Purposeful Living and Creating a Legacy of Giving Back With Shane Moerdyk

February 12, 2025

In this episode of You Can’t Take it With You, Jim Dunlop speaks with Shane Moerdyk, Treasurer and Director of Operations for Hunt For A Cure, to discuss how generosity fuels purpose and impact. Shane shares how his nonprofit has funded medical breakthroughs, supported underserved communities, and created lasting change. He also explains how to align passions with philanthropy for real impact and explores the power of mentorship, leadership, and passing down a giving mindset.

Shane Moerdyk is the Treasurer and Director of Operations for Hunt For A Cure, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding research to cure cystic fibrosis. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit financial management, Shane has been instrumental in securing partnerships and managing funds to support critical research initiatives. He has played a key role in organizing events like the annual Camo Ball, which raises funds for life-saving medical research. Shane’s commitment to the cause is evident through his active involvement in fostering collaborations with institutions such as Michigan State University to advance cystic fibrosis research.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[01:59] Shane Moerdyk’s Midwestern roots and family-driven values
[03:07] The diagnosis that sparked Shane’s nonprofit journey
[06:28] How fundraising efforts directly support groundbreaking medical research
[08:16] A look inside the Camo Ball and what makes it a standout fundraising event
[10:05] Shane’s passion for cycling and how charity rides fuel his mission
[16:59] What to look for when choosing causes to support and invest in

In this episode:

What drives someone to turn personal challenges into a powerful force for change? And how can generosity shape not just your own life but the lives of future generations?

According to Shane Moerdyk, a passionate advocate for philanthropy and medical research, true generosity starts when you turn hardship into action. When his son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, he refused to be passive and sought out ways to fund research, create awareness, and push for better treatments. He highlights the importance of aligning passion with purpose, ensuring that giving is both meaningful and impactful. Whether it’s through raising millions for medical breakthroughs, mentoring future leaders, or simply being present for those in need, Shane believes that generosity isn’t about wealth — it’s about the intention behind your actions and the ripple effect they create.

In this episode of You Can’t Take it With You, Jim Dunlop speaks with Shane Moerdyk, Treasurer and Director of Operations for Hunt For A Cure, to discuss how generosity fuels purpose and impact. Shane shares how his nonprofit has funded medical breakthroughs, supported underserved communities, and created lasting change. He also explains how to align passions with philanthropy for real impact and explores the power of mentorship, leadership, and passing down a giving mindset.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Related Episodes

Quotable Moments

“The only way I could fight this thing was to start raising funds and awareness.”
“I want to find that last penny that cures cancer.”
“Be a good person, and great things will happen to you, and you can do greatness.”
“We’ve been blessed in life, and we are in a position where we can give.”
“I always say, you know, there’s two dates on your gravestone… but the dash is the most important piece.”

Action Steps

Volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about: Immerse yourself in volunteer work related to a cause that deeply resonates with you. This not only enriches your understanding and connection to the issue but also leverages your skills and energy to make a tangible impact.
Start a community initiative: Initiate a project or program in your community that addresses an unmet need or supports a worthy cause. By taking the lead, you can galvanize others to join your mission, amplifying the collective impact exponentially.
Engage in fundraising efforts: Participate in or organize fundraising events for charities or causes you believe in. Fundraising not only brings awareness but also crucial resources to the mission.
Mentor the next generation: Invest time in mentoring younger individuals, sharing your experiences and insights to help guide their personal and professional growth. This action step helps cultivate future leaders and instills values of generosity and responsibility.
Establish a philanthropic legacy: Consider creating a lasting impact through a financial or philanthropic legacy, such as a foundation. This approach not only benefits causes you care about but also sets an example of sustained generosity for future generations.

Sponsor for this episode:

This episode is brought to you by Advent Partners — a financial planning partner dedicated to helping you make informed decisions that simplify your financial journey.

Our seasoned team of professionals is committed to guiding you toward your financial goals. We offer tailored solutions based on your specific needs, from standalone financial planning to integrated financial management.

Whether you are planning for the future, investing for growth, or navigating financial hurdles, Advent Partners is here to provide insights, recommendations, and a clear financial roadmap.

To learn more about Advent Partners and how we can guide your financial success, visit AdventPartnersFP.com.

Episode Transcript

Intro 00:00

Welcome to the You Can’t Take it With You show where we feature stories around generosity designed to inspire and encourage others to do meaningful things in their communities. Now, here’s your host, Jim Dunlop.

Jim Dunlop 00:16

Hi, Jim Dunlop here, wealth advisor and host of the show, where I sit down with people who get it when it comes to generosity. I’m excited to have guests who can give us stories on generosity to not only inspire our listeners, but to give practical ideas on ways we can give. Today’s guest is Shane Moerdyk. Past guests include Jim Langley, Phil Cubeta, and Janet Riggs, among others. But before we get to Shane, I want to share that this episode is brought to you by Advent Partners. Ready for good. Advent is a financial planning team dedicated to helping you make informed decisions that simplify your financial journey. At Advent Partners, we’re ready for good. Our bold, ten year vision is to help clients donate $100 million to transform lives through generosity and planning, United by generosity. The relationship excellence, authenticity and fun. We empower meaningful lives and lasting community impact. To learn more about Advent Partners and how we can guide your financial success, visit readyforgood.com. So now Shane. Shane grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Moved away for college, then back to the area upon graduation. He’s been married to his wife, Amanda for 26 years and they have two adult sons. He has worked for a third party food manufacturing company on their leadership team for the past 24 years. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, being on their boat or being in the woods at their cabin in Central Michigan. I first got to know Shane eight years ago, when I began volunteering as a ride marshal for the Face of America bike ride for wounded veterans and adaptive athletes, and have continued to volunteer with him each year since. Shane, welcome and glad to have you.

Shane Moerdyk 01:48

Thanks. It’s an honor to be here. Thanks for having me.

Jim Dunlop 01:50

Well, could you start off by just taking a few minutes to give us a little bit of an autobiography on who you are?

Shane Moerdyk 01:59

Sure. I was born in Central Michigan in a nice farming community, and my parents still live there. Our family founded that town a couple of generations ago, and there’s still a lot of people in that area that we love and call family. I was fortunate enough to have two very great parents and some great sisters as well. And we were a pretty tight family and just grew up with the nice Midwestern values that everybody likes in our area. My parents were very involved in the community. I think that’s kind of where I get my drive from. I’m graduating high school, went to college, was going to be a band teacher, and decided that that was not for me. So I went into business and have enjoyed that ever since. A man that I’ve been married for almost 27 years and two great kids, and we just love living life.

Jim Dunlop 02:52

Well, good. And I think, again, this is a show about generosity. So I know you have a bit of a generosity origin story, and then we’re going to talk about how that’s evolved here. What is your generosity origin story?

Shane Moerdyk 03:07

So I started a nonprofit with a friend of mine surrounded around and focused in on cystic fibrosis. It’s a genetic disease of the lungs, and it is fatal in all cases. Our oldest son, Mason, was born with it, and it was the only way I could fight this thing was to start raising funds and awareness. And when Mason was diagnosed at 22 months old, Amanda’s thought of cystic fibrosis was the forefront of her mind. Her cousin at age six had passed away from it and they were the same age. So she already had this vision of what cystic fibrosis was, and it was not a good thing. We’re trying to change that, and we’re trying to change the mentality of people, the health of people. We’ve been fortunate enough to have a great nonprofit Non-profit with a great group of sponsors, and it just really has evolved through some partnerships with Michigan State University and Caldwell Health, and we continue to move forward with it. It’s just the only thing I can do to fight this thing that’s got my son.

Jim Dunlop 04:12

Yeah. And and tell us how old Mason is today.

Shane Moerdyk 04:17

So Mason is 24 today. He is as healthy as he has ever been, which is a great kudos to the medical community and the advances in medical research. He recently ran a marathon for the first time. And you know, when he was born and diagnosed, we were told that early 20s would be the average life expectancy. And now this kid with this fatal lung disease is going out and didn’t run the marathon as fast as he wanted to. So he’s already signed up for another one. He’s going to run it even faster since he’s not running with his girlfriend this time.

Jim Dunlop 04:50

Well, good for him. It sounds like, you know, he’s certainly made a lot more lot more progress than maybe what we would have feared when he started. So I know that an important partner for you in this journey is Pete Odland. And if I said that right, how did you get connected with Pete and what what inspired the two of you here besides just your sons?

Shane Moerdyk 05:17

So I met Pete through Mason’s doctor when Mason was diagnosed. We were devastated. I was mad. You go through all this realm of emotions, you know? You don’t know what to think.

You don’t know what to do. And I looked at the doctor and said, what do we do next? And he said, well, we’ll start these treatments. I said, no, what do we do next? How can I beat this thing? And he just kind of smiled and said, I’ve got another guy whose son has cystic fibrosis. I want you to meet him. And Pete had had one fundraiser the year that Mason was born. It was the infancy of this organization, and he was running it through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Having met Pete one time, we became fast friends quickly. I call him a brother now, and we both said, you know what? We as a team can do more. We then went and got a group of volunteers and started this organization up. We made our own 501 C3 and it’s still to this day, all volunteers. There’s not a single paid staff member.

Jim Dunlop 06:19

Wow. So probably pretty low overhead. And I’m guessing a lot of the, if not most of the money you raise is going right towards research.

Shane Moerdyk 06:28

The only money we spend is to put on our fundraisers, and every dime that we raise goes directly to research, and we are fortunate enough to have raised a lot of funds over the years, partnered with Michigan State University, had some studies done at their campus in Lansing, Michigan, then got involved with Cornell Health in its Grand Rapids, Michigan based health provider. Michigan State is still a partner of ours, and we now have a have a lab in downtown Grand Rapids that we fund completely with partnership from Cornell and Michigan State. And we’ve put on more doctors in that lab, and great things are happening. And it’s not just cystic fibrosis. We found some other opportunities for diabetes as well through our research. And they’re taking that and transferring it to somebody else. But there was some great gains, not just for CF but for other diseases as well. And we’re happy to say we were part of that.

Jim Dunlop 07:19

Wow. That’s that’s really incredible. So, you know, I said at the beginning here, I’ve known you for eight years, and we connected through another charitable cause, an organization. And, you know, it was just this past year where we were chatting after the a day of being on the bikes and found out that you had had done this. So if my math is correct, it’s been about 24 years since you started hunt for a cure, is that correct?

Shane Moerdyk 07:51

That is correct. And we’ve raised a little over $10 million so far.

Jim Dunlop 07:55

Wow. That’s incredible. And it sounds like making a lot of progress with that money.

Shane Moerdyk 08:00

It is. And I love to say that we’ve raised a lot of money, but we haven’t raised that last penny yet. And I want to find that last penny that cures cancer. And then I can go focus in on something else.

Jim Dunlop 08:08

Yeah. So I was intrigued. As we were preparing for today, tell our listeners about the Camo Ball.

Shane Moerdyk 08:16

So the Camo Ball is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it’s actually coming up in a couple of months. It’s an evening of games, raffles, auctions, silent auctions. We have everybody dressing up in camo if they want to. It’s just a high energy event. Some of these games, you have to swallow a minnow. If you win the minnow race and it gets you extra tickets and there’s raffles for guns at the end of the night, and it’s based around the outdoors and hunting. Pete and I both like to hunt and be out in the woods, and it just seems to have a great following. We sell out almost every year and I have to tell people no, just because we’ve got such great sponsors and attendees and the building we have it in only holds about 450 people. So it becomes a race to see who can get in. Covid did kind of kill that a little bit, but we’re starting to rebound and see some good traction from our past couple of years.

Jim Dunlop 09:12

I, I’m envisioning like camouflage tuxedos and things like that. Am I getting the right vision here?

Shane Moerdyk 09:19

You have people in camo tuxedos and evening gowns, and you have people in their hunting clothes. I mean, it’s a wide range of people, and it’s just a fun night. It’s just exciting. And everybody is there to support this event and this cause. And we’re just very blessed and fortunate to have the sponsors and attendees that we do.

Jim Dunlop 09:40

So, so you and I share a passion for cycling and and our listeners can’t see it. But right over Shane’s shoulder is one of his road bikes. I know you’re involved in a lot of organizations, including what we have in common through World Team Sports charity bike rides. Tell me about some of the organizations that you like to be connected with and help.

Shane Moerdyk 10:05

I’d like to do a lot of different nonprofit fundraising bike rides. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has one that I’ve ridden on a lot of times in the past. Michigan State, one of Hunt For A Cure’s partners, has one that raises funds for skin cancer and rehabilitation. I ride that every year with my team here in Michigan, and we raise some funds for that. If I ever hear somebody that needs help and they’re having a fundraiser, even if it’s just a person having a fundraiser for somebody else’s medical, I try to attend as much as I can and be a benefit to them because we’ve been so blessed in our lives, and it’s just being a good person, and people respond to that well, and we make great friendships and connections and relationships, and It’s just the way of life for us.

Jim Dunlop 10:53

When you. So we’re involved with the Face of America ride and and you are one of the leaders of that ride now and tell me how you got involved with World T.E.A.M. Sports and and now you you lead all of the, the the volunteer marshals that help shepherd that ride from Washington, DC to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Shane Moerdyk 11:15

So I got involved with this because I used to be a runner and I got hurt, so I couldn’t run as much. So I said to my financial advisor, one day, like you, Jim, hey, I’m not running as much anymore. And he said, well, go get a bike. We’re going to try this bike ride thing from D.C. to Gettysburg. And I’m thinking, there is no way I bought a bike. In three and a half weeks later, I rode this 125 mile over two day ride through all these hills and everything, not being a cyclist whatsoever. And that was 15 years ago and I just fell in love with that event. Got to know some know some great people. You. The rest of our team. People that run that organization. And it’s just family and it’s fun. And I was blessed enough to be able to help lead that team, you know, with help from you and our other squad leaders. And it’s just another great way to give back. And it’s focused on our wounded military. And I’ve got a lot of respect for them. They’ve given us the freedoms that my family enjoys, and that’s a great way for me to say thank you and give back where I can.

Jim Dunlop 12:20

We’ve we’ve talked about Mason here today and and and now he’s running marathons. But tell us a little bit about Blake, your other son.

Shane Moerdyk 12:31

Blake turns 22 next month. He’s going to the University of Toledo right now. He’s in ROTC, and he’s also active duty Army because he decided as a young person he didn’t know enough about the military and what the regular soldiers, if you will, go through as they enlist and go through basic training. So he enlisted and has gone through basic training as well. So put him behind in school a little bit. But now he’s got that experience of being able to know what the people that will report up to him through the Army have gone through, and I thought it was a really wise choice of his. In hindsight, when he first did it, I was kind of wondering why. But I understand it. It was wise and we’re very proud of him. So.

Jim Dunlop 13:17

Well, you know, Shane, if I may, you know, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’m sure he’ll be a phenomenal leader in the military. And particularly given the route that you just described that he’s taken. And it’s no surprise to me you’re quite a leader, both in your professional life and your volunteer life. So I’m sure you’ve inspired him. Who inspired you?

Shane Moerdyk 13:43

I’ve had a lot of great mentors. You know, my dad is number one. He was a hard working guy. He worked 80 90 hours a week to make sure our family was supported. My mom stopped working when I was born and never went back to work, so he worked extra just to make sure that the kids had mom there and that family piece. And to this day, he still works like crazy. He and I own a small little construction equipment company together, and I do the back office work, and he’s just still, at almost 80 years old, going out and building those relationships and selling this equipment and having fun. He does a lot for their church as well. He’s just one of these guys who just keeps on giving and never stops. In business, I’ve had some really great mentors as well. People that took me under their wings were nice enough to tell me when I was messing up and tell me how to get better, and really praise me when I started doing the right things and really helped me grow. And now I’m doing that for some younger people as well. Now that I’m getting a little bit little bit older and I have that knowledge base and can help. Yeah, it’s just been a great opportunity to have a lot of good mentors and people I looked up to. I also learned a lot from people that did the wrong things. You know, it’s not always what it’s great, but you look at some people and say, that wasn’t great. I don’t want to do that. So life has been a great teacher.

Jim Dunlop 15:11

Yeah, I, I think, you know, as I listen to what you’re saying here, I, I think that’s a very inspiring. So, you know, this is a show about generosity. We’ve talked about really what kind of lit your heart was dealing with the diagnosis your son got as a young, young child, a toddler, really. And and and taking that forward, however, the time that you take to invest in relationships, both professionally and, you know, as a volunteer to mentor people, to be, to grow in their leadership abilities is a probably an incredible form of generosity that you can’t put a price tag on because those people will have a pretty hopefully will have a go on to have a good impact and a profound effect on those around them.

Shane Moerdyk 16:07

Yeah, absolutely. I always say, you know, there’s two dates on your gravestone when you’re born and when you die, but the dash is the most important piece. And that’s what I really mentor my people up on, is make sure that Dash means something. And I want to make sure that mine means something. And I do have people that I’ve brought up through business that still reach out to me, even though they work at other companies now and say, hey, I’m still doing this. Really appreciate what you taught me. I do the same for other people that have done the same for me. And being a good person is, I think, all of our jobs.

Jim Dunlop 16:39

So I know that your wife, Amanda has been a partner with you on this journey. What are some other things that are really important to you and Amanda. And what do you look at when you decide to get involved with an organization? What captures your attention when you two decide to get involved somewhere?

Shane Moerdyk 16:59

We find things that we have a passion for, or we know somebody who has had that personal experience. It may not be a great experience, but it’s a way we could help them. A lot of times it’s through word of mouth. But, you know, my wife had a cancer diagnosis a couple of years ago. I remember have gotten more involved with some of the cancer groups that raise some funds as well, and some of their different organizations. And, you know, you hear of people with the same diagnosis as Amanda’s. Unfortunately, she’s in remission 100%, and we’re very thankful for that. But there are others that don’t have it as easy and don’t have it as well. And we want to make sure that we’re supporting them as well. We’ve been blessed in life, and we are in a position where we can give not just through volunteerism, but financially as well. And, you know, we’re setting up the foundation that will have a hopefully a long living, profound impact on other people’s lives where it’s just funds that are set aside and they are used only for donations for charity. Instilling that philanthropic mindset to hopefully generations to come. I don’t want it to stop with me. I don’t want it to stop with my kids. Hopefully there are some more kids in the future that have the last name Mordecai, and they can continue to keep that going through our lineage.

Jim Dunlop 18:17

I think what an incredible legacy in that, that that would be a legacy of generosity to create. And I, I love the visionary aspect of this, that it’s not just you and Amanda and Mason and Blake, but hopefully their children and and generations beyond them. That’s that’s pretty cool. Yeah. And and what what What caused you to get that started? Or what was the impetus for the two of you to get get that going?

Shane Moerdyk 18:50

My financial advisor was doing it of all people, and he told me that they were doing this. So I talked to my dad and I said, hey, you should start something like this up. So my dad did something with his money. I’ve told my dad, I don’t want a single dime from you. And he’s done well in life. But now we’ve got this foundation where we have to give away money. And, you know, Amanda and I want to do something very similar to that. And, you know, it’s, again, I go back to being a good person. I want to be somebody that’s known as a good person, and I want to be remembered in the right ways.

Jim Dunlop 19:24

Yeah. You know, Shane, I think people who have gotten to know you would say that you live that pretty well. And, and I think you whether you I hopefully you recognize that in yourself, but certainly in the the ways that I’ve gotten to know you over the years, I see that loud and clear come through. So. So as we wrap up, I want to thank you so much for taking some time today to share a little bit about what what you’re doing. And I know that if our listeners want to find out more about what you’re doing, they can find you at hunt for a cure.com. And you’re also on LinkedIn as well. So I do have one final question, Shane. And that is if you could share some advice or wisdom on a billboard somewhere where you’re going to reach a lot of people, what would your message be?

Shane Moerdyk 20:16

I’ve hit it on a couple times, but I think it’s just be a good person and great things will happen to you and you can do greatness.

Jim Dunlop 20:23

Yeah, I, I wholeheartedly agree. So thank you so much.

Shane Moerdyk 20:28

Thank you Jim.

Outro 20:31

Thanks for joining us to hear stories of generosity that remind us that you can’t take it with you. Visit our site at canttakeitwithyou.com for more details on today’s episode and to subscribe to future shows.

Disclosure 20:49

Neither today’s guests nor their company are affiliated with or endorsed by Thrivent Advisor Network. The views expressed in this presentation by the guest are their own and not necessarily those of Thrivent or its affiliates.

Advent Partners may utilize third-party websites, including social media websites, blogs, and other interactive content. We consider all interactions with clients, prospective clients, and the general public on these sites to be advertisements under the securities regulations. As such, we generally retain copies of information that we or third parties may contribute to such sites. This information is subject to review and inspection by Thrivent Advisor Network or the securities regulators. Advisory Persons of Thrivent provide advisory services under a “doing business as” name or may have their own legal business entities. However, advisory services are engaged exclusively through Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Advent Partners and Thrivent Advisor Network, LLC are not affiliated companies.

Purposeful Living and Creating a Legacy of Giving Back With Shane Moerdyk

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

In this episode:

Resources mentioned in this episode:

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Quotable Moments

Action Steps

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