Kelly Wing Schmidt, a 39-year-old mother of five, recently lost her life to domestic violence. Kelly was shot and killed at her North Appleton home on April 17, 2009, by her estranged husband.
Kelly loved helping people and aspired to be a paramedic. Because of her desire to help others, she was employed as a certified nursing assistant at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.
This tragedy simply cannot pass by unnoticed. Five children will now be spending their first Mother’s Day without their mother. Countless other children could have the same fate if we as a community fail to educate families and support domestic violence programs. Kelly’s death must be an opportunity to help others, just as she helped others in life.
The Pathways Church is soliciting donations for a silent auction to be held at the church from May 31 through June 7. The funds raised will be donated to both Kelly’s children and also to Harbor House, a local domestic violence shelter.
You are receiving this letter because we feel that your donation of goods/services for this silent auction will further these two very important causes.
Did you know?
According to the American Institute on Domestic Violence, 85% to 95% of all domestic violence victims are female, over 500,000 women are stalked by an intimate partner each year, 5.3 million women are abused each year, 1,232 women are killed each year by an intimate partner, and domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.
In 2007, Harbor House provided shelter to over 400 women and children in our community and supported over 9,000 calls through their 24-hour helpline.
Please band together with us to support Kelly’s five children and to promote community resources like Harbor House! Donations of goods can be dropped off during regular business hours at Pathways Church. If you would like to financially support this cause, checks can be mailed to Pathways Church, Attention: Kelly Schmidt Fundraiser, 311 W. Evergreen Drive, Appleton, WI 54913. Donation deadline is Saturday, May 30, by noon.
For any questions you may have about this fundraiser, please feel free to contact Robbyn Fahrenbruch at the above listed number or via email: robbyn@fahrenbruch.net .
