Memories for Kids, a local nonprofit that was created with the mission to provide children with lasting memories with a parent who has stage IV cancer, has numerous youth advisory boards that span across the Omaha area. However, Creighton University’s is the only college advisory board under the non-profit.  

The group of around 15 students is tasked with sharing ideas on ways to grant the families’ memories, as well as creating events that involve fundraising proceeds for the participants and raising awareness regarding cancer and the difficulties these individuals face.  

“I think the students at Creighton and this Creighton community, as a whole, has so much to offer as well. Every single person has so much power [to] help and make that change, like [raising] money for amazing causes like this. So, I think you get as much out of it as you give…and I feel like this campus has so much to give,” Mark Menezes, the advisory board’s secretary and a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said. 

As part of their mission, the college advisory board works to bring memories and other special opportunities to children and parents battling cancer diagnoses.   

“Memories for kids…creates experiences for [the families]. So, sometimes they get sent to a different sporting event, or Disneyland, or a weekend retreat with their family just to create memories for the kids that they can have with their parents while they’re still with them. And also, [we create]…keepsakes, like fingerprint necklaces and other things like that for the kids,” Ella Hegland, Creighton’s Memories for Kids College Advisory Board president and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said. 

Members engage in numerous volunteer events. One of the most memorable events that they participated in was a fundraising campaign through the Omaha chapter of Mustaches for Kids, where any man can accept the annual challenge of growing a mustache within 30 days to raise funds for a local children’s charity.  

With a mission to spread awareness of the institution and its purpose, Creighton’s Memories for Kids filmed TikTok videos of themselves in mustaches asking for the foundation to choose them as one of the awarded charities. Garnering enough attention, they were successful, and the organization became one of the fundraiser recipients in the 2024 campaign.  

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Avery Spickler, who also serves as the vice president of the club, deemed this event one of her favorite fundraisers to participate in. 

“I would say definitely the TikTok videos we made last year [were my favorite]. They were very humbling, and [the proceeds] went to a good cause, but it was very…funny to go back and watch all the videos that we made so we could raise money,” Spickler said.  

The club also participated in a service project at the Hope Lodge, a facility that provides housing for patients receiving cancer treatments and their caregivers. The lodge aims to provide a supportive space for its residents. Involved Creighton students aided this by hosting a trivia night, where members of the club and lodge were able to play, enjoy a meal and learn about each other’s stories.  

According to Menezes and Hegland, this night of questions and conversations was one of their most treasured experiences with the club, as they were able to connect and provide brightness to the Hope Lodge community. Menezes also said that he was not only able to fulfill the mission of Memoires for Kids but witness the fruit of the club’s efforts.   

“It’s nice to actually talk to the people and…see what you’re…working towards and working for and just [interact with] the people themselves. … Sitting down with them, having conversations and just talking to them is a great thing,” Menezes said.  

Though the mission of this club is geared towards the creation of joyful memories for its families, members have also reported cultivating their own valuable memories as well. Whether through the creation of new experiences, new friendships or new understandings, students who have already joined the organization or have yet to participate are given the chance to accumulate and engage in unique opportunities while providing aid to their community.  

“[In] my freshman year, I didn’t really leave campus very much. I’m not from Omaha, so I didn’t know anyone here, but I’ve been able to meet different people through this [experience]–people that work at the organization or people on the board. … [Learning] about their stories, becoming more involved in the community, and building relationships with people that are in this community and experiencing cancer…is really valuable for me,” Hegland said.  

In addition to making new memories, Hegland, Menezes and Spickler all said that this club also provides a safe learning space for those who may not be familiar with cancer and its significance to the community. Though Hegland and Spickler were motivated to join the club after witnessing the challenges their families faced with loved ones diagnosed with cancer, Menezes participated in the club to gain a better understanding of the illness and its impacts. For those who are in a similar situation, involvement in the club is promoted to all that hope to expand their knowledge and efforts, as the club is equipped with numerous resources and knowledgeable individuals who specialize in the field of cancer treatment.  

“I think…[the club] humanizes the aspect of having cancer and struggling [with] it…And I think [for] a lot of the kids at Creighton, if they’ve never…known anyone that has had cancer or anything like that, its puts them in a situation where they can learn more,” Spickler said. 

Creighton students are encouraged to join in their efforts as, according to Menezes, the student body has the potential to create a lot of change through their club.  

Memories for Kids was started by Lisa Gravelle when her sister-in-law, Cathy, was battling Metastatic Melanoma cancer. Along with Cathy’s three children and other loved ones, Gravelle struggled to comprehend the situation and her emotions. Following Cathy’s passing, Gravelle wanted to ensure that other families would be given the opportunity to mark their final months together with happy memories rather than memories of grief and uncertainty. Though most of Memories for Kids’ service recipients are from Omaha, it also provides services to those in Western Iowa, South Dakota and nearby regions. 

“I think men and women for and with others…[is] a big thing…especially [for] people experiencing cancer. … [They’re] going through this…difficult transition in experiencing their life. Just being able to be with them and be supportive, I think, is important,” Hegland said.