The Young and the Restless' Kate Linder supports the ALS Network

This weekend, The Young and the Restless star Kate Linder (Esther Valentine) partnered with ALS Network to honor her late mother, California artist Molly Wolveck.

Linder hosted “An Afternoon of Art,” which featured her mother’s works and celebrated what would have been Wolveck’s 100th birthday on November 20th. Linder told Soap Opera Digest, “I’m thrilled that everyone will be able to see what an accomplished artist she was while also allowing her to continue contributing to the ALS Network posthumously, as she herself did annually in her life.”

Linder’s brother-in-law, Scott Buzzell, was first diagnosed in 2004 with ALS and passed in 2013. Per the ALS Network website, Linder said, “Just as my brother-in-law was going through the process of being diagnosed with ALS, my husband Ron and I discussed it, and I knew I had to get involved with them to work towards finding a cure. I did some work for them and ended up becoming their celebrity spokesperson within six months and have been very involved with the cause ever since.

The Young and the Restless’ Kate Linder champions for ALS

For the past twenty years, the Y&R actress has been a spokesperson and ambassador for both ALS and the ALS Network. Linder has been lobbying Congress, fundraising, and raising awareness for the ALS Network, which is dedicated to finding a cure and treatments for ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Linder, her mother, Molly Wolveck, and Linder’s late husband, Dr. Ron Linder, were passionate about finding a cure.

In honor of her mom’s dedication to the cause, Linder displayed Wolveck’s art and made it available for purchase. The proceeds from the sales went towards ALS Network.

Linder told Digest, “This is a win-win situation for both this amazing charity and for the memory of my mom. I am so very proud to be celebrity ambassador for the ALS Network, and I know my mom would have loved that her art exhibit will benefit the charity that meant so much to her, to my late husband and his family, and to me.”

Christian LeBlanc, who plays Michael Baldwin on Y&R, was on hand to lend his support to his friend and costar.The actress also hosted her annual “Kate Linder & Friends” tea in Toronto, Canada, earlier this year. LeBlanc also attended that event, as did their castmate Bryton James (Devon Hamilton). The Canadian fundraiser drew a whopping $50,000 for Canada Cares.

Linder and Wolveck were close as mother and daughter. Linder’s mom had been a big fan of The Young and the Restless long before her daughter got cast as Esther. Wolveck began watching the show in 197, and Linder joined the cast in 1982.

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Wolveck even had the opportunity to be in a few episodes. For one of the appearances, Molly and her husband, Ralph (who passed in 2013), were a case of art imitating life. They were seen on-screen as restaurant patrons when they were also celebrating their real-life wedding anniversary. Wolveck also appeared on the show in 2017.

Donations can still be made by visiting www.TeamKateLinder.org. Watch Kate Linder on The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.

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