Wrasslin’ C.A.T (Christine Aloise Thiede) Love and Empathy Now Fund

Coffee, Cats, and Conviction… Wrapped Up In Compassion and Brotherly Love

We at the Community Foundation are always amazed (well, not really) by the many people we meet who, quite frankly, just CARE.

At the Community Foundation of Middlesex County we only know good people who care about family, neighbors, and COMMUNITY. People who go out of their way to help others and to spread kindness, not only to their two-legged friends, but also to our purr-fect four-legged ones.

Enter Mark Thiede, best known far and wide as the proprietor of the famous Two Wrasslin’ Cats Café.

Not only is Mark recognized for his unique venue, but he is also renowned for his generosity and kindness. He supports – and actively promotes – organizations in their efforts to expand acts of kindness and inclusiveness, as well as the health and well-being of people and cats.

When his beloved sister and mentor, Christine Aloise Thiede Luce, passed away, Mark decided to establish a Fund to honor her extraordinary life and her commitment to helping the world’s marginalized and vulnerable. Mark shared that Christine was simply amazing! He said she loved history and its many lessons and that she was passionate about reading and was “a great supporter of the freedom our library system provides.” He also noted that his sister shaped her priorities around making a difference, not in an egocentric way, but that Christine truly wanted to help others. His list of accolades goes on: she was very kindhearted, loved cats and their gentle quirkiness. “She was a brilliant soul.”

It is Mark’s hope that the Wrasslin’ C.A.T (Christine Aloise Thiede) Love and Empathy Now Fund will mirror Christine’s ways. “It is with great pride and honor that I open this Fund to honor her legacy as a sister, a wonderful human being, and mostly as a mentor!” His lasting vision is that we all do something to improve the world around us.

CFMC is honored to work with Mark, and we extend a THANK YOU for inspiring us with your amazing brotherly love, conviction and compassion. (By the way… you had all of us at “MEOW”!)