HELPING PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS AT NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
This summer, Sending Hope Ohio was honored to partner with The Ohana Foundation to continue the heartfelt legacy of Jaelynn, a courageous young girl who, upon entering the oncology floor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2022, expressed her desire to share love and comfort with fellow pediatric patients. With guidance from hospital social workers, our project focused on providing urgent support to families navigating pediatric cancer care. We helped supply much-needed toys and activities for the hospital playroom and collected gift cards to ease the burden on families during their stay.
In addition, we rallied our community to take part in broader initiatives supporting pediatric cancer awareness and research. We promoted the Callahan Murphy Hare Foundation’s local blood drive, encouraging lifesaving donations while raising critical awareness and funding for pediatric cancer research right here in Central Ohio. We also invited families to host summer lemonade stands in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, empowering families to make a meaningful impact, one cup at a time.
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY IN OUR COMMUNITY
Sending Hope Ohio was thrilled to be part of our 2nd Annual Fourth of July Parade in our hometown, Granville! From waving flags to sharing smiles, we had so much fun celebrating with our amazing community. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer, support, and join in the spirit of independence and hope. We’re so proud to be part of this community and can’t wait to do it again next year!
WELCOMING YOUTH HOME
At age 18, youth age out of foster care and create their first apartments. In May, we partnered with Fostering Further to help create Welcome Home Kits, supplying these local young adults with household essentials for their first apartments, including kitchen items, cleaning products, toiletries, and laundry items. Welcome home!
ROLLING INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Have you heard?! Sending Hope Ohio is rolling into your neighborhood on PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION! Thank you to Webchick, Krile Communications, Fairfield County Transit, and Fairfield County Board of Commissioners for making this possible!
CELEBRATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN FOSTER CARE
Did you know that 25% of youth in foster care will not graduate high school or receive their GED? During March, our generous private donors from the community came together to support our campaign, Celebrating High School Seniors in Foster Care, benefiting Fostering Further. Thanks to their contributions, Sending Hope Ohio had the privilege of celebrating 20 incredible graduates. In addition to offering heartfelt congratulations, we donated over $1,000 worth of high school graduation gifts, ensuring each graduate felt seen and valued. To make the moment even more special, we showered them with personalized cards of encouragement and celebration. This initiative would not have been possible without the support of our community, and we are grateful for the generosity that helped make these seniors' achievements even more memorable.
During February and March we completed our Making A House a Home project for a formerly homeless family with two children. With the generosity of our donors, we were able to fully stock a new home for a deserving family, providing them with everything they needed to start fresh. From furniture to kitchenware, linens to everyday essentials – our wishlist was cleared in record time, thanks to the outpouring of support from individuals who truly care about making a difference.
But the impact didn’t stop there. Sending Hope Ohio and Boldwomen Cleaning Services stepped in to offer invaluable professional mentorship and marketing guidance, helping the family take an important step forward by launching their very own family business. This support not only helped them settle into their new home but also set them up for future success, reinforcing the power of community in fostering long-term independence and growth.
LEGACY OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
In January, we had the honor of participating in an event hosted by Denison University to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme, “Building the Beloved Community: Service, Civic Engagement, and the Path Forward,” brought together a range of activities, including a conversation panel with leading experts, a resource fair for creating change in our communities (which we were proud to participate in), an MLK march, brunch, and multiple workshops focused on civic engagement. It was an inspiring and impactful event that highlighted the ongoing need for service and action in our communities. We extend a special thank you to Denison University for the invitation and for organizing such a meaningful gathering.