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Donald Bartel Family -
National Recipient
Lapeer County Chapter
Michigan Region
 When 10-year-old Mary Bartel passes classmates in the school hallway, many hold up pencils with the Thrivent Financial logo and say, “Mary! Thrivent!” While “Thrivent rocks!” is Mary’s standard response, the same could be said of Mary and her family who have done so much to help so many in North Branch, Michigan.
The pencils and other school supplies were donated through the efforts of the Bartel family — parents Don and Cheryl and children Sondra (13) and triplets Donny, Dena and Mary (10). The family worked with the Lapeer County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Financial representatives on this fund-raiser, which resulted in 6,000 school-supply kits being delivered to schoolchildren in need. This was one of several Care Abounds in Communities® program activities spearheaded by the Bartel family with the chapter in 2007.
Commitment to giving back is a value shared by each Bartel family member. In fact, all four children eagerly strive to volunteer 100 hours a year for church and community efforts:
- Told by doctors she would never walk, talk or crawl, Mary, who suffers from hydrocephalus, exemplified this spirit of giving back by walking more than three miles as part of a walk-a thon, supported in part through the Care Abounds in Communities program, to raise funds for shunt research.
- Sondra volunteered at New Life In Christ Vacation Bible day camp, which was hosted by the Lapeer County Thrivent Chapter.
- Through a project with Children’s Hospital in Detroit, Donny and Dena demonstrate the family’s philosophy that people, no matter what age , can make a difference. Donny’s and Dena’s support for the program, which features patient visits from professional athletes, includes work to publicize, raise money and provide keepsakes for patients.
In addition to the time and effort required to support their children, Don and Cheryl serve as excellent role models by participating in many church and community activities, several of which working with and through the Thrivent chapter.
From projects designed to donate basic essentials to families in need, to grassroots efforts to provide new playground equipment to deserving schools, Don and Cheryl — along with their children — are bringing people in their community together for the support and care of others. |
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