Holiday Donations

12/18/2015 — Leah Palnik

The best part of the holiday season is the chance to give back to those in need. Continuing a tradition started at PartnerShip several years ago, we’ve selected a handful of charitable organizations to make donations to this season. We are passionate about the amazing things that all these non-profit organizations do for the people in our community and we’re happy to support them.

The organizations receiving donations from PartnerShip this year are:

Debra (The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America)
This organization is dedicated to finding a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), which affects 1 out of every 20,000 live births in the United States. EB is a genetically based disease characterized by chronic, painful blistering. The skin and mucous membranes are so fragile that the slightest touch can cause severe blistering inside and outside the body. The mission of Debra of America is to improve the quality of life for all people living with EB, their families, and caregivers through programs and services while funding research to find a cure and treatments for EB.

Project Linus
As a non-profit organization, Project Linus provides homemade blankets to children in need. Their blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life and many different sources. Their mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. The gift of new, handmade blankets created by volunteer “blanketeers,” provides a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities.

Youth Challenge
Over 400 teenage volunteers are at the heart of Youth Challenge (YC). Performing over 11,000 hours of service at YC activities and programs last year, they allow children with physical disabilities and their families to benefit from the sports and recreation activities that they would not normally be able to participate in. Located in Westlake, Ohio, they provide free transportation from their schools to the facility where the volunteers help them enjoy the gymnasium, adapted weight-lifting area, yoga, and many other activities.

Kisses from Heaven
Conceived by two families that, unfortunately, spent too much time in the NICU with their children, Kisses from Heaven is an organization that puts together and delivers gift bags to level III NICUs to give a moment of happiness and hope to families in the midst of so much anxiety and struggle. Each gift bag is approximately $50 and contains items such as gas cards, sleepers, books, snacks, journals, and much more! All the donations that Kisses from Heaven get make a difference – one bag at a time.

Project Lifesaver
Project Lifesaver is an active response to the problem of locating people who many not be able to find their way home on their own. A lost person with any kind of dementia or developmental disability is unaware of his/her situation; they do not call out for help and do not respond to people calling out to them. The Project Lifesaver team is trained in how to approach a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a developmental disability, to gain their trust and put them at ease for the trip home.

These donations would not be possible without the business and support of our many customers, and we're very grateful for that. We hope you agree that these donations will have a beneficial impact. Thank you and happy holidays!