Organizer, credit union set up fund to 'increase the impact' for family that lost 8-month-old in semi crash
OSHKOSH – A fundraiser for the Vinland family who lost an 8-month-old boy in a semi accident raised more than half of its $100,000 goal in less than three weeks. Now, its organizer wants to streamline the donation process.
Trevor Fenrich, the executive director and founder of Solutions Recovery, helped coordinate the initial fundraiser for the Stechner family via a donation page on his nonprofit's website.
He's now partnered with Fox Communities Credit Union to create a memorial fund for 8-month-old Martin Stechner III that will allow the funds to go directly to the family instead of what had been a longer process.
He said working with the credit union will also allow the fundraiser to have a bigger reach across the Fox Valley.
"We wanted to increase the impact the fundraiser had and increase the awareness," Fenrich said.
Fenrich started the fundraiser after a semi truck veered off Interstate 41 near State 76 on July 26 and crashed through the Stechner family's home, killing their infant son, Martin, and destroying their home and "almost everything" inside. The family also has three daughters.
Fox Communities Credit Union announced the memorial fund Monday in a news release and said all the donations would go to the family to "give them the tools they need to start rebuilding."
The news release said 100% of donations will go to the family to help them "find some comfort" after the tragedy.
The fundraiser's website states its goal is to raise $100,000. Already, the fund has gotten more than $50,000 for the family, according to Fenrich, with almost $40,000 from the online drive and an additional $14,000 from check or cash donations dropped off at Fox Communities Credit Union locations.
"Our community has really come together to provide support to the family," Fenrich said.
Fenrich spoke to the family recently and said they have been "extremely grateful" for the support and are looking forward to relocating to a new home soon.
The credit union is accepting cash or check donations at any of its 20 locations in and around the Fox Valley, or checks can be mailed to:
Fox Communities Credit Union
Attn: Martin Stechner Memorial
3401 E. Calumet St.
Appleton, WI 54915
Online donations can still be made at www.Stechnerfund.com.
The semi truck driver, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, is a 63-year-old man from Little Chute, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. An initial investigation found that the driver fainted before losing control of the vehicle, causing the semi to veer off the interstate and into the home. The investigation is ongoing.
Contact Bremen Keasey at 920-570-5614 or bkeasey@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Keasinho.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: New memorial fund established for family who lost 8-month-old in crash
