What: Ben’s Bells promote kindness and community involvement. Each week a person who makes Tucson better is “belled.”
Last week’s recipient: Jennifer Ely.
Nominated by: Scott and Michelle Morgan.
Why: For establishing a school fundraising campaign that brings joy to children who are hospitalized during the holidays. Jennifer started the event in 2014 to collect donations to provide gingerbread house kits to patients at Diamond Children’s Medical Center at Banner-University Medical Center. She continued the campaign in 2015, and donations doubled over the prior year and many students donated toys as well, the Morgans wrote in their nomination letter. In 2016, the third annual event raised nearly $900, plus donated toys. Donations were used to purchase additional gifts. In total 170 gifts were delivered to Diamond Children’s for the hospital’s toy store — an opportunity for parents to select gifts for their sick children and their siblings. Jennifer also volunteered to wrap toys on Christmas Eve. Knowing the toy store’s impact on Tucson families, Jennifer trained St. Augustine High School’s National Honor Society to carry on this tradition of kindness after she graduates this year.
More info and to nominate someone: Go to bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to bensbells.org or call 622-1379 for more information.
