Hope Blooms, March 8, 2017!

Gems of Hope will deliver happiness and sunshine to the Corridor this week as its fourth annual Hope Blooms fundraising campaign comes to an end. This year Gems will deliver over 500 bouquets of daffodils to cancer patients in treatment in the area and nearly 400 Giraffe Hugs to children impacted by cancer.

On March 8^th a special Hope Blooms mascot will visit the PCI Pavilion and deliver flowers and gifts to cancer patients in treatment at PCI Hematology and Oncology, Albert and Helen G Nassif Radiation Center and in the Helen G Nassif Lung Clinic. New this year, Mercy Hospital in Iowa City will host cash and carry flower sales on March 9^th and 10^th.

Hope Blooms presenting sponsor representative Kimberly Ivester from the Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center commented, “It is our fourth year of presenting Hope Blooms and we are so pleased to support Gems of Hope as they continue the tradition of bringing sunshine and happiness to the community through daffodils. Daffodils represent a sign of spring, and for cancer patients particularly, a sign of hope.”

The support Gems receives from Hope Blooms funds all of the great programs and events Gems of Hope does throughout the year.

“We can’t thank our sponsors, and the community, enough for helping us make this fundraiser a success”, commented Beth Hammell, Hope Blooms Committee Chair.

Gems of Hope, Inc. supports cancer patients and their families. At the core of the programs is the “gifts of hope” distribution. Volunteers handcraft cards with inspirational sayings and mount handmade earrings or bookmarks, or a serenity circle to the card. The gifts are distributed in oncology clinics and hospitals throughout the Corridor.  Gems also offers a kids camp for ages 5-12 dealing with a cancer diagnosis, a web site for teens, a scholarship program for high school seniors and cancer libraries for schools. Proceeds from the Hope Blooms campaign go to support Gems and the great programs they offer.

The 2017 Hope Blooms presenting sponsor is the Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center. Other sponsors include; Mercy Medical Center, Radiation Oncology of Cedar Rapids, Worley Warehousing, Bankers Trust, General Mills, Van Meter, Alliant Energy, Fairfax State Savings Bank, Nations Financial Group, Hills Bank and Trust Company, Clark’s Pharmacy, Synergy Home Care, UICCU, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, The Ghosh Center and Berthel Fisher. In-kind service providers include Peck’s Flower Shop and Garden Center, J&A Printing, Kirkwood Horticultural Department, Tallgrass Business Resources, Lamar Advertising, KCRG Show You Care and The Gazette.