The last weekend in July, I was honored to attend the annual Dairy Cares Garden Party. According to the Dairy Cares website, they were formed in 2010 when “a group of friends — primarily from the dairy and agriculture sectors — decided it was time for the Wisconsin dairy industry to raise funds to help others.” Since that decision, this organization has raised nearly $3 million for Children’s Wisconsin! As an independent health care system, Children’s Wisconsin is dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children in the state.
Funds raised by Dairy Cares go toward the medical and health system’s daily operation, with special attention directed toward two projects. In 2018, the state-of-the-art Dairy Cares Simulation Lab came to Children’s Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a space intended to give medical professionals a safe venue to learn and sharpen their skills before using them in the field. Then, the Dairy Cares Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy space was introduced to Children’s Wisconsin-Fox Valley in 2022. This space will help children regain critical skills as part of their ongoing treatment plans.
The funding raised by Dairy Cares, and the work done by Children’s Wisconsin, continue to make a difference in the lives of Wisconsin children and families who face some very tough challenges. Success stories on the Dairy Cares website come from children, like four-month-old Peter, who was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer that led to numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy. Now at nearly two years old, he is “full of love, energy and adventure — and is officially considered in remission!” His parents say “the level of care and professionalism is unbeatable, and we can — with insurmountable gratitude — say Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin helped to save Peter’s life.” Stories like Peter’s continue to highlight the goals behind Dairy Cares and how fundraisers like the Dairy Cares Garden Party can help accomplish them.
This year’s Dairy Cares Garden Party was the 13th annual event, featuring speakers, dining, wonderful conversations, a live auction and, of course, cows! Through the Garden Party and the virtual auction, the organization raised $440,000 on behalf of Children’s Wisconsin. The keynote speaker was Melissa McCrady, who spoke about her eight-year-old son’s medical journey. Her son, Charlie, has undergone more than a dozen surgeries and sees 15 different specialists at Children’s Wisconsin. He was born with Harel-Yoon syndrome, a disorder so rare that it was discovered just a few years ago. Charlie even said a few words to the crowd, a memorable moment from the night.
Wisconsin’s farmers are well known for caring for the land and providing high-quality products for the wellbeing of the people around them, but the Dairy Cares organization and this annual event truly showcase the agriculture industry’s commitment to giving back and caring for people in their communities. You can learn more about Children’s Wisconsin at childrenswi.org or about Dairy Cares at dairycaresofwisconsin.org.
— Ashley Hagenow is the 76th Alice in Dairyland, Wisconsin’s agriculture ambassador who works with media professionals to educate consumers about the importance of agriculture to Wisconsin’s economy and way of life. She can be reached at ashley.hagenow@wisconsin.gov.
