The Global Care-a-thon Walk-a-thon began in 1975 as a Sunday school initiative at Heimdal Community Church. At that time, Sunday school teachers Hattie Kellert and Mimi Wenger engaged the children in brainstorming ways to make Sunday school more interesting. One child suggested sponsoring a child in another country, and Kellert and Wenger took this idea to heart, bringing this initiative to life.

Over the past 50 years, this initiative has raised over $2 million to support children in need in Calcutta, Romania, and more.