September 16, 2023
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our founding!
Funds we've donated since our establishment...
$865,579
Most recent donations made to 13 Food Pantries and AHAA total $16,800 in January 2023 and
$25,000 to Pediatric Pain Warriors in July 2023
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our founding!
Funds we've donated since our establishment...
$865,579
Most recent donations made to 13 Food Pantries and AHAA total $16,800 in January 2023 and $25,000 to Pediatric Pain Warriors in July 2023
Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, Verner H. Thelen, passed away on 28th of September, 2003.
Just hours before he passed, we, his children, created The Vern & Bunny Thelen Family Foundation,
to honor Vern's long time teachings for us to help our local communities. His motto:
Don't Just Take, Give Some Back
remains as our mission today. Over the years, we have donated to many causes, the majority of them local
to our family.
We sincerely appreciate our donors' generosity throughout 20 years to help us reach our total giving amount listed above.
Thank you, all, for your continued support of our work to help those in need.
Donate
The Vern & Bunny Thelen Family Foundation supports charities, education, and medical research to help improve especially the lives of people in our communities.
Matching Funds: Please check with your employer to see if they have a program to match donations to non-profit organizations. Our 501(c)(3) tax id number is 20-0260049
If you prefer to donate with a check, please make it payable to The Vern & Bunny Thelen Family Foundation, and mail it to: P.O. Box 501, Spring Grove, IL 60081 The phone number for the Foundation is: +1 (847) 838-8863
Causes
About Our Foundation
Vern & Bunny Thelen instilled in their 9 children the blessing of giving. Vern started his business,
Thelen Sand & Gravel, because his parents (John and Agatha Thelen) needed someone to build roads for their farm
that would become Pistakee Highlands in Illinois. Vern’s brother, Ray, later joined him in the business.
Bunny, who went to high school with Ray, was the only child of Jake and Tillie Stoffel. Vern moonlighted
as a skate guard at the McHenry skating rink and Bunny decided the best way to meet him was to fall down...a lot...
so Vern would have to go and pick her up. Bunny & Vern married on October 21, 1948, and started their family:
And the family grew and keeps on growing.
Jack & Debbie had John, Jessica, and Jennifer (Pat)
Mary Beth & Bob had Mike (Nichole) and Peggy (Dan);
Sue & Warren had Roger and Ben;
Tom & Paige had Drew (Sam) and Taryn (Eric);
Pete & Terry;
Steve & Diana had Matt (Michelle) & Erin (Patrick);
Ann’s step-son Jason (Hilary) is also an integral part of the family;
Barb & Mark had Matilda, Samantha, and Rachel;
Peg had Jacob (Emily), Lexi (Bryan), and Annie.
The great-grandchildren are
John's: Taylor, Jake, and Kylie;
Jennifer & Pat's: Grace and Annabelle;
Mike & Nichole's: Petra and Stevie;
Peggy & Dan’s: Vincent and Michael;
Drew & Sam's Sawyer and Bryce;
Taryn & Eric's Hadley, Piper, and Maeve;
Matt & Michelle's Mason, Charley, and Riley;
Erin & Patrick's Daphne, Wesley, and Cole;
Jason & Hillary's Addison and Bryson;
Jacob & Emily's Shannon and Claire.
Lexi & Bryan's Miles
Volunteer Board 2023-2024
Jacob
President
Third Generation, son of Peg & Tom
Peggy
Vice President
Third Generation, daughter of Mary Beth & Bob
Peg
Secretary
Second Generation, daughter of Vern & Bunny
Matt
Treasurer
Third Generation, son of Steve & Di
John
Board Member
Third Generation, son of Jack & Debbie
Contact
Don't just take, Give some back
US Tax-ID 20-0260049 a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2003
Vern & Bunny Thelen Family Foundation, P.O. Box 501, Spring Grove, IL 60081, +1 (847) 838-8863
