Nonprofit Expands Cancer Support to Rural Iowa
The foundation is partnering with rural medical centers to distribute cashmere wraps to women starting cancer treatment.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Since its 2022 founding, Iowa-based nonprofit MadeKindly has provided cashmere wraps to nearly 500 women undergoing breast cancer treatment. The foundation is currently expanding its gift distribution network from metro hubs into rural medical centers across the state.
Why it matters
MadeKindly founder JoAnn Manning established the organization to honor her sister, Mary Kay Zumbach-Gillotti, by addressing the comfort needs of oncology patients. This expansion highlights a trend of focused, patient-centered support models connecting donor-funded philanthropy directly to specialized clinical care settings.
Since 2022, the nonprofit has provided cashmere wraps to nearly 500 women to support their comfort during treatment. The foundation currently sustains these operations through monetary donations used to procure the items for patients across its regional hospital network.
The players
JoAnn Manning
The Johnston-based founder who established MadeKindly in 2022 to provide comfort items to cancer patients.
MadeKindly
An Iowa-based charitable foundation that procures and distributes cashmere wraps to breast cancer patients through a medical provider network.
The details
MadeKindly partners directly with oncology departments to facilitate the delivery of gifts to women starting their treatment protocols. Medical staff at participating facilities manage the distribution, ensuring the items reach patients upon entry into care. In addition to these hospital-based partnerships, the foundation maintains a direct-to-patient fulfillment program for women undergoing treatment anywhere in the country.
Timeline
2019: Mary Kay Zumbach-Gillotti died from breast cancer.
2022: JoAnn Manning founded MadeKindly.
Market Landscape
MadeKindly's distribution model follows the industry trend of patient-centric care that integrates non-clinical support directly into the oncology treatment experience. By partnering with healthcare providers, the organization aligns its philanthropic mission with established clinical care pathways.
Business operators in the healthcare and support-service sectors should note how localized, donor-funded initiatives are successfully leveraging hospital partnerships to scale service delivery. The model demonstrates that direct clinical integration remains an effective strategy for regional nonprofits to ensure their charitable output reaches target populations.
The takeaway
MadeKindly illustrates how clear, donor-funded missions can successfully bridge the gap between patient comfort and standard clinical care protocols. Operators interested in community impact should track the foundation's expansion into rural centers to see how it scales its fulfillment operations across diverse medical facilities.
Further reading
Learn more about the local impact of community organizations in the Philanthropy section.
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Do you believe local philanthropic initiatives provide meaningful support for patients undergoing medical treatment in your area?
