Lawrence Lights Campus for Tornado Relief
Students at Lawrence University organized a lantern fundraiser supporting areas hit by the July tornado.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Should your community prioritize local fundraising to help tornado-damaged towns recover?
Lawrence University students organized a campus fundraiser called "Light! More light! For Menasha." featuring more than 7,000 paper lanterns, each representing a donation to areas affected by the July tornado. Organizers raised more than $1,000 before noon on Friday.
Why it matters
The fundraiser directs local student energy toward recovery efforts for communities damaged by the July tornado, including Menasha. Its campus-wide scale gives Appleton residents a visible, local way to contribute to relief.
Organizers reported more than $1,000 raised before noon Friday, with more than 7,000 paper lanterns representing individual donations. Final totals are not yet available and will be released Monday.
The players
Lawrence University
A private liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, where student organizers hosted the lantern fundraiser on campus.
The details
Students organized the fundraiser on the Lawrence University campus, where paper lanterns lit up the grounds Friday night. The effort is aimed at relief for areas impacted by the July tornado that struck communities including Menasha.
Timeline
- July: A tornado struck areas including Menasha.
- Friday night: The Lawrence University fundraiser lit the campus with paper lanterns.
- Before noon Friday: Organizers had raised more than $1,000.
- Monday: Final fundraising totals will become available.
Community Response
Student-led relief drives like this one at Lawrence University show how campus organizations can mobilize quickly after a regional disaster. The lantern display offers a visible model for local giving in Appleton.
Appleton residents who want to support tornado recovery can contribute to community fundraising efforts like this one. Watching for the final Monday totals will show how much the campus effort ultimately raised.
The takeaway
Student-organized drives can turn a campus into a visible hub for disaster relief, and small individual gifts add up quickly when they are gathered together.
What happens next
Final fundraising totals from the Lawrence University lantern campaign will be available Monday.
Further reading
Explore more local giving stories in Appleton Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wbay.
Live Poll
Should your community prioritize local fundraising to help tornado-damaged towns recover?
