Grandma’s Gifts is an organization that works to provide food, clothing, books, toys, glasses, school supplies, scholarships, and educational experiences to children, families, schools, businesses, and organizations in Appalachian Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
This organization was founded in 1993 by Emily Douglas, at the age of eleven, of Powell, Ohio. Emily founded this organization in memory of her grandma Norma Ackison of Ironton, Ohio, who passed away in 1991 of breast cancer. Since 2002, Grandma’s Gifts has operated as a donor advise fund through the Columbus Foundation.
To date, over $2,015,000 in goods and services has been provided. Additionally, over 650,000 books have been placed into the hands of needy children, daycare’s, hospitals, and libraries. One-hundred percent of funds raised go to pay for goods, services, or books.
We are always looking to help the community, work to educate people on giving, and organize projects. Please contact us if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions!
Additionally, Grandma’s Gifts effot include working to create awareness of women in science, recognition and appreciation of veterans, speaking out to local, state, and government officials about leadership, school funding, and education, breast cancer awareness, assisting libraries and book mobiles, and feeding families. Emily has spoken to over 200,000 people to spread the word about helping the community and poverty in the United States.
==========================
Need a speaker? Want to learn more about Grandma's Gifts or other global organizations? Visit www.Idealist.org!
Heroes
MY GRANDMOTHER! Hence... 'Grandma's Gifts'
My other hero's are my Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Sarah, Zach, and my close friends who help/advise Grandma's Gifts.
Zach Dougas, CO-VP
Sarah Douglas, CO-VP
Morgan Webb, Senior Strategist
Erin Maher, Publicist
Jess Fehling, Web Master
ADIVSORS: Morgan Webb, Margaret Green, Ashley Doyle, Katie Winegardner, Tera Parella
About me: WELCOME EVERYONE! My name is Emily and I am the founder of Grandma's Gifts!
In 1991, I lost my grandmother to breast and lung cancer. She was born in 1932 as the twelfth of twelve children. Shortly following her birth, her father died leaving her mother to raise the children in Depression-era Appalachia. My grandmother learned all too well the challenges and humiliation of poverty. She often shared with me stories about the way she had felt when other children had made fun of her tattered clothing and home with newspaper curtains. She also told stories to my brother, sister, and I about their surprises of oranges at Christmas, saving up pennies to buy one piece of delicious candy, and her mothers’ words that kept their family alive. Too often people that lack the funds to live up to society’s standards are seen as ignorant or lazy, yet this is often not the true story. My great- grandmother, Belle, always told her children, “It’s not a crime to be poor, just inconvenient.” While we only had a short time with my grandmother she worked to teach us lessons about appreciating how lucky we were as children, that it is not wise to judge people because of how much money they have, and that dedication and love conquers all.
My grandmother also never forgot the caring neighbors and family who reached out to help her and the family. As an adult and owner of a small business, my grandma never forgot her roots. Often she took us along to shop for clothes and toys to donate at Christmas time or to deliver food to veterans who lived in caves throughout the county. As children, my brother, sister, and I believed that everyone’s grandmother did the same. Once she passed away we began to realize that not everyone acted this way and the need for help was greater than imagined. Thus, through her words and her actions she taught us that it is our responsibility to reach out and help others who do not know the advantages that we often take for granted.
I will never forget my grandmother’s story, her smile, her amazing ability to decorate the most beautiful Christmas tree, or cook the most delicious food. To my siblings and I she was both magical and majestic. I never understood why people were drawn to her or approached her for help. My mother says that even when she was young, strangers would walk up to my grandmother, sharing hardships, life stories, and the need for help. She believes that people could see something magical in her eyes and felt drawn to her. My grandmother, Norma, helped others not to have her name in the paper or to be recognized for an award. She thought people were just supposed to be that way.
Following my grandma’s passing, I knew that I could not let the lessons she taught me be silenced by cancer. Cancer could not be the final victor. In her memory and with her teachings, Grandma’s Gifts was born. I can feel that my grandma is with me and is cheering my every success. She is and always will be in my heart and mind! Thank you Grandma!
I just found this on YouTube. It is from the Jefferson Awards. I was 18 years old when this was taped. WOW... how I have changed. It is a great short flick!
Who I'd like to meet: ALL OF MY TOP FRIENDS HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR GRANDMA'S GIFST... or HAVE HELPED GRANDMA'S GIFTS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR CAUSE!! THANKS!!!
SPECIAL THANK YOU:
Olentangy High School Service Club
Olentangy High School students will Trick-or-Teeth! with Grandma’s Gifts for MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY!
Millions of Americans across the country are expected to spend Saturday, Oct. 27 - the 16th Make A Difference Day - doing volunteer projects to improve their communities and help neighbors in need. The day is the largest community service effort in the nation, rallying corporations, government leaders, charitable organizations and everyday Americans into action on one day.
Olentangy High School has many student organizations, but by far the largest and most active in the community is Service Club. This year for USA Today’s Make A Difference Day they will be assisting a local organization, Grandma’s Gifts, in its event called Trick-or-Teeth!
Tera Parrella the president of Service Club for this school year was excited to be part of Trick-or-Teeth!. While Tera is very involved at OHS, she also is a part of the Olentangy Field Hockey team, and has worked on Grandma’s Gifts Projects in the past. “Our members are very active and they see the importance of helping others. Emily spoke at our Service Club banquet last year and afterwards we knew that we wanted to get involved with her organization. This project is fun and our members can really see how it helps the kids.”
From October 1st until October 26th, Grandma’s Gifts collected toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss to send to county free immunization clinics in Appalachia for Trick-or-Teeth! Olentangy Service Club alone collected over 2000 tooth brushes, dental flosses, and toothpastes!!!!
“We have worked with the health departments and free immunization clinics in the past and I was greatly disturbed by the number of young children without toothbrushes. If kids learn at an early age that it is important to take care of themselves, they will make a habit of it,” says Grandma’s Gifts volunteer, Morgan Webb.
Emily added, “Kids are our future and we need them to be able to put their best foot… or smile forward. Everyone is able to make a difference, you just have to get up and do it! Trick-or-Teeth! is about changing someone’s life, one tooth brush at a time.”
I watched 20/20 last Friday night and was made aware of the poverty in the appalachians, I just didn't have any idea. So the next day I googled some info and found you. I made my friends watch that special on 20/20 and they want to donate some clothing from their closets also. We have alot of VERY Gently worn clothing from a toddler, men and ladies we would like to donate to your charity. Because of the weight they need to be shipped via UPS, hopefully you do take used clothing donations, if not maybe you can lead me to who does. If you do I just need the address to ship them to. Thank you for your time.
This comment was sent by your friend via the Causes app. To block this app and all communications from it, click Here.
-------------------------------------------
Come join my cause: Grandma's Gifts! You will be able to recruit friends, raise money, and add a profile badge to show your support!
JOIN & LEARN how WE will be working with the band INCUBUS in the near future!!!
THEN go here to vote for Founder, Emily Douglas-- www. Glamalert. com/Sally (We've lost the last 2 online voting 'things' and seriously need your help!!!!)
I started this cause when I was 11 in memory of my grandma. Weve done over $12M in work to recognize veterans & help kids in Appalachia. Join 2 create AWARENESS... not give away your pocket book.
Hey there, the website is updated finally.. Took a little while past 8, thanks to this computer being super dumb and not opening word, but oh well, it's up now. Let me know if there's anything else you want me to put up! Later tater.
what if you made a flyer & gave it to a captain or senior or me or someone & we can put them in the teacher's mailboxes., Then hopefully all of them would vote for you & it'd be on different IP addresses i believe.
Of course I will. & I'll go around to all the computers in our house (4 more) & the ones at school and vote for you!.. i also made a bulletin.
i hope you win!!
oh, by the way i stole you shoes song b/c i think it's pretty hilarious.
& did you see my message last weekend where i SCORED A GOAL!? WHOOHOO i was SOOO happy! even though i stubbed my toe in the process and could barely walk. haha.
<3 Tera
EMILY! i was so nice to see you at school the other day =) i miss you and filed hockey way too much i can't wait until indoor hope to see you there sometime <3
..
..
