Wendy Swisher’s Story: Faith in Action – A Decade of Devotion to Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana

For more than a decade, Wendy Swisher has been a steady and inspiring presence at Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana. Her deep faith, compassionate leadership and boundless energy have touched countless lives—both through her time on the Board of Directors and through her volunteer service with fellow members of St. Mark’s United Church of Christ in New Albany.

Wendy grew up in Gary, Indiana, the middle child of a single mother who survived ovarian cancer for 50 years. That experience, along with the loss of a close friend to breast cancer and her brother Britt’s diagnosis and subsequent death from brain cancer, shaped her lifelong understanding of the cancer journey.

Wendy earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Health Administration from Indiana University and built a distinguished career in healthcare before retiring in 2014. Today, Wendy treasures time with her daughter Lesley, son-in-law Derrick and granddaughters Claire and Ella – the apples of her eye.

A Connection That Felt Meant to Be

While working at Kindred Healthcare, Wendy was approached by Gilda’s Club CEO Karen Morrison about joining the Board of Directors. “They needed someone with a Human Resource background,” Wendy explained. “At the time, although I was unfamiliar with Gilda’s Club, it felt very ‘meant to be.’”

When Wendy first visited the original Baxter Avenue Clubhouse, she remembers being immediately struck by the beauty and comfort of the clubhouse and by her instant connection with Karen. “That love for Karen and the Gilda’s Club team has just grown and grown over the years,” she shared.

Leadership Rooted in Service

Wendy’s six years on the Gilda’s Club Board of Directors deepened her admiration for the organization. “It was a great honor to serve on the board and to advise on HR issues,” she said. “I used to teach a class on Servant Leadership. The staff of Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana truly understand and act out servant leadership in all they do. That is a rare thing. I have developed lifelong friends among the staff and we share mutual love and appreciation for each other.”

Faith in Action

Faith has always been central to Wendy’s life—and service a natural extension of it. “My faith has always been an important part of my life—and part of that faith is action,” she said. “I have been blessed to go on many mission trips over the years in the U.S., Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Argentina as well as volunteering for Hosparus and Gilda’s Club and my church. I believe when we serve others, feed others, comfort others, pray with others, we are the hands of Christ.”

Building a Tradition of Service and Thanksgiving

As Wendy became more familiar with Gilda’s Club through her board work, she became interested in serving an occasional meal along with people from her church. She put a notice in the St. Mark’s UCC bulletin and began volunteering as a Meal Host at the Baxter Avenue location. Wendy and a group of about 10 volunteers began purchasing, preparing and serving meals monthly to families on support group nights.

A few years later, Gilda’s Club staff asked if her group might take on the Thanksgiving Dinner, which had previously been prepared by members and staff. “I went to the group (which has now grown to about 15 volunteers, plus 2 teams of 4 at Gilda’s Floyd)—not really knowing how they would respond—and they were all totally on board about another way to serve Gilda’s,” Wendy said.

The first few Thanksgiving dinners at Baxter Avenue were lively and chaotic. “People were seated EVERYWHERE and all of us were running around like chickens with our heads cut off but having a great time,” she recalled with a laugh. The group has continued this tradition every year since.

In November 2025, Wendy and volunteers from St. Mark’s UCC will celebrate their 10th anniversary of preparing and serving the annual Clubhouse Thanksgiving Dinner—a tradition that holds deep meaning for the Gilda’s Club community. The event has grown every year and now involves roasting turkeys, preparing mouthwatering side dishes and baking delicious desserts for 175 eager guests.

“We have grown to love each other dearly and truly love serving together,” Wendy said. “I think the team would tell you it is their favorite night at Gilda’s Club (exhausting but so rewarding). Our team prays together before serving, knowing we are very richly blessed by our time at the clubhouse.”

Soul-Sustaining Work

In addition to the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, Wendy and her teams from St. Mark’s prepare monthly dinners at both Gilda’s Grinstead (Louisville) and Gilda’s Floyd (New Albany). “I love these evenings and feel we are doing soul-sustaining work,” she said. “My teams are awesome, never say no, always rise to the challenge and truly don’t need me! They are just the best and love Gilda’s as much as I do.”

Their care extends to thoughtful details. When they realized that some members struggled to eat and swallow the meals being served, the team immediately adjusted. “This broke our hearts as we watched them try to get a bit of nourishment,” Wendy explained. “The team decided we had to do something, so we set out to make sure there was something for everyone every time we serve.”

Sustaining the Mission

As a Gilda’s Club Sustaining donor, Wendy also supports Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana’s mission through monthly charitable giving. “I would tell others that you only have to look at the 190 free programs offered each month, the number of lives impacted, and the feedback from the members to know that every dollar is well spent,” she said. “One of the reasons I joined the board was because I truly believed then and believe now that Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana is fiscally one of the best-run organizations I have had the privilege to work with.”

The Joy of Volunteering

Wendy encourages others to get involved as Gilda’s Club volunteers. “Once you serve as a Meal Host, you will never go back,” she said. “It gets hold of you and sets you on fire to do good for someone else. Preparing and serving a meal helps members come to the Clubhouse for group and fellowship without having to worry about feeding their family that evening.” The meal is nourishing for the body as well as the soul, as pre-group meals allow time for relaxation and fellowship.

“I wish more people knew about Gilda’s Club!”

Even after 10 years of involvement, Wendy continues to meet people who haven’t yet discovered Gilda’s Club. “I wish more people knew about Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana!” she said. “Ten-plus years in, I still encounter people who may have heard of it but do not understand the breadth of services offered to members at no cost. We are all impacted by cancer and support is available.”

Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana exists so that no one faces cancer alone. We provide more than 190 free programs of emotional and social support each month for anyone affected by cancer—including those in treatment, in remission, caregivers, family members, and those grieving a loss. All services are offered at no cost to participants.

To learn more about support groups and counseling, click here.

To learn about volunteering at Gilda’s Club, including serving as a Meal Host, click here.