Why Community-supported Healthcare is So Much More Than Fundraising
Published Monday, January 19, 2026
Development Assistant, Events Jenelle Dawson loves ice fishing on Lake Superior in the winter.
Meet Jenelle Dawson, Development Assistant, Events at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
Jenelle Dawson loves to watch small ideas turn into major impacts on local healthcare.
“Take the Jenna Wade Memorial Lemonade Stand, for example,” Jenelle said. “It's two young girls, selling lemonade to raise funds for the Northern Cancer Fund. They raised thousands of dollars over the years in memory of their aunt, one glass of lemonade at a time. They're so inspiring.”
Even though Jenelle only joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation as Development Assistant, Events in August 2025, she's seen small ideas explode into great events, start to finish.
“Burgers for Boobies is another great example,” Jenelle said. That was a new community fundraiser hosted by Burger Barn in October featuring delicious unique burger in a bun shaped like a breast. The Burger Barn donated half the proceeds to the Northern Cancer Fund for breast cancer treatment and research. “It started as this small, simple idea, but turned into something so much bigger. We raised over $13,000, and now it's going to be an annual event.”
Jenelle said she sees a direct connection between fundraisers like this and the impact it has on local healthcare.
“Healthcare is always something that's going to be important,” Jenelle said. “I've had a lot of family and friends who've dealt with a lot of health issues and cancer and loss. Young people like me don't always realize how important supporting good healthcare is.”
Jenelle said that community fundraising events mean so much more though.
“Events are a great way to make fundraising fun. It's something we can all do together. Events turn fundraising into a community effort, allows us to feel like we're making a difference, and helps raise awareness, too.”
Fundraising wasn't originally the plan for Jenelle. She went to Confederation College for Social Service Work, but found it wasn't quite the right fit for her, even though she loves helping people. Jenelle took Fanshawe College's Business Marketing program online, which gave her flexibility around work hours.
“I've always been creative and social, and marketing brought that out for me,” she said.
That led to an internship with Our Kids Count, and her first taste of fundraising. Jenelle continued to work at Our Kids Count for over a year after her internship. When she applied for the position at the Foundation, she didn't realize how much the organization does to support healthcare in Northwestern Ontario.
“I'd heard about the Thunder Bay 50/50, but I didn't understand how much of an impact the Foundation really had,” she said. “Now, I realize how much good we really do.”
The environment is a perfect fit for her as well.
“It's like a big family, honestly,” Jenelle said. “A lot of the people I work with are around my age, so there are a lot of young, fresh ideas. We all hang out together, even outside of work. It makes me feel motivated, knowing I'm part of a really good team.”
Besides spending time with the team, Jenelle hangs out with her two cats, Dobby and Hagrid. In the summer, she's out camping and paddle boarding at Quetico, and ice fishing on Lake Superior in the winter. She also loves to travel when she can. One of her greatest joys is watching her beloved Vikings on Sundays, and even had the chance to go to a game on her birthday weekend this year.