends to visit more often.