Since 2018, our Bags of Hope tradition has gathered friends, sponsors, and supporters nationwide to gift small gestures and joy—all inspired by the experiences of Kelly L. Green, our Executive Director, as she cared for her mother during a hospitalization over Christmas Day.
In July and August, we partnered with caring local businesses to spread cheer to local patients and families facing hospitalization or challenging medical times. Take a look below!
We’re grateful to Board Member John Huyette for connecting us to RSM US LLP.
This gathering represented a special link between Help Hope Live’s past and present as we teamed up with familiar members of the RSM team: Curtis Fenton, brother of our longtime spinal cord injury client Jeff Harris, and former Help Hope Live Client Services Coordinator Jeanne Harmon.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to give back to a mission I once had the privilege of serving as an employee,” explained Jeanne. “I didn’t know when I accepted the role at Help Hope Live that my son-in-law would need their services. They filled a crucial role in his transplant journey.”
With the help of transplant social worker Morgan Sikander, MSW, LCSW, our Bags of Hope made their way to Penn Medicine.
Bags of Hope with Stout – July 2026
Our Board Member Ryan Shea organized a “lunch and learn” for Stout employees to enrich their understanding of our mission.
The Bags of Hope were delivered to Jefferson thanks to an introduction by transplant Ambassador Linda Jara.
Social worker Lashira Warren Glenn, MSW, LSW, CTRS was so appreciative as our bags made their way to Jefferson transplant patients!
Bags of Hope with Mondrian – July 2026
Hope Travels 5K participant Justin Mattia, an intern with Mondrian Investment Partners, rallied the team to participate along with fellow interns and Drexel co-ops with assistance from Maddie Hammond, also at Mondrian.
Together, joined by our Board Chair Jim Madden, they packed 50 Bags of Hope.
The experience inspired several participants to consider ways to expand the program to other workplaces or their campuses.
Mondrian paired the experience with a $1,000 donation to Help Hope Live—and a promise to participate in Bags of Hope again in the future.
The heartfelt Bags of Hope were shuttled to Temple Health with support from Jade Perry, Director of Transplant Operations; Carly Capano, Living Donor Patient Navigator; and Ryan Ihlenfeldt, Director of Clinical Transplant Services:
Bags of Hope with Glenmede – August 2026
We loved the choices from the Glenmede team for bright, colorful, and functional Bags of Hope items, from grippy socks to fleece blankets and notebooks.
Help Hope Live’s Mary Routh is pictured with Glenmede’s Skylar Lingo and Jamie DeAngelis:
Beyond Bags of Hope, Glenmede has made a profound impact on our ability to carry out our mission through our longtime partnership, including as a Presenting Sponsor for our 2026 Live It Up! gala and Platinum Sponsor for our 2026 Hope Travels 5K.
PS – Did you know that August is Make-a-Will Month? Glenmede can help you understand how to incorporate charities into your will.
Bags of Hope – and Help
Our Bags of Hope care packages serve a dual purpose: showing patient families that they are not alone and providing a link to Help Hope Live that can extend our trusted medical fundraising support to the people who need it most.
If you would like to lead a Bags of Hope initiative for your workplace anywhere in the U.S., we can help! Contact our Director of Development Brooke Schostak at [email protected] to get started.
