Lawrence University is stepping up to help neighbors still reeling from the recent tornadoes that battered the Fox Cities. On Friday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., the campus will host a community fundraiser titled “Light! More Light! For Menasha”. The event, organized by the university’s Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL) office, will line campus walkways with hundreds of illuminated paper lanterns, each representing a donation to the United Way Fox Cities Tornado Relief Community Response Fund.
How the fundraiser works
Donors can sponsor a lantern through an online fundraising page. Sponsors may request a personalized message to be written on their lantern – a note of encouragement, a tribute to a loved one, a memory of the storm, or a simple prayer for those affected. The glowing display will serve as a visual reminder of the community’s collective compassion and the tangible help flowing to those rebuilding homes, businesses, and lives.
Where the money goes
All proceeds will be directed to the United Way Fox Cities Tornado Relief Community Response Fund. United Way has a proven track record of delivering both immediate assistance—such as emergency shelter, food, and clothing—and long‑term recovery resources, including home‑repair grants, counseling services, and small‑business support. The fund specifically targets the hardest‑hit areas: Menasha, Neenah, Fox Crossing, Appleton and other nearby towns still coping with storm damage.
Ways to give
In addition to the online lantern sponsorship, community members can make cash donations in person at the SEAL office on the fourth floor of the Warch Campus Center, 711 E. Boldt Way, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, through Nov. 6. The university encourages students, faculty, alumni and local residents to participate, emphasizing that every contribution—large or small—makes a difference.
Why Lawrence University is involved
Lawrence University has long been a pillar of service in the Fox Cities, and its SEAL office seeks to foster civic responsibility among students while strengthening ties with the surrounding community. By hosting this fundraiser, the university not only raises essential funds but also models the Christian principle of caring for one’s neighbor, a value deeply rooted in the campus’s mission.
Community response
Local leaders have praised the initiative. A spokesperson for United Way noted, “The generosity of Lawrence University and the broader Appleton community helps us accelerate recovery and bring hope back to families who have lost so much.” Residents who have already pledged lantern sponsorships expressed gratitude, saying the event offers a hopeful way to honor those impacted while contributing to tangible relief.
Looking ahead
If weather conditions prevent the Nov. 6 gathering, a rain‑date has been set for Thursday, Nov. 13, ensuring the fundraiser proceeds as planned. Organizers hope the lantern display will become an annual tradition, reminding future generations of the power of collective compassion in the face of disaster.
For more information or to sponsor a lantern, visit the event’s online fundraising page or contact the SEAL office at Lawrence University.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
