Hi, I’m Laura Wellbrock, and I have the incredible honor of serving as the Associate Director of Tony Foundation.
But before I held this role… before I helped plan events, build partnerships, or support our mission behind the scenes—I was simply someone who cared. Someone who saw the impact. Someone who said yes to helping.
I started as a volunteer.
And what I witnessed changed me.
I saw families in some of the hardest moments of their lives receive immediate financial relief—relief that allowed them to breathe, to focus, to shift their energy back where it belonged: on healing. I saw firsthand the heart behind Tony Foundation—not just from Tony himself, but from every donor, every supporter, every person who chooses to give.
And I knew… I had to be part of this in a bigger way.
My Why 
My why is my brother, Brian.
This year, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Sarcoma and Thyroid Cancer. His wife, Joji, their son—who is autistic—and our entire family are standing beside him as he fights.
But it’s not just the fight against cancer… it’s the overwhelming financial burden that comes with it.
That’s why Tony Foundation means so much to me.
I don’t just volunteer.
I don’t just donate.
I don’t just support.
I work for Tony Foundation—because I’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes.
The $5,000 grants we provide give families like mine the ability to focus on what truly matters: healing, not surviving financially.
So from the bottom of my heart—thank you.
Thank you for supporting Tony Foundation.
Because your support is helping families like mine…
and possibly yours.
A Journey That Hits Close to Home 
Cancer is not something that has touched my life just once—it has shown up in many different ways, across many people I love.
Last year, my husband faced a terrifying health scare. What began as uncertainty quickly turned into major surgery—two masses removed and half of his stomach. The stress, the fear, the unknown… It was overwhelming.
I remember thinking in those moments: How do families facing cancer do this?
Because even a glimpse into that world felt heavy beyond words.
Around that same time, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and courageously went through treatment, finishing at the end of 2025. Watching her strength, her resilience, and the emotional toll it took on our family gave me an even deeper understanding of what this journey looks like.
And for 17 years, my father-in-law has been quietly and bravely battling bone cancer—undergoing ongoing maintenance treatment month after month, year after year. His fight is a testament to endurance, to perseverance, and to the long-term reality that so many families face.
Through these experiences, I have seen cancer from so many different angles—different diagnoses, different treatments, different outcomes, different emotional and financial demands.
But one thing remains the same across every story:
No family should have to face it alone.
Why Tony Foundation Matters
When a family hears the words “you have cancer,” everything changes in an instant.
But the bills don’t stop.
The mortgage is still due.
Groceries still need to be bought.
Gas, childcare, everyday life—it all continues.
That’s where Tony Foundation steps in.
Our mission is simple but powerful: to provide immediate financial relief so families can focus on healing—not surviving financially.
That $5,000 check is more than money.
It’s relief.
It’s hope.
It’s the ability to take a breath in the middle of chaos.
And I’ve seen what that means—not just as a team member, but as a sister, a wife, a daughter, and a daughter-in-law.
Thank You for Being Part of This
Every single person who supports Tony Foundation—whether through donations, volunteering, attending events, or simply sharing our mission—is part of something bigger.
You are part of someone’s relief.
You are part of someone’s strength.
You are part of someone’s story.
And for families like mine… that means everything.
So truly—thank you for being here, for caring, and for making a difference.