On November 5, at Muhlenberg College, the Krysta Hankee Memorial Fund was honored at the Wallenberg Tribute Dinner for its community building and family support initiatives. The evening began with the Wallenberg Tribute Lecture “Culture as Infrastructure: Dracula, Zombies, and Contemporary Healthcare” presented by Lorenzo Servitje, associate professor of literature and medicine and the director of the health, medicine, and society program at Lehigh University.
Every year since 1984, Muhlenberg’s Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding has honored the legacy of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved 100,000 Jews from deportation to death camps during World War II. The public lecture is followed by a reserved seating dinner honoring one or more individuals for their courageous moral action on behalf of others.
At the Wallenberg Tribute Dinner, the Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding honored the Krysta Hankee Memorial Fund, created by Bill and Chris Hankee in memory of their daughter. One of the Fund’s notable initiatives is the “Miles that Matter” program. This program provides food and fuel gift cards to hospitals and family service agencies, allowing social workers to distribute them to families in need. This assistance helps struggling families put food on the table and cover travel expenses for ongoing medical needs.
With the support of volunteers, community partners, and generous donations from individuals, the Krysta Hankee Memorial Fund has impacted the lives of hundreds of families. Whether through “Miles that Matter,” the distribution of adaptive bikes for special needs children, or educating community members about organ donation, the Krysta Hankee Memorial Fund consistently showcases courageous moral action in support of others.
Reservations for the Wallenberg Tribute Dinner are required each year. To be added to the mailing list for next year, please complete the ‘Sign up to stay connected!’ form at religionandculture.com or contact the staff at religionandculture@muhlenberg.edu.
Event co-sponsors included the following Muhlenberg College groups: Religious & Spiritual Life, Shankweiler Scholars, Media & Communication, Religion Studies, Jewish Studies, Film Studies, Public Health and Health Professions Advising.
About the Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding
The Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding works to cultivate awareness of religious and cultural diversity locally, domestically, and internationally. The educational and research goals of the Institute serve two complementary objectives: to enhance religious and cultural literacy and to support reasoned analysis of religion in public discourse. The Institute reaches beyond the borders of campus to effect change in the local community and beyond through the cultivation of both a physical and virtual presence.