On Friday, May 8, 2026, Unity, Northeast Wisconsin’s nonprofit leader in hospice care, palliative care, nonmedical home care, and grief support, will host its fifth annual Luminary Walk to raise funds for Unity Grief and Education Center, the region’s only freestanding Center designed to support individuals and families of all ages who have experienced a death. Participants will have the opportunity to walk in honor of a loved one and in support of others who are grieving
The Luminary Walk is a community event open to everyone and will take place at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, 2640 S. Webster Avenue, Green Bay, WI. A $35 registration fee is required for all participants ages 4 and older. This fee includes a customizable event t-shirt, raffle ticket, and food/refreshments. Additional fundraising is encouraged, but not required, in order to help ensure grief services offered through Unity Grief and Education Center are available to all in our communities at no cost.
Event registration and t-shirt pick-up will begin at 7:00 pm, along with pre-walk activities including stations to personalize the commemorative walk t-shirt, browse raffle baskets, and purchase tickets for a chance to win as well as visit with Unity’s certified Paws of Comfort therapy dogs. The participants will also enjoy DJ music overlooking the beautiful state park. A special program filled with inspiration will begin at 8:15 pm with the walk to start promptly at 8:30 pm. Glowing luminaries will guide walkers on the serene 1.5-mile paved walking trail. A wheelchair accessible tram will be available.
The $50,000 Luminary Walk fundraising goal helps sustain the efforts of Unity Grief and Education Center. Financial gifts ensure every individual and family in need of grief support throughout Northeast Wisconsin has access to the wide variety of compassionate services offered by Unity’s professional grief counselors at no cost.
Unity encourages individuals to form a fundraising team with family and friends or serve as an individual fundraiser. To register as an individual or a team, as well as access fundraising tools, visit www.unityhospice.org/luminary-walk. Those who register by April 10th will be guaranteed their t-shirt size; after that, available sizes will be limited. Online registration is open until Tuesday, May 5th.
“The Unity Luminary Walk is a moving experience where families and friends gather with smiles, care for each other, and share memories of loved ones. The generosity of walkers and supporters helps sustain our vision of creating a community where no one grieves alone. We are excited for you to experience the hope and gentle spirit of this year’s Luminary Walk,” says Unity Grief Services Director Jenny Boeckman.
About Unity Grief and Education Center
Established in November 2021, Unity Grief and Education Center is the first-of-its-kind facility in Northeast Wisconsin offering grieving individuals of all ages a safe haven to learn about grief, share experiences, and find hope.
Located at 2079 Lawrence Drive in De Pere, Unity Grief and Education Center features dedicated counseling rooms to accommodate adults, children, and families in need of grief support, as well as a large room for education and public outreach. The Center is staffed by
Unity’s experienced Grief Services team consisting of licensed counselors, social workers, and trained volunteers. Recognizing that every individual grieves in a unique way, Unity offers a wide variety of services to anyone who has experienced a death including:
- Individual grief counseling
- Family grief counseling
- Grief support groups for children, teens, families and adults
- Supportive telephone calls
- Memorial services
- Newsletter and literature resources
- Holiday support
- Grief consultation and support for businesses and schools
For more information about Unity Grief and Education Center or the 4th annual Luminary Walk, call (920) 339-6700 or visit unityhospice.org/luminary-walk.
About Unity
Unity is Northeast Wisconsin’s pioneering not-for-profit healthcare provider that offers a full complement of care solutions including nonmedical home care, supportive palliative care, hospice care, and grief support. With a commitment to seamlessly adapt care to the everchanging needs of each patient and family, Unity works tirelessly to enhance quality of life through innovative services and unique programs ensuring the wishes and goals of patients and families are always met. As the only locally owned and operated advanced illness provider in the region.
Unity partners with area skilled nursing facilities, assisted-living facilities, and pharmacies, ensuring seamless care in all settings. Unity is the sole organization offering inpatient hospice at seven area hospitals and is a collaboration between Bellin Health, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital. Established as the third hospice program in the nation, Unity launched Wisconsin’s first palliative care program in 2002, the area’s first hospice residence in 2007, the region’s only Grief and Education Center in 2021, and the area’s first pediatric hospice program in 2024. Learn more at https://unityhospice.org/.
