A Family Affair

To the DeWolfs, UW–Madison is like “a big family.” Left to right: Chris, Suzy, Riley, Lindsay, and Weston. Karen Zazza

Suzy Oldorf DeWolf ’94 and her husband, Chris, know a thing or two about loyalty and commitment. They met in preschool, dated throughout their teens, and attended different colleges before tying the knot in 1995. The two are co-owners of Lil’ Drug Store Products, a second-generation, family-owned business that is the leading supplier of over-the-counter medicines to convenience stores, travel hubs, hospitality providers, and other alternative retail outlets. They also own ForeFold Ventures, a family office focused on private investment and philanthropy. They have long been active in supporting causes in their home community of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Already supporters of higher education, the couple decided several years ago that they wanted to extend their reach beyond the state of Iowa. They contacted the UW to see how they might plug in. Together with university administrators, they created a new study-abroad program for first-year students and funded scholarships for the Global Launch program. Then, they expanded their giving to the School of Human Ecology, UW athletics, and the Wisconsin School of Business. Their daughter Lindsay DeWolf ’24 is a School of Business graduate, and their son, Weston DeWolf x’26, will graduate from the school next spring. Their other daughter, Riley Nassif, graduated from the University of Iowa.

Suzy says that within the last decade, the couple decided to make a more conscious effort to enjoy the impact of their giving during their lifetime. They chose to add UW–Madison to their extensive giving portfolio because “Wisconsin is a highly regarded institution, and we want to continue that legacy,” Suzy says. “It’s a great place, and people naturally want to be a part of it. It’s like a big family.” In addition, she says, the university “gave me a great foundation, and having two kids go there is extra special.”

Both Suzy’s and Chris’s parents led by example, giving to their churches and other causes in their community, “but we’ve definitely taken it to another level,” Suzy says. The two were deliberate in instilling the habit of giving in their own children at an early age. And now, as young adults, the DeWolf children have become even more involved. Prior to starting a family foundation, the DeWolfs used their local community foundation as a vehicle to make donations, and the children have been charged with directing gifts from the family’s endowed fund. Lindsay and Weston also participate in Day of the Badger giving each year.

“We’re learning together,” Suzy says. “It brings us joy. It’s fun, and it keeps us connected as a family.”

Published in the Fall 2025 issue