The EBI Cares initiative was first launched in December 2020 to encourage giving and engagement in employees’ local communities over the holiday season. Each participating employee was gifted a $100 gift card to give to a deserving individual or organization in their community.
The only rule? Pay it forward to support a cause that’s important to you.
The inaugural 2020 EBI Cares initiative included 163 participants across the U.S. distributing over $16,000 in their communities. Following that success, the initiative was continued again in 2021.
With even more participants this year, nearly $18,000 in gift cards were donated to meaningful causes. This included giving to local nurses and health care workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, animal shelters, families in need through local gift-giving programs, and more.
Through this initiative, EBI hopes to spread as much good as possible to far-reaching corners of our communities and make a positive impact on those challenged by COVID-19, especially during the holiday season. We look forward to continuing this initiative in the years to come!
A warm thank you to all our employees for joining us in making a difference. We’d like to honor many of those employees in the slideshow below.
EBI Cares 2021
Mark Casey and Liz Casey
People Helping People / Burlington Food Pantry
(Burlington, MA)
"PHP / BFP is a terrific organization that provides assistance to the residents of Burlington who have a need for food, medicine, utilities for their homes, and anything along those lines. They also provide gifts for children at holiday time for families who can not afford to do so themselves."
- Liz Casey
Christopher DiPietro
Mill City Grows, Ali Jacobs/Dai Kim
(Lowell, MA)
"This organization serves the Lowell community via educational programs, community food assessment (which is what I worked on) and a weekly farmers market!"
- Christopher DiPietro
Amanda Gladysz and Barbara Hammond
Boys & Girls Club
(Manchester, NH)
"I donated STEM toys last year to empower the girls at the Boys & Girls Club. Now, I volunteer at the club every week assisting with STEM activities, and am purchasing LEGO Education sets so that we can have STEM lesson plans to teach and engage the children at the club."
- Amanda Gladysz
Pamela Kahane and Abby Valek
Maryville City of Youth program for teens
(Des Plaines, IL)
"This program serves disadvantaged youth as they transition from incarceration back to their homes. Most of these boys have never had a gift of this nature, nor have they felt the kindness of strangers."
- Pamela Kahane
Julia Lynch
HELPIS Help Me Help Someone, Inc.
(Burlington, MA)
"HELPIS is a Massachusetts non-profit corporation. Their mission is to encourage and promote good and charitable deeds by groups and individuals for the purpose of helping someone needing help. The founder of the program is a resident of Burlington, MA, where I am from. Right now, their active campaign is for Giving Tuesday Holiday Toy Drive. I would like to provide HELPIS with this gift card to be able to buy toys for families around Massachusetts in need this holiday season."
- Julia Lynch
Alexander O'Gorman
Friends of the Wissahickon
(Philadelphia, PA)
"I choose to donate to the Friends of the Wissahickon to help the organization continue their tremendous effort in keeping the Wissahickon Valley clean, safe and preserved. In addition, I hope to aid the promotion of the stories, folklore and history the Wissahickon Valley affords to viewers through interpretive wayside markers, statues and presentations of public history."
- Alexander O'Gorman
Emily Montgomery
Harmony House
(Springfield, MO)
"Harmony House is a domestic violence shelter for women and children in Springfield, MO. Domestic violence survivors will always hold special place in my heart as I lived in a domestic violence situation for 7 years when I was younger. I appreciate the chance to give back to my community and help those who need help healing."
- Emily Montgomery
Owen Price
First Parish Newbury Food Pantry
(Newbury, MA)
"This is a 100% volunteer food pantry that serves guests from 7 municipalities by assisting them with online ordering, filling orders, delivering groceries and offering contact-free pick-up for those who have transportation. Members of my family have served this food pantry for many years and I am always looking for a way to help."
- Owen Price
Suzanne Derrick
Starfish Animal Rescue
(Plainfield, IL)
"I have been volunteering and fostering dogs for this rescue group since 2016. They are a fantastic rescue group that partners with shelters in southeast Kentucky to provide vaccination/spay/neuter clinics; transportation services to bring shelter dogs north to rescue groups in the upper Midwest to be adopted; and funding for emergency care for dogs in the shelters in SE Kentucky. The picture is my latest foster dog, John, enjoying some belly rubs after his long ride up from Kentucky. Thanks so much to EBI for this awesome program! It is a blast to do good in our communities and with EBI’s help, we can do even more!"
- Suzanne Derrick
Alissa Jordan
Grocery store employee
(York, PA)
"I gave my card to an employee at our local grocery store. They were very grateful!"
- Alissa Jordan
Cherisse Taylor
Teachers at Polytech High School
(Woodside, DE)
“Educators have done so much over the last 2 years to educate students during unprecedented times. I watch my fiancé come home late most evenings, then work more hours at home, and still go to work with a smile. Any way we can help put a smile on their faces is greatly appreciated.”
- Cherisse Taylor
Tom DeVoto
Quincy Community Action Programs
(Quincy, MA)
"My family just moved to Quincy so I searched for charities that support my new neighborhood and found QCAP. This organization assists community members with basic needs such as food and nutrition, fuel assistance, affordable housing, quality early education and care, adult education and workforce development, and financial education."
- Tom DeVoto
Lydia Sullivan
Feed The Dog
(Newburyport, MA)
"Feed the Dog is a local non-profit that provides service dogs to disabled veterans across the country. They not only procure and train the dogs, but also provide any veterinary care, food, fencing and other requirements for our disabled veterans. I’m so happy to share their story and grateful for the opportunity to give to them."
- Lydia Sullivan
(Pictured is Feed the Dog CEO Connie Hellwig with the gift card donation.)
David Stewart
Brad Terry
(Bath, ME)
"Brad was singularly the most influential father figure for me as a young man. I know I would not be the person I am without his influence. Brad has struggled with ADD his entire life, and his only consistent income opportunity is as a jazz clarinetist, which is a limited income opportunity for him due to where he lives. He is on a very fixed and very limited income, and this will greatly aid his ability to eat properly. I truly appreciate our ability to help him."
- David Stewart
Don Gerardi Jr.
Renee Charland & Spencer Fire Department
(Worcester, MA and Spencer, MA)
"Renee takes care of her mother. When she found out her mother was diagnosed with bone cancer she moved her parent into her family home. After moving Marilyn in, Renee lost her job to Covid. She has since found a part time job which starts late in the afternoon during which her daughter keeps an eye on grandma. Renee's rehiring opportunities are limited due to her new situation. Renee asks no one for help and never complains about her situation. My interpretation does not do justice showing what Renee goes through. I think the gift card will show Renee that it's not completely a form of charity but an acknowledgment that her efforts are respected by others. I also donated to the Spencer Fire Department as it's a mostly volunteer department."
- Don Gerardi Jr.
Cristina Niclas
Hillsong East Coast - Angel Tree (A Program of Prison Fellowship)
(Boston, MA)
"I selected Hillsong East Coast, a Christian religious group, where I attend services weekly, because of my religious affiliation and beliefs. Specifically, I selected the Angel Tree Program because I believe children of incarcerated parents deserve to have a joyous and love-filled holiday season."
- Cristina Niclas
Lily McNaney
Harvey's Hope Animal Rescue
(Hudson, NH)
"HHAR rescues lots of dogs each year. They are a non-profit organization and in order to save and find these dogs homes, they need help with supplies. This year they have set up a wishlist for dog food for their rescues. I would like to be able to send them a couple bags."
- Lily McNaney
Brian Turchetta
Kentucky Tornado Relief
(Kentucky)
"It is heartbreaking what happened in Kentucky and throughout the Midwest and I would like to give back to the people who lost everything in the storms."
- Brian Turchetta
Nicholas and Joshua Ritz
Juniata County Food Pantry
(Juniata County, PA)
"The Juniata County Food Pantry is the primary source of food and non-foods items to close to 1,000 families in Juniata County, PA. Juniata County is predominantly a blue-collar area, and the number of families in need grows each year due to economic, political and social factors. The people of the community that this staff serve are good, hard-working people, and this donation will help the pantry to be able to continue with their tireless work and dedication to the community."
- Nicholas and Joshua Ritz
Melissa Nelson
Africa Development Promise
(Denver, CO)
"I chose Africa Development Promise because I wanted to give to an organization that was dedicated towards improving livelihoods and helping the planet. With their mission to help rural women in East Africa gain economic self-sufficiency through sustainable agriculture and creating co-ops, I felt that this was a great organization to support!"
- Melissa Nelson
Hannah Ducey
Seattle Animal Shelter
(Seattle, WA)
"I've been volunteering here once a week for the past 3 years and it is a very special place. They do amazing work, but are constantly struggling to make ends meet for the animals and to hire the full-time people they need. They do not get enough funding from the city. I know this would help them!"
- Hannah Ducey
Michael Walther
Happy Helpers for the Homeless
(Glen Bernie and Baltimore City, MD)
"My family volunteers at Happy Helpers for the Homeless, and they do good work providing food, toiletries and clothing to those in need in Glen Bernie and Baltimore City, Maryland."
- Michael Walther
Elaine Langer
West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resources Center, Inc. (Josh Stephenson and Andrew Laiosa)
(Bronx, NY)
"Josh and Andrew have worked tirelessly at WBH to keep Bronx tenants in their homes, getting the assistance they need in some of the hardest-hit zip codes in the Bronx. WBH assist Bronxites in knowing their rights as tenants, and filling out paper work through the much-needed Emergency Rental Assistance. They have physically seen clients in person, gone out to canvas buildings and assisted anyone that calls or walks through the door. Josh and Andrew genuinely care about the communities they serve."
- Elaine Langer
Kevin McManus
MidCoast Hospital Grateful Patients Fund
(Brunswick, ME)
"The hospital ER and COVID-19 staff have been incredibly important during this past year to me and my family. Very helpful, positive and caring in a very challenging and difficult time in our history."
- Kevin McManus
Chuck Kelecic
Feeding San Diego
(San Diego, CA)
"Feeding San Diego provides fresh good food from several locations throughout San Diego County, CA. I used to bring people with needs twice a week to food pantries since they did not have transportation."
- Chuck Kelecic
Stephanie Trueb
Downtown Rescue Mission
(Huntsville, AL)
"The Downtown Rescue Mission has a recovery program for women and men who suffer from addictions such as alcoholism and drugs. My sister lost her son to drug addiction in 2017 and since then has trained to become a counselor and volunteers at the mission every week - teaching classes and counseling women in the recovery program."
- Stephanie Trueb
Tara Cubie
Community Actions Southold, Inc.
(Southold, NY)
"Community Actions Southold, Inc. is a local community organization which does a lot to help families/people in need in our community."
- Tara Cubie
Kevin Javier
Toys for Tots
(Auburn, MA)
"I want to ensure that children in need are experiencing the joy of the holiday season."
- Kevin Javier
Dirk Griffin
Knights of Columbus Maryland State Council Coats for Kids Program
(Maryland)
"I have worked with this group for the last 11 winters, providing coats for children in the poorer areas of Western Maryland."
- Dirk Griffin
Brett Parker
THON
(University Park, PA)
"I was in THON when I was a student at Penn State and enjoy donating every year. THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Our mission is to provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness and ensure funding for critical research—all in pursuit of a cure."
- Brett Parker
Meghan Grogan
Food For Free
(Boston, MA)
"I'm a firm supporter of local farms and providing healthy, locally-grown food (fruits and vegetables) to those in need in the Greater Boston area. Food for Free rescues food from farms (as well as other sources like wholesalers, grocery stores and restaurants) that would otherwise be discarded and uses it to feed low-income Cambridge residents and local schoolchildren."
- Meghan Grogan
Heather Nilles
Bethany Lutheran Church Open Pantry
(Lemont, IL)
"The pantry has operated from my church for the past 46 years providing food, school supplies and more to families in need. The pantry is mostly run by volunteers and over the past year, an average of 45 to 50 families were served per month. While I'm not super-churchy, I've loved that it's been a place of comfort and solace in time of need and am grateful for Bethany reaching out to the community through the pantry. When EBI presented the opportunity to give, I jumped. To know that EBI's gift will be put to good use, much better than I could do, was awesome."
- Heather Nilles
Caitlin Rasche
Natural Lands
(Media, PA)
"I chose to donate to Natural Lands because they preserve nature in my local community. This allows easily-accessible open outdoor space and trails to connect with nature."
- Caitlin Rasche
Cynara Cannatella
Family in need at my kids' school
(Maine)
"This family is struggling to make ends meet and needs community support."
- Cynara Cannatella
Eric Appelstein
Ashland Food Pantry / Ashland Emergency Fund
(Ashland, MA)
"They provide needed services like food or other essential items to my town."
- Eric Appelstein
Anna Claspy
Greater Chicago Food Repository
(Chicago, IL)
"I want to make sure my community members are fed and taken care of this holiday season, especially as the weather gets colder here in Chicago."
- Anna Claspy
Kathleen Treat
The Bucket Ministry
(Rockwall, TX)
"The Bucket Ministry provides filters, buckets and training of a very easy-to-use, low-tech system to people that do not have access to clean drinking water around the world. They also follow up with training to ensure the people are using the filter system correctly. This gift will provide 50 years of clean drinking water to at least 2 families - typically more as they tend to share their filters with friends and family members."
- Kathleen Treat
Kati MacGregor
Beyond Soccer Inc.
(Lawrence, MA)
"A friend of mine created this organization in Lawrence to help give kids more opportunities within the community. This group isn't just about soccer, but their sports-based youth development program helps the Lawrence youth with providing a nurturing environment, guidance on healthy living and academic achievement, etc. She has dedicated her life to helping the Lawrence community and is a worthy recipient of this donation."
- Kati MacGregor
Robert Helfrich
Girls on the Run Greater Hartford
(Hartford, CT)
"My whole family have been involved as volunteers for and participants in the Girls on the Run Greater Hartford programs for more than 5 years. This non-profit organization combines youth athletics (running) and social-emotional learning to provide girls in grades 3-8 with the training to run a 5K while building their confidence and connections, and teaching them about healthy habits, friendships, expressing their emotions and contributing to their community."
- Robert Helfrich
Kat Sharp
Carol Landen, Owner & Lead Teacher/Therapist at the Learning Center of Live Oak
(Live Oak, FL)
"This non-profit struggles to provide Exceptional Teaching and ABA Therapy to children with Special Needs, predominantly Autism. Currently, their students range in age from 11 to 18 - an age group that is greatly underserved in the Autism community. Students can remain in the Learning Center program until they age out of the school system at the age of 21 years in the State of Florida."
- Kat Sharp
Marta Perahia
Habitat for Humanity
(Atlanta, GA)
"This is one of my favorite organizations. I always try to volunteer or help out in any way. Great cause!"
- Marta Perahia
Jordan Hall
Wonderfund of Massachusetts
(Boston, MA)
"Wonderfund is a MA non-profit which works on behalf of children engaged with the MA Department of Children and Families. They provide comfort and dignity to children in traumatic situations and enrich childhoods that have been impacted by abuse and neglect. The holidays is an important time for this organization, and especially so for the children it serves!"
- Jordan Hall
Ashley Sweigart and Sarah Sheridan
Centerville Pet Rescue
(Lancaster, PA)
"Centerville Pet Rescue takes in a great volume of homeless cats and dogs who are looking for their forever families. I volunteer at a location which focuses on kittens and cats in Lancaster, PA who need homes. CPR worked really hard to get through kitten season of 2021, and is already preparing for kitten season 2022. This means they need a lot of specific kitten food and as much financial support as possible for medical care of the kittens left in boxes at their doorsteps. Any donation is greatly appreciated at CPR, and they will make the most of every cent."
-Sarah Sheridan
Sara Rowe
Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter
(Baltimore City, MD)
"Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter is a great organization in Baltimore City, MD doing a lot for dogs and cats and other animals in the community."
-Sara Rowe
Jennifer Flanders
DCF Gift Drive for local children's Christmas gifts
(Massachusetts)
"Every year, we choose an organization to help buy gifts for children who may not have the means to get them. It also shows my own children how we can be kind and helpful to others."
- Jennifer Flanders
Meghan Connolly
Taunton Family Homeless Shelter
(Taunton, MA)
"They are currently servicing 6 families who are displaced for many reasons (domestic abuse, home fires) during the Christmas season. My paranormal team is currently holding a fundraiser to collect toiletries, hats, mittens, new books and toys, etc., for these families, but every bit helps, especially during this time of the year."
- Meghan Connolly
Sandie Rugroden
Children's Tumor Foundation (CTF)
(New York, NY)
"I have been involved in fundraising for CTF for 10 years. That is when my daughter at 3 years old met her best friend, Ava, who has NF. NF is a genetic cancer that impacts individuals differently. Ava has several tumors. The two most notable are an optic tumor and one that is wrapped around her spine."
- Sandie Rugroden
Eileen Holmes
Reto Juvenil Internacional (NGO serving communities in Central America)
(San Jose, Costa Rica)
"I worked with this organization in college and have remained close friends with the director. They provide many services to children and communities in countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico and more."
- Eileen Holmes
Ashley DeCabia
East End Hospice - Kanas Center for Hospice Care
(Westhampton Beach, NY)
"My friend's mother was recently in this local hospice center and when I visited, I was so impressed with the facility, the volunteers and staff, and I learned it's mostly run on donations! They make an awful time in families' lives as peaceful as possible. They graciously allowed my friend to have a wedding ceremony so she could get married in her mother's presence as it was not expected she would survive until her wedding on December 5, and unfortunately she did pass within 24 hours of the wedding ceremony we held."
- Ashley DeCabia
Rob Maguire
Joe and Shantelle Bertrand
(Boston, MA)
"Joe and Shantelle both work in the healthcare field as nurses. They have been working/helping people during the entire pandemic."
- Rob Maguire
Lindsay McGowan
Bishop Gibbons Activities Committee
(Tonawanda, NY)
"IThis committee provides socialization and enrichment for the elderly residents of the Bishop Gibbons Senior Community in Tonawanda, NY. The last year has been especially difficult for them as their main fundraising source (pie sale) was canceled due to COVID. The Bishop Gibbons Activity Committee used the gift card to throw a 100th birthday party for one of their residents!"
- Lindsay McGowan
Kelley Dietz
Pappus House
(York, PA)
"Pappus House is a non-profit organization that provides supportive care to people in their last months of life. I donated to them because my grandmother who had passed from ovarian cancer was one of their first 'patients.' They just made it really easy for her to stay comfortable and for the family who is grieving."
- Kelley Dietz
Vinson Lesinski
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center
(Newburyport, MA)
"The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center provides free services to child and adult survivors of domestic abuse."
- Vinson Lesinski
Maura Kelly
Boston Area Gleaners
(Acton, MA)
"I have volunteered with the Gleaners for years, harvesting crops at New England-area farms that are then redistributed to local food banks and other organizations serving food-insecure populations. With COVID, volunteer trips were a little less frequent in the last couple of years and I wasn't able to contribute as much of my time. I love to support their mission in whatever way possible!"
- Maura Kelly
Chad Foster
Just Food
(Lawrence, KS)
"Food insecurity exists everywhere - even in areas surrounded by farms."
- Chad Foster
Nicholas Daigle
Donice Rayford
(Metairie, LA)
"Donice (Dee) is a selfless and caring woman who spends every week day sitting for my elderly grandmother who lives alone and hardly remembers anyone these days. She has been incredibly helpful to my family, especially these last two years. Many weekends, Dee also cooks roughly 50 meals that she delivers to other elderly housebound individuals. Additionally, during the Christmas season, she organizes a gift drive for underprivileged families in her community."
- Nicholas Daigle
Michael Eardley
Footprints Food Pantry
(Kittery, ME)
"Footprint Foots Pantry is a local organization that does a great job of providing meals to those in need."
- Michael Eardley
William Duggan
The V Foundation
(Cary, NC)
"In memory of my aunt, Eileen Duggan, and in support of all of my EBI colleagues who have had their lives impacted by cancer."
- William Duggan
EBI Marketing Team
The ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Winchester Hospital
(Winchester, MA)
"EBI's marketing team was able to make a wish come true for the ICU nurses at Winchester Hospital, buying them a full-sized refrigerator for their staff room. Before EBI's donation, the team had a mini-fridge that was too small to keep everyone's meals. EBI wanted to recognize the hard work and stress our nurses have faced through the pandemic and give back to them."
- Lauren O'Connor
Jenna Amari
Put Away the Layaway
(Goshen, NY)
"Put Away the Layaway is a non-profit organization that helps families pay off layaway balances that include gifts for their children all year long. During the holidays, many families use layaway options to buy Christmas gifts for their children and this charity makes sure parents can pay off their balances and have a happy holiday."
- Jenna Amari
Tray Granger
Lauretta Roberts
(Hampton, VA)
"She is a hardworking nurse who works long hours and is exposed to COVID every day. She even volunteered to work out of town away from her family when other nurses went on strike."
- Tray Granger
Amanda Koenig Stone
Goddard Riverside Holiday Meals
(New York, NY)
"My husband and I have volunteered on Thanksgiving Day for 15 years with Goddard Riverside. Our tradition is to serve 1,500 meals to seniors and the homeless on Thanksgiving Day as our families live far away. When we had kids, we brought them with us and they love the tradition as much as us. In our family the huge feast is held on Friday, not Thursday, as Thanksgiving Day is set aside for serving others. The other volunteers and guests who come for dinner have become our Thanksgiving family that we see once a year. All of the meals are prepared and served 100% by volunteers and donations."
- Amanda Koenig Stone
Erin Gould and Jesse Redd
Cardiac ICU of York Wellspan Hospital
(York, PA)
"As hospital beds continue to fill up with rising COVID numbers, these nurses and doctors care for COVID patients during the holiday season instead of being home with their own families. We are interested in providing them with coffee and food to let them know we appreciate all they do, especially during the holiday season."
- Erin Gould
Taylor Martin and Sarah Boucher
Worker Bee Fund, Inc.
(Goffstown, NH)
"Worker Bee Fund, Inc. helps disabled American Service Veterans by improving the homes they live in. Brian Hansen, founder of the Worker Bee Fund, was actually an opportunity candidate of mine and someone who I met through working at EBI. During the interview process, I, as well as many other folks here at EBI, got to know Brian professionally where he shared his story behind the conception of the Worker Bee Fund. Brian's passion for helping others and his overall story is truly inspiring. Both of my grandparents are veterans and many of our friends and family still currently serve, so the sentiment of the Worker Bee Fund hits close to home."
- Taylor Martin
Suzette Numkena
Jasmin and baby June
(Phoenix, AZ)
"Thank you to Suzette Numkena and EBI Cares! This gift card will help my little with her G-Tube supplies that are not covered by her insurance. Not only is it helping her, but it is helping me using easier supplies that cost an extra dollar! It is so very appreciated from the both of us."
- Jasmin
Randi Bromm
Lost Our Home Pet Rescue
(Tempe, AZ)
"I have volunteered with this organization in the past, and they are special in that they don't strictly focus on rescuing and adopting animals out. They offer support to those who are struggling to care for their pets during a hard time. For instance, my family fostered a dog named Emma, who was the sweetest little husky mix whose owner had been evicted from her residence. While the owner was able to find a place for herself to stay, she had nowhere and no one who could take Emma. Traditional outcomes for pets in these situations are not favorable. LOH took Emma in, and placed her in a fostering accommodation (with us), giving Emma's owner an opportunity to get back on her feet. Once she was able and ready, Emma was reunited with her owner and went to their new home."
- Randi Bromm
Alain Haddad
Family at Pease Air Force Base
(Portsmouth, NH)
"I recently signed up to be in the New Hampshire Wing of the Civil Air Patrol Seacoast, as two of my sons are currently in the same program. Every year, the wing chooses a family on base, Pease Air Force Base, where one parent is overseas serving our country and the other is home holding down the fort. This year the father is overseas and the mother is home with two little ones."
- Alain Haddad
Christopher Bennett
Devon Anderson (My Little Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program)
(Houston, TX)
"I am choosing Devon Anderson as the recipient for the 2021 EBI Cares Initiative, because of his ability to continue to overcome adversity. I met Devon and became his Big Brother about a year ago when I became a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization. Devon began as a very shy teenager with a lot of self-doubt. It has been amazing to see his growth over the last 12 months and witness him rise to the occasion by successfully completing his first semester of high school. He has been thriving as a new high school student juggling band, volunteer work, and a full time class load. I feel as though he would be a great recipient of the 2021 EBI Cares Initiative."
- Christopher Bennett
Thanh Estevam
Giving Tree - Town of Danville
(Danville, NH)
"Every year Danville helps out families in need. I used the gift card to purchase a foldable exercise bench for one of their recipients."
- Thanh Estevam
Mallory Anderson
Northeast Christian Church
(Bowling Green, KY)
"Over the weekend, my college hometown of Bowling Green, KY was struck by an EF-3 tornado and flattened the main bypass in town, adjacent to Western Kentucky University. This tragedy hits very close to home, and many lost everything they have. My local church (Northeast Christian Church) is hosting a drive for goods to take down to the residents who were affected. I will be using this gift card, along with personal donations, to contribute to the church drive."
- Mallory Anderson
Jesse Pasco
Goochland County Woodchuckers
(Goochland County, VA)
"This is a great charity that I enjoy working with to deliver chopped wood to families in need that cannot afford to heat their own homes."
- Jesse Pasco
Samantha Sirois
Danika Bruce - Whitter Pavilion
(Haverhill, MA)
"Danika worked tirelessly throughout COVID in a Behavioral Health Hospital. They actually turned her floor into a COVID floor where every day she was faced with the potential of being exposed to COVID. Danika never took a day off since her floor was so short-staffed throughout the pandemic. I want to give this award to Danika since she never gave up and treat her to buy herself dinner and/or treat her coworkers."
- Samantha Sirois
Caroline D'Agostino
Meals for the homeless
(Boston, MA)
"With my EBI Cares card, we bought food to make sandwiches and snacks for lunches for the homeless in Boston. We were able to make 30 lunches in all. We prepared the sandwiches ourselves and brought everything to drop off at our church. Our church took them and other donations (total of 150 lunches) to common cathedral, an outdoor worshipping community on Boston Common (for those who are housed and unhoused.) Thank you for the opportunity to share food with those who need it in our community – this was a wonderful experience for us!"
- Caroline D'Agostino
Lindsey Cox
A family in need at a Title 1 school in the Deer Valley Unified School District
(Phoenix, AZ)
"I use to work for DVUSD and working in a school is an experience I will never forget. It truly touched my heart connecting with the kids. One of the board members for the district (Julie Read) has for the last 5 years worked with the local school counselors to help provide Christmas gifts to kids/families in need. This year she is focusing on two of our Title 1 schools, as these families in the last year have needed more support than ever. I would love to be able to support this cause on behalf of EBI."
- Lindsey Cox
Samantha Spano
Everbrook Academy of Glen Head
(Glen Head, NY)
"The staff and teachers at Everbrook Academy of Glen Head care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years and provide a safe, loving environment that fosters an early love of learning and fosters independence."
- Samantha Spano
Lauren Wilke
Free to Run NGO
(New York, NY)
"This group supports the creation of female leaders in areas of conflict through outdoor sport and adventure. At a time when limitations and risk are heightened in so many countries, their work is especially important."
- Lauren Wilke
Katie Fox
Hatch Youth by The Montrose Center
(Houston, TX)
"Hatch Youth is dedicated to empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and allied (LGBTQIA) youth, ages 7-25, to become positive contributors to society by providing a safe social environment, offering role models and peer support, and sponsoring educational and community outreach opportunities."
- Katie Fox
Frank Cook
The Friendly Kitchen
(Concord, NH)
"Food insecurity, going hungry, seems incongruous with living in America and we should support organizations who combat this problem. Friendly Kitchen is a place that anyone can get a hot meal and everyone is welcome. A friend of mine is on the board and, as with all the staff, is a volunteer. It's great to be able to share a bit of our good fortune so they can help others."
- Frank Cook
Neil Anders
New Hope Ministries
(Pennsylvania)
"This is an organization that our church partners with to provide assistance to those in need in the community."
- Neil Anders
Victoria Herrera
SAFE Austin
(Austin, TX)
"This gift card will help provide gifts or basic need items to abused women and children this Christmas."
- Victoria Herrera
Martha Parsons
Hinsdale Humane Society
(Hinsdale, IL)
"HHS does amazing work adopting out animals. My family has adopted many animals from HHS through the years, and my mom is a regular volunteer at the shelter."
- Martha Parsons
Angela Jackson
Lowell Transitional Living Center
(Lowell, MA)
"I chose the Lowell Transitional Living Center because every winter they provide over 600 people with food, clothing, showers and a place to sleep. Last year EBI raised about $4,000 for the shelter and it made them so happy. This year, they requested art supplies for the Christmas event, which I purchased."
- Angela Jackson
Robin Marshburn
Allison Freeman
(Macon, GA)
"Over the last 7 years, Allison has had some difficult financial challenges due to a serious medical condition she endured and to top it off, she lost her husband unexpectedly. She has two young kids that she is bringing up as a single parent. She has a full-time job, but she still struggles to keep things together. She is a very nice, kind-hearted and grateful person. I am choosing this person because no matter what she is going through, she ALWAYS treats people with a warm and sincere heart. It would be an honor to present her with a gift card to make things a little easier for her and the children."
- Robin Marshburn
Maura McCaffery
Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds
(Boston, MA)
"I believe strongly in their cause. The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional and behavioral well-being of children, teens and young adults."
- Maura McCaffery
Jon Steenson
Amanda Millard
(Garnet Valley, PA)
"She has worked tirelessly for the Siloam United Methodist Church helping it stay afloat during Covid times and lower church attendance. She has helped keep the church's food pantry for needy families going and even expanding over the last 3 years. She has very recently undergone some serious health complications, and has never faltered in her dedication to her job."
- Jon Steenson
Lauren Puccia
Northeast Animal Shelter
(Salem, MA)
"As an animal lover, I want to make sure all the animals who aren't fortunate enough to have homes are still cared for and are given everything they need in a shelter while they wait for adoption."
- Lauren Puccia
Elizabeth Krol
Household Goods
(Acton, MA)
"Household Goods provides much-needed support to individuals and families in need of items to furnish their homes. Gently-used furniture, bedding and kitchen equipment is donated and then distributed to those in need. It's a well established and trusted organization in our community that supports people throughout eastern MA."
- Elizabeth Krol
Dori Ballesteros
Cat Haven Rescue
(Florida)
"Cat Haven Rescue is a local rescue that spends their personal money as well as donations to ensure homeless, neglected or unwanted cats and kittens are safe, vetted and adopted out to loving homes. They also participate in the trap, neuter/spay, vet and release program, as well as feed several feral cat colonies in the area."
- Dori Ballesteros
Stephanie Clorety
The Autism Project
(Ownings, MD)
"This non-profit organization helps children and adults with Autism by providing therapies, social groups, respite and integration into public places. My son receives therapy services through The Autism Project and he has shown so much growth with his self help and self care as well as following directions and completing tasks. They have been a major part in how far he has come over the last 5 years."
- Stephanie Clorety
Stephanie Kilgore
K9s For Warriors
(Ponte Vedra, Florida)
"Veteran affairs, PTSD and animal care are extremely important to me. This organization benefits all and creates a long-lasting bond and love between the two, changing their lives for the better. Not only does it help a veteran and their new companion, but their loved ones benefit as well seeing the progress and happiness these relationships create."
- Stephanie Kilgore
Elizabeth Sockwell
Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
(Virginia)
"1 in 49 U.S. children have a mother or a father in prison. I want these children to know how much they are treasured and loved! Prison Fellowship Angel Tree™ equips local churches to strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children by supporting these families year-round. This gift of $100 will be enough to sponsor the Christmas gifts of 4 children who have incarcerated parents. This is the charity that my church, Hillsong East Coast, recommends. This church has helped me strengthen my relationship with God, family and friends even when everything was virtual because of the pandemic."
- Elizabeth Sockwell
Morgan Davis
Mighty Writers
(Kennett Square, PA)
"The Mighty Writers were already doing excellent work, but when the Philadelphia kids were impacted by covid to the point of hunger, they found a way to expand their mission. So I've known about them in Philadelphia; I now live in what appears as a very wealthy exurb of the city, that has a significant Latinx, Spanish-speaking, immigrant population staffing the mushroom farms. Their children are not in the same situation as most other residents and I am grateful for this 2019 expansion. The fact that the MW recognized this need, and opened a location to help those children, is also wonderful and deserving of recognition in my opinion. Bienvenidos El Futuro - Kennett Mighty Writers!"
- Morgan Davis
