When someone you know is diagnosed with cancer, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. If you’re the one living with cancer, it can be challenging to find others who understand what you’re going through. At Lemons of Love, our mission is to share love with anyone impacted by cancer. We’re here to be your words of encouragement when you don’t know what to say and to connect you to a community of support.
Lemons of Love was created in 2014 when Jill Swanson was diagnosed with colon cancer. As she began chemotherapy, a friend gave Jill a small gift with items to help her through treatment. Inspired, Jill began her own little lemonade project of filling and sharing thoughtfully selected items with others in treatment.
Today, Lemons of Love is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers care packages to hospitals and oncology centers and provides personalized care packages for individuals with a donation. We offer free programs for anyone impacted by cancer at our Mount Prospect, Illinois location and provide one-on-one family support at our building in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Both locations allow us to welcome our community to support our mission.
Founded in 2014, Lemons of Love began as a way to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. Lemons of Love began sharing chemo care packages with patients in hospitals. In 2015, we created a donation-based program that allowed individuals to send a package to a loved one. Next, we added two annual care package programs; a Veteran’s package in 2016 and a kid’s holiday package in 2017. Expanding our mission to support anyone impacted by cancer, we opened our Mt. Prospect, Illinois location in 2018 to provide free programs, both in person and virtually. In 2021, we opened our newest location in Plymouth, Wisconsin, offering one-on-one family support to those newly diagnosed.
When I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014, I underestimated the impact it would have on me. Walking into my first treatment, I didn’t realize how it would make feel. Although I had family with me, I realized that no matter how big of a support network you have, cancer is a lonely business. What I needed was to connect with other patients who understood what I was going through.
I asked a friend to make tote bags and filled them with items that had helped me manage some of treatment’s side effects—organic ginger tea to help with nausea, organic body lotion for dry skin, and lemon drops for the metal taste that happens from chemotherapy. I also added a happy picture from a small child and a pair of superhero socks, to hopefully bring a smile to its recipient.
Maren stumbled upon Jill and Lemons of Love in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin about 3 years ago. Since meeting, Maren has found her role in marketing, as well as wearing a few other hats across the organization. She has seen the way cancer can impact lives and Lemons of Love is how she helps share some love with those affected.
In 2018, Julie met Jill at a pop-up event and knew she had to get involved with Lemons of Love. If this organization had been around when her mom or Noreen were alive, they both would have benefitted from the services that Lemons of Love offers. Fast forward to 2023 and Julie joins our team, full time, as our Community Outreach Director, or as we like to call her Julie the Cruise Director.
Lisa has been connected to Lemons of Love since 2016, and has been part of Lemons of Love team since 2020. Lisa has had 14 years of experience in fundraising for different organizations including a large hospital system. Lisa is a cancer survivor, and has seen Lemon’s of Love’s impact first-hand. Lisa is passionate about supporting Lemons of Love, and supporting those who are in treatment. She lives in Florida with her husband, son and cat.
Loretto James is Jill’s Mom and biggest fan. Loretto spends her free time supporting Lemons of Love by filling the care packages, both boxes and tote bags. She fills them up with all of the good lemony stuff and tops them off with all the love she has to share.
Todd Lamb
Team Owner – Atlanta Speedwerks
Board Member – Southeast representative
Race Team Owner Todd Lamb has been an entrepreneur operating his own businesses since 2002, including magazine publishing and an advertising/marketing agency. Prior to 2002, Todd received his mechanical engineering degree and worked in the automotive industry for 10 years in Michigan. Todd also has over 40 years of car racing experience with many wins and championships. When not doing something related to racing, Todd enjoys boating on Lake Lanier near his home in Georgia.
Bill is an attorney who is passionate about helping families, business owners and homeowners to protect their assets and pass on their legacies. He works with families, in every stage of life to plan for their futures and for their loved ones. Bill’s main focus is estate planning.
Bill is a member of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, as well as a member of the Federal Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois. Bill has been the chair of the DuPage County Bar Legal Aid Committee and is a recipient of the DuPage County Bar Pro Bono Service Award.
Bill and his wife Susan have been residents of Mount Prospect for nearly 20 years. They have three great kids, Emmett, Ella and Charlie, and a rambunctious mutt named Zoey. He loves coaching kids’ sports, spending time with family and neighbors, golfing, vegetable gardening and reading. In addition to joining the Lemons of Love board of directors, Bill has served on the District 57 Education Committee, is an active member of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, and also serves on the Mount Prospect's Board of Fire and Police Commission.
John is the founder of Daly Investment Management, a Registered Investment Advisor located in Mount Prospect, IL. He helps families and small business owners grow, protect and preserve their wealth through comprehensive financial planning and disciplined wealth management.
John welcomed the opportunity to serve as a board member at Lemons of Love. Like many others, John has watched family members battle cancer. He’s happy to be able to contribute to an organization with such a worth mission. John also serves on the board of the Frisbie Senior Center, a activity center for older adults living in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
Maureen Erbach, Vice President, Head of Strategic Program Management for Legal Services, Zurich North America
Maureen has over 35 years of Operations and Human Resources experience in the insurance industry and currently leads Strategic Program Management for the Legal Services team at Zurich North America. During her tenure with Zurich, she has held several HR Business Partner assignments supporting IT, Finance and Operations divisions and currently serves as Head of Strategic Program Management for the Legal Services function. Prior to joining Zurich, Maureen spent 21 years with Allstate, also in HR and Operations leadership roles.
Maureen joined the Lemons of Love Board in February of 2020 and currently serves as a member at large. Having experienced family members and dear friends who have battled cancer, Maureen responded with an enthusiastic “YES!” when asked to join the Board. As Maureen commented, “This is a great opportunity to honor those I have lost and to continue to support the many cancer warriors and survivors out there today.”
Kelly has been fortunate to call Jill a friend for more than 15 years. As Jill was going through treatment, Kelly was moved by the creative way that Jill was giving back to her fellow cancer patients, giving them a ray of light in a moment of personal struggle.
After finishing her term on another nonprofit board, Kelly wanted to share her expertise and find a mission she could be passionate about. Helping Jill expand Lemons of Love into a full-blown nonprofit was the perfect fit.
Kelly is Assistant Vice President and Director of Product Implementation Support in Regulatory Services for a global insurance company. With 25 years of experience, she works with multiple commercial insurance lines and is focused on execution and implementation. Kelly has held various board positions in the nonprofit industry. She is a former member of the Women’s Innovation Network Leadership Team and currently serves as a company representative at the Insurance Industry of Commercial Motor Vehicle Administration. She has a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from Nova Southeastern University.
Since 2014, we’ve shared more than 26,384 care packages in all 50 states and 16 other countries.
With the opening of our Cancer Resource Center in 2019, we’ve provided wellness programs, partnering with Wellness House of Hinsdale and Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.
We have utilized more than 21,500 volunteers to support our fundraisers, events and package filling needs.
Lora
South Region Cancer Center Manager for Vince Lombardi Cancer Centers
Donations May Be Mailed To:
Lemons of Love Corporate Office
433 E. Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
*Checks should be made out to Lemons of Love
EIN: 47-1308073
406 W. Central Road
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
1-847-795-0100
607 Eastern Avenue
Plymouth, WI 53073
1-920-501-0100
