Giving Back
Stephanie Vest FO U N DAT I O N
SHINING A PINK LIGHT IN DARKNESS
S
tephanie Vest was the quintessential stay-at-home mom who
hospital bills, and for food and travel. Vest died in December 2008
took pride in caring for her children and husband. She was a
but her tribulations birthed a remarkable foundation, the Stephanie
woman who embraced life with zeal and passion and loved her family
Vest Foundation, which emulates her beauty.
more than could be measured. An authentic, stylish and vivacious
According to Kim Casey, volunteer board member and commu-
woman, she found joy even when completing seemingly mundane
nications manager, the mission of the Stephanie Vest Foundation is
tasks such as laundry, which she made more pleasant by having her
clear: "To pay it forward to help those in need, just as friends and
laundry room painted a striking shade of hot pink.
strangers helped the Vest family during their crisis," she says.
But, when cancer made a swift and surprising visit in 2008, Vest,
"Without the love and support from the community, the Vest fam-
her husband Eric, and their three young children, Zach, Cole and
ily would have faced extreme financial difficulties during Stephanie's
Gracie were immersed in months of trials that would challenge their
extended illness. We are not curing cancer; our goal is more basic:
day-to-day lives. The mounting costs of her extended stay at the
We are keeping people in their home, with the utilities on, while they
Mayo Clinic along with the money needed to keep a house functional
go through treatment. Our mission is to bridge the gap when income
began to take a toll on the family.
is adversely affected from an extended leave of absence from work."
It wasn't until neighbors, friends and family united together and
Casey has been an active volunteer board member since 2008
organized the first Pink Laundry 5K that the Vests were able to focus
and she explains that what makes this organization unique is that
on Stephanie’s health and not the escalating needs of maintaining a
they offer instant financial relief for families in need, which makes a
home. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this run went to the
significant impact in the community. Every donation received goes
family which they were able to use to pay the mortgage, utility and
directly to the families.
42
Lee’s Summit Lifestyle | September 2017