Warming the Hearts

Submitted by Ashley Imbrogno on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 20:30

the problem:

The communities that I am helping include Cleveland Ohio and surrounding communities. The project also includes religion communities, youth groups, schools, and sport teams. Many times, people don't realize how cold and lonely a hospital can be, until they are faced with a life threatening situation. I wanted to provide those suffering through life threatening illness with a little comfort. I also wanted to teach others the importance of helping those around them that might be less fortunate then themselves.

vital stats:

people impacted:

30,000

people involved:

3,500

why it's important:

When I was five years old, I spent my holiday in Rainbow Babies and Children's Hopsital in Cleveland. As I was battling through my own life threatening illness, a young boy going through his cancer treatment offered me one of his stuffed animals to comfort me. I never knew his name and he never new my name. He also didn't know that he would inspire me in a way that he could have never imagined to give back. My Grandma showed me how to make fleece tie blankets. I told my mom that I wanted to make some for kids in the hospital 4 years ago. What started as 3 emails and possibly a few blankets has turned into 3000 plus blankets over the course of 4 years and over 6000 volunteers. I formed a corporation called Warming the Hearts. Warming the Hearts provides fleece tie blankets to kids and adults fighting through life threatening illnesses. We have over 6,000 people that have helped me to make the blankets and deliver the blankets to approximately 30 facilities in the last 4 years. This year we are targeting 750-900 blankets to be delivered the week before Christmas. I have raised over $38,000. The money raised has helped us to buy the material to make all the blankets. The project has become so large that we formed a Corporation and have 501c3 status. This project has been a project that has touched so many and brought communities together all over.

the plan of action:

We formed a corporation called Warming The Hearts a few months ago. We also have a 501c3 that is pending approval. The impact of this project has been far greater than we could have ever imagined. Parents all over have said that my project has really made an impact on their children. Getting them to help out has helped them to realize that that the holidays are not just about them, but about being there for others. Not only have we warmed the hearts of thousands of children and adults that have received the blankets but their families and all those involved in making the blankets.

how you can get involved:

You can help by donating through my website- www.warmingthehearts.org. I have a secure Paypal access. In addition, my goal is to make it to the Ellen show, Oprah, or the Today Show. I would like to show others that you are never to young to make a difference. In addition, I want to get a celebrity involved in my project or perhaps their kids. I need people like me to see the value of this. I would love to get Taylor Swift,or Ashley Tisdale involved. They are my idols. People can also help by making blankets on their own in their communities.

project updates:

01/18/2009

Update:

Valentines Day 2009
Ashley decided that she wanted to do something extra special for the young ladies going through cancer treament at the Cleveland Clinic. She wanted them to have something that made them feel better about themselves at a time when they might be down. She came up with the idea of making Victoria Secret Valentines Day Gift Bags. The bags are filled with goodies such as lotions, lip gloss, finger nail files, body spray, comfort spray, and warm pair of slippers. We will deliver the bags to the young ladies on February 14th. How fun to keep giving. The picture above is what the bags look like.

In addition, last Saturday Ashley presented Lebron James and Boobie Gibson with Cavaliers tie blankets. She is hoping to get them involved in the Warming the Hearts project. She also made a horse blanket that she will be sending to Patrick Swayze. The caring never stops. Thanks for all the great project wishes and helping her to keep the project going.

Photos:

12/27/2008

Update:

December 28th 2008 Update
What an amazing year. We just wrapped up our third season of the project. It was a tremendous success. Ashley made/delivered 900 blankets last week to 12 hospitals and senior centers, with the help of over 2,000 volunteers in total. She raised a 3 year combined total of $25,000. This was truely a project that tied communities together. We delivered all the blankets the week of Christmas. As we pulled up to one of the hospital's Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, we were greated by all 3 of the Cleveland News Networks- WKYC-3, FOX8, and Channel 5. All three stations interviewed Ashley and showed the story several times over the course of the last 3 days. They all quoted "Ashley is no ordinary 11 year old girl.". One of the more special deliveries was to the Cleveland Clinic. Ashley's Uncle Joe was diagnosed with cancer, earlier in the summer. We went through his treatment at the Cleveland Clinic. Joe had a very had cancer to combat. He did it, with the help of this incredbile facility. We brought him with us on the delivery route, where he passed out blankets with Ashley to his floor. It was amazing.

Ashley also had a special treat in December. Scholastic News, which is a nationwide school publication featured Ashley's story and project on the cover. They wanted to show other kids that you are never to young to make a difference.

Ashley's next goal is to meet David Cook and Patrick Swayzee. She wants to deliver a blanket to them and get them involved as an advocate for her project. She has a blanket for Adam Cook. Ashley is truely an amazing young lady.

Photos:

11/08/2008

Update:

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at warmingthehearts@yahoo.com.
Happy Holidays,
Ashley

Photos:

Comments

kathi96 says:

Hi there....what a great thing you are doing for these kids...thank you!

I wanted to invite you to join our Childhood Cancer Awareness Group!
www.curechildhoodcancer.ning.com
We could use some great people like you. Also we have a petition:
www.thepetitionsite.com/1/curechildhoodcancer

Please help us spread the word, our kids need us.

Kathi
www.caringbridge.org/visit/kelsiemckune

lmajewski says:

This is awesome. Congratulations on your hard work and being Project of the Day! And Happy New Year -- this is exactly the type of thing that makes one believe that the Do Something Generation IS really changing the world. You are a leader!

Ashley Imbrogno says:

Thank you so much lmajewski and dosomething.ord. I had no idea that my project was project of the day. I am honored. I am so thrilled that there was enough people that supported us so that we could get these blankets to all the saddened and sick children and adults in our area. I really want to get my project on the Oprah or Ellen show. My goal is to get someone like Ashley Tisdale or David Cook to help promote my project. I have a special blanket that I made to send to David Cook, for his brother Adam. If anyone out there has a contact to Oprah, Ellen, Ashley Tisdale, or David Cook, please right back. I am ready to take this to the next level. We now have a corporation and a pending 501 tax exempt status. Thanks so much,
Ashley

Ashley Imbrogno says:

Thank you so much. I had no idea that my project was project of the day. It's just something I feel so strongly about doing. To see the smiles on the patients faces during some of our deliveries was thanks enough.
Ashley

Ashley Imbrogno says:

kathi96,
Thank you so much. I am definately going to check out the site. I would love to help in any way we can.
Ashley

Warming the Hearts

the problem:

vital stats:

why it's important:

the plan of action:

how you can get involved:

project updates:

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