Deliver Toys for Children at Cleveland Clinic

It's that time of year again — The time where we all come together as a team to raise money to help deliver Smiles, Not Shots, to kids stuck at the Cleveland Clinic over the Holidays. For the 6th Consecutive Year, I am once again setting this annual endeavor in motion. Friends and family around the world have helped raise over $6,700 to deliver toys, gift cards, books, art supplies, and so much more to kids stuck in the hospital for the Holiday Season, and we need everyones help once again.

Why Cleveland Clinic?

At 19 Years Old - Thanksgiving thru New Years 2016-'17 - I was hospitalized for Advanced Heart Failure and had Emergency Open Heart Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic. While I was in the hospital - devastated to miss out on the normalcy of Holiday Traditions - something occurred to me. How do you explain to a 7 year old they cannot open gifts with Mom and Dad, and instead must endure surgery and a laborious recovery? That they won't get presents under the tree from Santa as they lie in a hospital bed?

What We Do!

With the many generous hearts of so many family, friends, coworkers, and generous strangers; the mission is simple. Raise $2,000 (or more!), purchase a truckload of toys, (crafts, games, books, etc.) and deliver them to the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital this Holiday Season. After last years winter drop-off, I was informed that we had brought enough toys to last well into Summer.

What You Can Do?

Donate and Spread The Word! Any dollar amount helps - truly! No donation is too small to have a meaningful impact on bringing smiles to Children in the Hospital during the Holidays. Together - like we have since the first donation drive so many years back - we can help deliver Smiles, Not Shots, to Kids at Cleveland Clinic this Holiday Season.

Regardless of your ability to donate, please share this with your friends, family, co-workers, etc. The more we spread the word, the larger our positive impact becomes. Let's do it once again!! Thank you and have a Wonderful Holiday Season. -Nolan Waters