NOTEBOOK: Pinky Swear Foundation increases Iowa presence

NOTEBOOK: Pinky Swear Foundation increases Iowa presence

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JOE GARDYASZ | May 26, 2016 | 3:59 pm |

<1 min read time

The Pinky Swear Foundation, which has partnered with HyVee Inc. to host the Hy-Vee Kids triathlon fundraising events the past two years, wants to increase its ties with Iowa community leaders and businesses. In April the Bloomington, Minn.-based nonprofit hired Mary Mendenhall-Core as community development representative for Iowa.

Nationally, the nonprofit's goal is to reach every family with a child with cancer in the United States by 2020. So far this year it has spent $7,000 to help 13 Iowa families with non-medical needs such as rent, mortgage, car payments, utilities, day care or even to pay for a family getaway. The organization has given away more than $11 million in 30 states since its founding in 2003.

Mendenhall-Core, formerly development director of the ABI Foundation, has a daughter who had leukemia 17 years ago "so it's near and dear to my heart to be able to help these families go through the challenge of their children battling cancer," she said.

Pinky Swear will host an informational breakfast June 9 at the YMCA Healthy Living Center in Clive to introduce community leaders to the organization. For more information or to RSVP by June 3, contact Mary Mendenhall-Core at 515-210-7148 or emailmary.core@pinkyswear.org.

Nationally, the nonprofit’s goal is to reach every family with a child with cancer in the United States by 2020. So far this year it has spent $7,000 to help 13 Iowa families with non-medical needs such as rent, mortgage, car payments, utilities, day care or even to pay for a family getaway. The organization has given away more than $11 million in 30 states since its founding in 2003.

Mendenhall-Core, formerly development director of the ABI Foundation, has a daughter who had leukemia 17 years ago “so it’s near and dear to my heart to be able to help these families go through the challenge of their children battling cancer,” she said.