As 2020 draws to a close (finally!), it’s difficult to imagine a year that has impacted so many people’s lives in so many different ways as this year has. Whatever other legacies it leaves, this year has likely reminded each of us how much we are all in this together – and just how important it is to be committed to the wellbeing of others.
At IWC, it has always been part of our vision and annual strategic plan to uphold this commitment through philanthropic partnerships and events. Again this year, and perhaps more importantly than any year before, we have drawn together as a school community to help support the organizations and people who make up our larger community here in Indianapolis. Here is a brief review of the giving that has helped make 2020 meaningful and memorable here at IWC….
In February, IWC sponsored a table at an annual fundraiser for Camp Kesem, with four of our staff members attending the event to support this wonderful non-profit. Kesem is the largest organization in the country for “supporting children impacted by a parent’s cancer” – a staggering 5 million children in the U.S. Their camps, held across the country, provide fun and encouragement to these children at no cost to families. As a wellness school, we were thrilled to be part of supporting the wellbeing of these children and their families.
We also organized a Back-to-School Marker Drive to benefit the East Tenth United Methodist Children & Youth Center. The partnership was born out of a personal connection: one of our students is on staff at this organization! The center provides a safe place where children and youth can learn and grow on the near eastside of Indy. Their mission to respond with a “holistic approach” to the needs of their children and families is a natural fit for our own commitments to wellness and training in holistic care at IWC. The marker drive helped ensure that as many children as possible would have their own set of markers for the school year- and reminded everyone that we are “Coloring Bright Futures” at IWC and at East Tenth Center! Many thanks to the clinic clients who brought markers to their appointments!
Every day more than 10,000 patients rely on blood donations to survive. The need for blood has become even more critical in late 2020 due to COVID-19, so in December we organized a blood drive in partnership with Versiti Blood Center. They brought their Blood Mobile unit to our parking lot on December 9th , and 18 people donated a pint of blood each over the course of four hours. Each donor also received a complimentary COVID-19 antibody test plus access to refreshment at the Hot Cocoa & Tea Bar that were part of our Student Appreciation Week festivities. We are grateful to the staff, students, clinic clients, and friends who came to donate!
We were excited to close out our year of giving by donating our extra blanket inventory to a great local organization: Circle City Relief. This is a downtown Indy organization that provides food, clothing, and resources to those in financial, relational, and spiritual poverty. Our blankets were added to the items that they hand out weekly to those in need. Although we were not able to help hand out the blankets in person, we are so glad to know that they will be welcomed by all who receive them.
To everyone who helped make all of this possible: thank you for making it through 2020, and for being part of the IWC family that made these philanthropic events possible this year!
