Events / Projects
Thursday's Child funds one meal every month for parents of seriously ill children who are patients at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison. Each evening meal serves 50-60 people. Thursday's Child donates $3,000 each year to provide these meals. The hospital itself, through money donated by NFL Alumni, funds one meal per week. Other meals come from organizations like ours.
Santa's team helps make Christmas wishes come true for children who have been referred to Thursday's Child by area social workers and doctors. In 2024, 75 families were on our list. They received $50 Target gift cards, one for each child in the family.
Capitol Boat Club Donating Boat Rides to Families on Lake Mendota in 2025
This year, summer in Wisconsin includes a boating adventure on Lake Mendota for some of our families. Ron and Sandy Cowan, owners of The Capitol Boat Club, are donating three- hour boat rides to families referred to them by American Family Children's Hospital social workers.
With 23 miles of shoreline, there are stops along the way, the best one being at the Daily Scoop Ice Cream Shop at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union where they can spend gift cards from Thursday's Child. Families are treated to lunch on the boat and souvenirs, compliments of Ron and Sandy.
It is their goal to provide a medically fragile child respite from the challenges of their illness. In Sandy's words, "As a mother and a nurse, I know that play is important for a child. Being out on the boat in the water provides children a chance to be curious, explore, and have fun just being a kid with their family."
We are grateful to Sandy and Ron for their generosity. They are providing families with a memory of a day on a beautiful lake that will last forever.
Capitol Boat Club - September 2nd, 2025
Make a Difference in a Child's Life!
