Associates from Amazon’s Hebron fulfillment centers presented a special holiday gift to Bethany House Services Thursday – 2,000 “Boxes of Smiles” packed with winter essentials and festive gifts like books, toys, and electronics.
Associates volunteered to pack the Boxes of Smiles before delivering them to the nonprofit where they will be distributed to families in need.
Amazon also made a surprise $50,000 donation to Bethany House Services on behalf of thousands of associates in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area who wanted to recognize the nonprofit for its work serving their immediate community.
This donation is part of a national Amazon initiative this holiday season to provide nonprofits with a total of more than $1 million in funding and in-kind donations to support programs that provide assistance to children and families impacted by homelessness.
The funds and Boxes of Smiles were donated to Bethany House Services in addition to a $1.25 million donation presented to the nonprofit earlier this month from the Jeff Bezos Day One Fund.
Amazon Regional Director of Operations Al Ondreka says local Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati associates wanted to personally give back to the nonprofit as well by volunteering to package and deliver the Boxes of Smiles, which will help delight recipients and meet tangible, immediate needs.
“Amazon has a strong history of giving back to communities where our associates live and work and to causes that are near and dear to our hearts,” said Ondreka. “Bethany House Services has been doing great work addressing the right now needs of the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community for more than 35 years. We’re proud to help support their mission and contribute our resources to brighten the holidays for our neighbors.”
Bethany House Services empowers homeless and at-risk families with the solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency.
“Bethany House is beyond overwhelmed by the generosity of Amazon, and their thousands of associates from the Northern Kentucky fulfillment center to fight family homelessness in our community,” said Susan Schiller, Bethany House Services CEO. “We’re truly grateful for the belief in our mission, and incredibly thankful to Amazon for giving our children and their parents the beautiful gift of smiles this holiday season.”
Bethany House Services