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.

The Krysta Hankee Memorial Fund and the Waelchli Family Pediatric Initiative organize a golf outing each year at Olde Homestead Golf Club to support the needs of children in the Greater Lehigh Valley. The money raised goes to families needing help with the high cost of transportation related to health care. Danny Waelchli, Bill and Chris Hankee recently presented Corissa Rolon and Jessica Banks, $2,500.00 at their Burn Prevention Network office in South Allentown. The money will be supporting children attending Camp Susquehanna this Summer.

Camp Susquehanna is a 5-day, sleep-away experience for children ages 7-17 who have had a serious burn injury and were treated at a Pennsylvania Regional Burn Center.  It is an opportunity for children to have fun, learn life skills, and meet other burn survivors. Although Camp Susquehanna’s campers are of varying ages, activities and groups are geared towards each camper’s developmental needs.

The Burn Prevention Network (BPN) is a Pennsylvania statewide 501(c) 3 non-profit. BPN has a 35+ year history of successful program and service delivery and is one of the most respected burn non-profits in the U.S.  Their mission is to reduce the risk of burns and empower burn survivors and their families. The Burn Prevention Network educates, supports, advocates, and empowers. They teach those who are most vulnerable for risk of burns how to protect themselves and others from injury by giving them the knowledge and tools they need to be safe. They support burn survivors and their families as they continue to deal with their trauma and then empower them as they adjust to a new reality.

Thanks to the educational efforts of the Burn Prevention Network and our fire fighter organizations severe burn injuries are not common but exist in every community. You might think you never see any severely burned children or adults. This is partly because many avoid contact and wear clothing that covers exposed skin. In fact, most children with burn injuries never see another child with burn scars. That is why Camp Susquehanna is so important. These children can share experiences, gain strength through numbers, and create lifelong friendships.

There is a story behind every injury. Numerous children are rescued by brave first responders, parents, neighbors, or bystanders. Some children brave the smoke and flames to save themselves and others.