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A Short History of the Freeze

The Freeze for Food has been a labor of love for the RPCVs of Madison. Through the years it has been passed on from member to member to manage as a fundraiser for food security projects. After the International Calendar began making a profit (around 1992), a certain amount from calendar sales has been allocated to supporting the expenses of the Freeze – currently at the rate of $2,000 per race. Following is a short history of the event’s managers and fund beneficiaries. Of course, many RPCVs (whether group members or not) and friends have played a huge role on race day to help with the details, usually around 30 people getting together to enjoy a crisp winter day.

1982: Wade DallaGrana (RPCV Lesotho 1976-1978) started the Freeze for Food. The group was raising money for Oxfam, and Wade was a runner; he put 2 and 2 together, and started the fundraiser. Wade’s last race was 1990.
1990: Deb Stapleton (RPCV Honduras 1985-1987) managed the Freeze for the next four years.
1994: Dave Hamilton (RPCV Honduras 1985-1987) took over for another 4 years through 1998.
1999: Peter Joyce (RPCV Guatemala 1981-1984) and Rick Lackey (RPCV Micronesia 1982-1984) took it up. Peter noticed the burnout working with Oxfam and that as a global organization, Oxfam really did not know what we were doing. He proposed to the Board that we work with a local group instead of Oxfam, thinking that they would have a better connection, and could provide us with people on race day. Someone stated that we should work with one of the Madison Sister City projects. We asked all 6 or 7 groups to make us a one page proposal. Only two groups responded: Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) and Colombia Support Network (CSN). CSN’s was the better of the two.
2011: Kate Schachter (RPCV Ghana 2004-2007) agreed to manage the Freeze, not wanting to see it fade away when Peter and Rick decided it was time to step aside. However, she wanted CSN to help with the planning, not just on the day of the event. Jack Laun (co-Director of CSN and RPCV Panama 1967-1969) agreed to co-chair the planning. Other RPCV and CSN members were also brought into the planning team.
2016: Stephanie Shelton (RPCV Tonga 2012-2014) and Tom Felhofer (RPCV Malawi 1988-1990), both committed Freeze volunteers and runners for several years, agreed to co-chair with CSN. A switch was made to a chip timing company, which made a big difference in expenses, but also in donated profits.
2017: Because of the increase in the refugee crisis in Syria, as well as other countries worldwide, Steph and Tom presented an alternate beneficiary of the Freeze funds to the Board. Open Doors for Refugees, formed in Madison, was selected. Madeline Uraneck (RPCV Lesotho 2004-2009) from Open Doors liases on the race details.
2018: Kate returned from Peace Corps service in Georgia, and rejoined the organizing team with Tom, Steph and Madeline.
2019: Lauren Troxtel (RPCV Ethiopia 2012-2014) stepped forward to be the Race Director. Kate and Madeline remain on the team, Tom and Steph are backing up while slowly backing out, and as always we work with a lot of volunteers.
2020: Lauren, Tom, and Kate remain on the team. Madeline and Joyce Muxfeld (Open Doors for Refugees member) represent Open Doors support in producing the event. The event was held two weeks before the pandemic shutdown all in-person events.
2021: Tom Felhofer, Ashley Gries (RPCV Panama 2008-2010), Joyce Muxfeld, Cassie Rademaekers (RPCV Nepal 1983-1985), Kate Schachter, Madeline Uraneck, and Kathleen Wannemuehler (RPCV Kenya 1994-1996) create a team from both the RPCV Madison and Open Doors organizations. Forty years of the Freeze for Food and a pandemic have made us get creative about how to run a safe race. It is Runners' Choice over the course of two days!

Freeze for Food

Photo of the 2012 Freeze for Food

`Freeze for Food`

`Photo of the 2012 Freeze for Food`