Fundraising for B.E.A.R. Ranch: Our First Annual Summer Kick off & Celebration of Brooke's Life, Light & Legacy

On [EVENT DATE], family, friends, and supporters gathered at Riverside Bar and Grill to celebrate the beautiful life of Brooke and to help begin the journey of bringing B.E.A.R. Ranch to life. What started as a celebration of one incredible young woman quickly became something so much bigger — a powerful reminder of how deeply Brooke was loved and how many lives she touched simply by being herself.

From the moment people began arriving, the room was filled with stories, laughter, tears, music, hugs, and memories of our sweet Brookie. Brooke had a way of making people feel seen, loved, accepted, and alive. Her energy could light up any room, and throughout the day, that same light could still be felt all around us.

We were overwhelmed by the incredible turnout, with approximately [NUMBER] people attending to honor Brooke’s life and support the mission of B.E.A.R. Ranch. Together, through donations, raffles, bracelet sales, and fundraising efforts, we raised approximately $[AMOUNT] toward helping launch our new Nonprofit, B.E.A.R. Ranch, in memory of Brooke, in order to help women and children affected by trauma and domestic violence begin their healing journey.

The day included [LIST ACTIVITIES — live music, food, raffles, memory sharing, games, photo displays, etc.], all centered around celebrating Brooke’s vibrant spirit and the joy she brought into the lives of others. Guests shared countless stories about Brooke’s love for music, dancing, animals, laughter, and the fierce love she had for her friends and family. Every story painted the same picture — Brooke was unforgettable.

One of the most emotional moments of the evening came at sunset, when everyone gathered together to release balloons into the sky while singing one of Brooke’s favorite songs. As the balloons floated upward, there was a sense of peace, love, and connection that words can hardly describe. It was a beautiful tribute to a girl whose spirit will continue shining brightly through every life she touches.

We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to the many people and businesses who made this event possible:

• A very special thank you to Greg and Jeannie of Riverside Bar and Grill for hosting this incredible celebration and for their generous support of B.E.A.R. Ranch in Brooke’s memory.

• Thank you to Rob and D2 Sports Pub Stadium District for donating the amazing food, and drink packages for the Packer Pregame.

• Thank you to Jodi Young-Steinweber for donating the beautiful “Enjoy Coffee with Your Dog” Historical Haven overnight getaway basket in downtown Appleton.

• Thank you to Roloff Manufacturing Corporation for donating Packers tickets and parking passes.

And thank you to every single person who donated, volunteered, organized, decorated, shared our mission, purchased raffle tickets or bracelets, or simply showed up to love Brooke and our family through this unimaginable journey. We truly could not have done this without you.

Most importantly, this celebration reminded us that Brooke’s story does not end here.

B.E.A.R. Ranch was created in Brooke’s memory to help women and children who are facing trauma, anxiety, grief, and domestic violence find peace, healing, and hope through horses, nature, and community — just as Brooke herself did. Spending time with the horses at Lucky Stables brought Brooke comfort during difficult times and became a place where she felt calm, safe, and free.

Through future partnerships with Lucky Stables and Harbor House in Appleton, Brooke’s legacy will continue helping others heal in her name. Her love for horses, her compassionate heart, and her beautiful spirit will live on through every woman, child, and family who finds hope and healing at B.E.A.R. Ranch.

This celebration was not an ending. It was the beginning of something meaningful, powerful, and full of love.

Brooke’s legacy is still growing strong — and we are just getting started.

❤️