Here’s an idea for corporate companies in Fairfield County and surrounding areas. Plan a Corporate Day of Caring at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. This hospital, located in Westchester County, cares for kids with serious medical conditions from traumatic brain injury and heart defects, to skin burns and neurologic disorders.
Companies can work with Blythedale to plan a customized volunteer event, with activities that are uniquely suited to meet the company’s interests and resources. For example, employees at Disney Publishing, located in White Plains, visit the hospital once a month. They read to the children, and donate books on each trip. Other corporate volunteer groups have included JP Morgan Chase, Pepsi Bottling Group, Goldman Sachs, XL Capital, Dannon, Kohl’s, IBM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
Blythedale doesn’t limit volunteers to big companies, either. Last Mother’s Day, for example, Joe Pugni of Grayrock Florist and Memorials in Valhalla donated supplies so that patients could pot flowers for their mothers or caretakers as gifts.
Use your imagination when planning a Corporate Day of Caring. Previous events have taken the form of a medieval feast, a circus and a winter carnival. As it happens that Halloween is on our heels, I will be blogging about the annual Blythedale Halloween party to be hosted Wednesday evening by the Greenwich Jaycees.
To learn more about Corporate Day of Caring programs, contact Lena Cavanna, Blythedale’s community relations director at (914) 592-7138 or lenac@blythedale.org.
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Abilis’ Open House Set for Nov. 8
I just received an update on Abilis‘ Open House. As you may recall, the disability-services organization’s largest fundraiser, Walk in the Park for Abilis, got rained out on Oct. 18. Instead, Abilis (pronounced ABLE-ISS) is hosting an open house on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at its headquarters on 50 Glenville Street in Greenwich.
The open house will feature music, live entertainment and fun activities. Abilis will also debut its notecard collection, featuring 12 different paintings, drawings and prints by adults served by Abilis. (A set of 12 high-quality cards sells for $15.) The 2009 Abilis holiday notecard collection, featuring a reindeer image, also will be available for $15 for 12 cards. In addition, Abilis will sell bracelets, necklaces and earrings that are designed and hand-beaded by adults served by the agency.
Families, supporters and members of the public are invited to stop by and learn about the agencies’ services. There will be face-painting, crafts and games for children, as well as refreshments for all. Registered walkers can pick up their walk t-shirts, and teams will be photographed. It’s also an opportunity to donate to Abilis.
