Hugs and Kisses Inc. » Uncategorized http://hugsandkissesinc.org A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Charity raising funds for cancer patients in desperate financial need. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:10:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Local Family Thanks YOU for Your Support of Hugs and Kisses http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2011/03/local-family-thanks-you-for-your-support-of-hugs-and-kisses/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2011/03/local-family-thanks-you-for-your-support-of-hugs-and-kisses/#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:47:07 +0000 admin http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=624

Students also get community service hours for school

I am a 48 year old mother of three beautiful girls. My husband Gary was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008. It was devastating news to me and the girls. The diagnosis was harsh, yet the prognosis was promising, so we kept our hopes up.

I remember that day I admitted Gary in the hospital for a 30-day induction of his first protocol of chemo-therapy. I was confused, anxious, and fearing for how I would take care of my family, home and bills.   Gary had always been the primary source of income.  I had been a stay at home Mom for 20 years.

Gary was put in remission and life went on as normal, until the following March 2009 when we got the devastating news of his relapse.  At that time, there was another 30 day induction which landed us in ICU, dialysis and many more complications.  

One day, I left the hospital wandering around to purchase necessities for Gary’s stay.  Almost as if it was meant to be, I ran across the Hugs and Kisses Center – a place where Palm Beach County residents go to support families like mine who battle cancer.

Once again my husband managed to overcome the treatment and the disease; we thought it was over.

It was during his second remission when we were asked if Gary would do a stem cell transplant to help keep him in remission.  The risk of the transplant was minimal considering the benefit. So, of course he jumped at the chance to prolong his life with his children. During the first stage of the transplant, we lost Gary.

It was devastating, the doctors were shocked and our family in disbelief.  His death on August 14, 2010 was a shock to us all.   But the harsh reality was the fate of me and my girls.   What was I to do? How would I get by?  No income!  A home! No vehicle!

My community stepped up to help us, including everyone who donates buttons, time or money to Hugs and Kisses, Inc.  They were able to help me by paying a month of my mortgage which was a lifesaver.  It’s been five months since my husband’s death.  We are still strongly emotionally and financially distraught – in ways I cannot begin to describe.   But, during some of our darkest moments, when the worrying was unbearable, we were able to get relief from Hugs and Kisses.

My life is still not in order, and I am still trying to make ends meet, but when I do get on my feet I will be sure to remember the help that I received.  In time, I hope to be more active in raising money to help others through Hugs and Kisses.

My family thanks all of you who’ve donated buttons, money and time at the Hugs and Kisses Center which enabled them to help us during our trying time.

With Much Love,

Jean Lauer

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2011/03/local-family-thanks-you-for-your-support-of-hugs-and-kisses/feed/ 0 Bride and Groom Support Hugs and Kisses at Wedding http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2011/02/bride-and-groom-support-hugs-and-kisses-at-wedding/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2011/02/bride-and-groom-support-hugs-and-kisses-at-wedding/#comments Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:44:17 +0000 admin http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=608

Button Bouquet from Shannon and Randy wedding

Special thanks to Ava Kate Photography for use of these images of Shannon and Randy at their wedding.  SEE IMAGES HERE

For this tax deductible donation, the bride received a bridal bouquet, 4 bridesmaids bouquets, 4 groomsmen boutonnieres, and a cake top for use in her wedding and as gifts for the wedding party.  How cool is that?

Volunteers at Hugs and Kisses, Inc. designed this wedding package to compliment the bride’s vision.  Traditional or eclectic designs are available to suit any occasion.

If you’re planning a wedding, we encourage you to discover how a donation to help cancer patients can also provide you with a beautiful, one-of-a-kind wedding package that will last FOREVER.

Just

 call us: 561-819-9471

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2011/02/bride-and-groom-support-hugs-and-kisses-at-wedding/feed/ 1 Get Our Gifts http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/get-our-gifts/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/get-our-gifts/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:14:20 +0000 michaeldelicio http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=549 How To Choose Your Gift
By Donation By Type of Gift Images
$5.00 Basic Bracelet
$10.00 2-Strand
$20.00 3-Tier
$25.00 Hand-Painted Designer
$30.00 Braided Leather
]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/get-our-gifts/feed/ 6 Donate Time http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/donate-time/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/donate-time/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:14:11 +0000 michaeldelicio http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=568 For those who want to join our mission, we accept adult and youth volunteers aged 7 and over.

Once they’ve completed orientation and training, volunteers may attend as often as they wish.

We offer age-appropriate tasks and challenges based on volunteers interest levels and our work-flow. Mentoring includes accounting, marketing, design/production, distribution and more to give our students a broad spectrum of business experiences.

Volunteer time is tracked for all ages and documented for student curricula.

If you want to join a fun, creative and rewarding environment, CONTACT US, or click here to sign up online.

Note: Community service at the Hugs and Kisses Center is proactive and not court-ordered.

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/donate-time/feed/ 3 Donate Buttons http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/donate-buttons/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/donate-buttons/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:05:48 +0000 michaeldelicio http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=569 You know those extra buttons that accumulate in your wardrobe? We ask people to donate them to us. Then student volunteers use them to make fashion accessories and decor like those you see here.

  • All Types
  • All Sizes
  • All Shapes
  • All Quantities

By donating your extra buttons to us, you help us keep costs down and therefore provide more grants to families requesting our financial assistance.

CONTACT US to let us know you have extra buttons to donate.

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/donate-buttons/feed/ 2 Give Help http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/give-help/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/give-help/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:52:38 +0000 michaeldelicio http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=548 Donate Buttons

Donate unused clothing buttons for use as “Hugs and Kisses” thank you gifts.

Donate Time

Volunteers from age 7 to adult can help.

You can donate time and / or expertise in any or all facets of our fashion accessory business.

Hours here count towards students’ curricula.

Donate Money

Individuals: We have gifts for donations as low as $5.

Corporate: our gift programs offer you unique competitive advantages.

Host Fund Raiser

Individuals and companies can help by hosting easy and effective fundraisers.

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/give-help/feed/ 2 Get Help http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/get-help/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/get-help/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:45:07 +0000 michaeldelicio http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=541

When one person gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer.

Our criteria for awarding grants are simple:

  • Someone in the immediate family has cancer.
  • The family is broke
  • Any age patient
  • Any type of cancer

If you have no resources to draw from and your expenses exceed your income, you can qualify.

If you qualify, we will do our best to pay for urgent living expenses depending on available funds.

We return donated funds back into the communities from which they originate. Should it occur that
you live in a community from which funds have not yet been generated, we show you how to help
introduce our fund-raisers in your community so we can help.

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/get-help/feed/ 1 Home http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/home/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/home/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:37:28 +0000 michaeldelicio http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=529 Hugs and Kisses, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity that mentors students in
the business of creating trademarked fashion accessories that are used as
fund raisers to help cancer patients in desperate financial need.

All of our products are given as gifts for donations to our cause. Funds raised
pay living expenses for qualifying cancer patients who have to choose
whether to pay for an urgent living expense or for treatment.

Because we pay creditors directly and reduce their collection efforts to help
patients avoid service interruptions or terminations for non-payment, every
single dollar used to help cancer patients also directly helps our economy.

We’ve paid rents/mortgages, utilities, car payments, insurance
payments, and more.

I Need Help [PDF Application]

I Want to Help

Get Our Gifts

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/12/home/feed/ 0 Join us for the Grand Opening of our new facility called HUGS AND KISSES CENTER http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/02/join-us-for-the-grand-opening-of-hugs-and-kisses-center/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/02/join-us-for-the-grand-opening-of-hugs-and-kisses-center/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:33:29 +0000 admin http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=350

Hugs and Kisses Center

Please join us in celebrating our Grand Opening of the brand new Hugs and Kisses Center on Friday, February 5th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

• On the NW corner of Southern Boulevard and State Road 441.
(Between K-Mart and Bealls)
• Out of Towners can visit us during the event for live updates at:

FACEBOOK Hugs And Kisses, Inc.
TWITTER @HugsKissesInc
WEBSITE www.HugsAndKissesinc.org.

• Please RSVP to info@hugsandkissesinc.org or 561-819-9471.

The event kicks off the with the Palms West Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting at 5:00 PM followed by an Open House until 8:00 PM.

Donations are NOT REQUIRED but are ALWAYS WELCOME. In just one year, we began as a Relay for Life team and now have our own operations facility that evolved out of sheer demand.

What We Do At this location, teenagers volunteer and run all functions of the Hugs and Kisses Center which produces our own unique, trademarked bracelets that we give to our donors. They are also mentored in all parts of the business including accounting, finance, marketing, fulfillment, website development, etc.

Why It’s Important Right now, in your community, there are people who can survive their cancers – with existing technology – if they could afford to hold on. But if they can’t afford to hold on, there’s always HUGS and KISSES.

Funds raised for Hugs and Kisses, Inc. cover living expenses for cancer patients in desperate financial need. Students also qualify for scholarships based on their commitments to Hugs and Kisses. And scholarships are also available for children of families affected by cancer.

Earn a Free Day at Disney: We are registered at vop.handsonnetwork.org so you can volunteer in the Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program. Among other activities, we host “Parties with a Purpose” where families or friends design and make HUGS and KISSES bracelets.

Now Don’t Keep This a Secret. Please tell your friends and family wherever they are as our programs benefit people across America. Funds are always returned to the region from which they originate. Grants to Hugs and Kisses, Inc. allow us to assist patients beyond any amount of donations raised.

]]> http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2010/02/join-us-for-the-grand-opening-of-hugs-and-kisses-center/feed/ 0 Donation of estimated 2,000,000 buttons arrived http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2009/11/donation-of-estimated-2000000-buttons-arrived/ http://hugsandkissesinc.org/2009/11/donation-of-estimated-2000000-buttons-arrived/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:08:27 +0000 admin http://hugsandkissesinc.org/?p=326 Dasco Manufacturing Shipment

Dasco Manufacturing Shipment

We are so very humbled and further encouraged beyond words upon receiving a corporate donation of about 2,000,000 buttons from Dasco Manufacturing today.  Dasco manufactures the sewing kits that our military uses to maintain their uniforms.

These are buttons that were in their active inventory until uniform changes rendered these buttons obsolete.  They found us online.  This donation enables us to introduce a new military-themed line of bracelets to honor, support or remember active and veteran soldiers and their families who won, lost, or are still in a fight with cancer.  These new donated buttons will yield over 160,000 HUGS and KISSES bracelets in thanks for $1,500,000 in donations to the cancer patients we support.

If you donate via the PayPal link on this page, someone will call you to discuss available styles.

This marks the 4th unsolicited donation of buttons from corporations who recognize our efforts as deserving of support.  Every time this type of donation occurs, we increase the number of themed-lines of bracelets to attract donations from a wider audience.

To date, the corporations who have donated in chronological order are: Sher Plastics, Tiger Button Company, Dyno Merchandise, and now Dasco Manufacturing.

We’re introducing several Holiday bracelets in time for the 2009 season.  One we’re most proud of is “Soldiers Christmas” which uses authentic military uniform buttons with Christmas colors.

We thank these companies for their selfless generosity.  On behalf of the patients we support, we wish the very best for these companies and many HUGS AND KISSES to the people they employ this Holiday Season.

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