Holiday Donations from PartnerShip

12/17/2014 — Leah Palnik

• Debra (The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America)
  This organization is dedicated to finding a cure for 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. 
• Special Olympics
  The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics contributes to the physical, social, and psychological development of the athletes. Through successful experiences in sports, they gain confidence and build a positive self-image which carries over into the classroom, home, job and community. 
• Angels for Kids Foundation 
  Angels for Kids Foundation (located in Medina, Ohio) is dedicated to bringing joy into the lives of underprivileged children and families of Northeast Ohio by providing gifts, clothing and support following tragedies and hardships. Founded by Shayn McCourt, who had lost both parents by age 18, the foundation throws a festive and fun party each Christmas that truly captures the meaning of the holiday season. Angels for Kids prides itself on not just giving any Christmas gift, but truly aiming to give each child “the gift” – the one from their list, that they want the most. 
• Blessing House 
  Blessing House (located in Lorain, Ohio) started as an idea in the fall of 2001 as Sr. Mary Berigan and Donna Humprhrey, both guardian ad litems in the children’s advocacy program, Voices of Children, began wondering about an alternate way to help families before they became involved in the child welfare system. They felt too many parents just didn’t have enough help when dealing with the emergencies in their lives. Those children come and stay at Blessing House while their parents are working through tough times and are reunited once they are able to take care of their children again. 
• Mary Lee Tucker: Clothe a Child 
  The annual Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child program provides several hundred needy school-aged children in Lorain County with warm, new winter clothes. Volunteer shoppers donate their time to take the children shopping at designated area stores for coats, boots, gloves, hats, shirts, pants and other apparel. Every dollar donated goes directly to buy clothing for these children.