By admin 
The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, recently served as the backdrop for a significant philanthropic milestone as nearly 450 supporters, community leaders, and families gathered for the second annual Walk by Faith Gala. Organized by the Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation, the event took place in the heart of downtown St. Paul, successfully generating more than $109,000 in critical funding. These proceeds are designated to support a trio of high-impact organizations: Camp Norden, a program of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF); HopeKids; and LifeSource. The gala represents a growing movement within the region to address the multifaceted challenges faced by families navigating pediatric health crises, organ donation, and the long-term psychological impacts of childhood illness.
The Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation was established to transform a narrative of profound personal loss into a sustainable engine for community good. The foundation’s namesake, Maddy Nelson, was a high school student when she received a diagnosis of a rare form of childhood cancer. Her journey through the healthcare system was marked by intensive treatments and a period of hard-won remission. However, the cancer eventually returned with aggressive persistence. Maddy passed away in May 2016 at the age of 18, a loss that occurred just days before her high school graduation ceremony. In the decade following her passing, her family sought to honor her resilience and her namesake "faith" by creating an organization that could alleviate the burdens of other families walking similar paths.
A Legacy Expanded: Honoring Maddy and Faith Nelson
While the foundation initially focused on Maddy’s legacy, the Walk by Faith Gala took on additional emotional and community significance following a second tragedy within the Nelson family. In 2023, Maddy’s sister, Faith Nelson, passed away following a snowmobile accident. Faith was widely recognized in her community as a vibrant individual—a gifted potter, a standout athlete in both volleyball and softball, and a dedicated outdoorswoman with a passion for hiking and hunting.
The gala, which officially launched in its current format in 2025, now serves as a dual tribute to both sisters. By incorporating Faith’s spirit of "living fully" and her commitment to constant acts of kindness, the event has expanded its reach and resonance. Attendees at this year’s gala noted that the atmosphere was not merely one of mourning, but of active celebration and purpose. The inclusion of Faith’s memory has broadened the foundation’s mission, emphasizing the importance of community support for all life-altering challenges, whether through medical illness or sudden accidental loss.
Strategic Support for Camp Norden and Pediatric Oncology
A primary beneficiary of the $109,000 raised is Camp Norden, a specialized summer camp program operated by the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Unlike traditional summer camps, Camp Norden is designed specifically for children who have been diagnosed with cancer, as well as their siblings. The program addresses a critical gap in the pediatric oncology journey: the need for social normalization and psychological recovery.
Research into pediatric oncology suggests that the isolation caused by long-term hospital stays and the physical limitations of treatment can have lasting effects on a child’s social development. Camp Norden provides a medically supervised yet "fun-first" environment where children can engage in traditional camp activities—such as swimming, arts and crafts, and team sports—alongside peers who understand the unique realities of living with a cancer diagnosis.
The funds provided by the Walk by Faith Gala ensure that this experience remains entirely free of charge for participating families. This is a vital contribution, as the financial toxicity of childhood cancer often leaves families with little to no discretionary income for extracurricular or therapeutic activities. By removing the financial barrier, the Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation ensures that the "magic of camp" is accessible regardless of a family’s socioeconomic status.
Collaborative Philanthropy: HopeKids and LifeSource
Beyond its support for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, the Walk by Faith Gala also directed a portion of its proceeds to HopeKids and LifeSource. These selections reflect the Nelson family’s personal journey and the organizations that provided them with support during their most difficult moments.
HopeKids is an organization dedicated to providing ongoing events, activities, and a powerful support community for families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Their model focuses on the "power of hope," organizing outings that allow families to create positive memories away from the sterile environment of a hospital. For many families in the Twin Cities area, HopeKids serves as a vital social lifeline, fostering a sense of community among those who share the common language of medical crisis.
LifeSource, the third beneficiary, manages the organ, eye, and tissue donation process across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The inclusion of LifeSource in the gala’s mission highlights the importance of organ donation and the legacy of "giving life" that often follows tragic accidents. By supporting LifeSource, the gala promotes public awareness about the critical need for donors and supports the infrastructure required to facilitate life-saving transplants.
Analysis of the Financial and Community Impact
The achievement of raising over $109,000 in a single evening is a testament to the organizational strength of the Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation and the generosity of the St. Paul business community. The event saw participation from a diverse array of sponsors, donors, and local attendees who participated in live and silent auctions. Among the items auctioned were pieces of pottery, a nod to Faith Nelson’s artistic talents, which served as a poignant reminder of the personal connections driving the fundraising efforts.
From a broader perspective, the success of the Walk by Faith Gala underscores a significant trend in modern philanthropy: the rise of family-led foundations in the "mid-tier" of the non-profit sector. These organizations often operate with lower overhead than national charities, allowing a higher percentage of funds to go directly to program services. In the case of the Nelson family, their ability to mobilize 450 guests in downtown St. Paul demonstrates the power of local engagement in solving systemic problems like the funding gap for rare childhood cancers.
Childhood cancer research is historically underfunded compared to adult cancers. According to national health data, only about 4% of federal funding for cancer research is directed toward pediatric cases. This makes private fundraising efforts like the Walk by Faith Gala essential for the development of new treatments and the maintenance of quality-of-life programs like Camp Norden.
Official Responses and Future Outlook
The impact of the gala was praised by leaders within the beneficiary organizations. Sarah Kier, the Associate Director of Community Fundraising at the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and Camp Norden, expressed the organization’s gratitude for the foundation’s sustained commitment.
"We are deeply grateful for The Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation’s unwavering dedication to children and families facing childhood cancer," Kier stated. "The Walk by Faith Gala is a beautiful tribute to Maddy and Faith, and the generosity it inspires ensures Camp Norden remains a place where kids who have been touched by childhood cancer can simply be kids—with no cost to their families."
Kier’s statement highlights the core objective of the partnership: the preservation of childhood in the face of adult-sized medical challenges. The "no-cost" aspect of Camp Norden is a direct result of the $109,000 milestone reached this year, providing a tangible metric of success for the foundation’s efforts.
As the Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation looks toward the future, the success of the second annual gala provides a solid foundation for growth. The organization has signaled its intent to continue expanding its reach, potentially increasing the number of families served by its beneficiary partners. The 2025 event was described by attendees as a "powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with purpose."
The transition of personal loss into a communal asset is a complex process, yet the Nelson family has established a model of how to navigate grief through service. By honoring the distinct legacies of Maddy and Faith Nelson—one a story of courageous battle with illness, the other a story of a life lived with athletic and artistic vigor—the foundation addresses both the medical and the human elements of crisis. The Walk by Faith Gala has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the St. Paul philanthropic calendar, ensuring that the names of Maddy and Faith Nelson continue to be associated with hope, healing, and the enduring strength of the Minnesota community.
