Holidays and the spirit of giving go hand in hand. Over the years, ABC Blind and Drapery has worked with several different non-profit organizations to help support them in their mission. The need varies from service, time and financial donations – but the common goal is to improve the lives of others.
In 2015, we donated window treatments for a special design project that Hjardeir Dunn of Hjardeir Dunn Design was in charge of. Together with other professionals in the design community such as Heather Scott Home and Design, Legend Lighting, New Era Portfolio and The Home Depot in Pflugerville, the Pflugerville Pregnancy Resource Center in North Austin was transformed. We chose to donate our services to this project because of the resource center’s impact on the community. When the spirit of giving brings businesses together to improve their community, individual lives can be changed in big ways.
Another example of real change is the Miracle Balloon Campaign that ABC Blind & Drapery helps sponsor each year. This campaign benefits the Children’s Miracle Network, which helps fund children’s hospitals across the United States. This wonderful campaign occurs at our local Costco, giving Austinites the opportunity to donate money to the Dell Children’s Hospital. Our involvement in the campaign led to a discussion with Virginia Tamplen, who heads the Children’s Miracle Network in our community. She relayed a story about Mandy & Gary Moss and how the staff of Dell Children’s Hospital helped save both of their children’s lives. There are oftentimes when we give without really knowing who will benefit or to what extent. But when we are offered glimpses into the lives of those who were impacted by others’ generous gifts, it answers the question of why we give back. Kids like Carter & Kennedy Moss are why we continue to get involved.
More recently, we were made aware of a different type of need in our community. The mission of the West Austin Lions Club is to provide vision for all. Ken McWilliams, the founder of ABC Blind & Drapery, is passionate about children’s education and was moved by the fact that some children fall behind because their family is unable to afford the cost of eyeglasses. The West Austin Lion’s Club works to ensure that the necessary vision screenings and proper treatments are made available to those who might otherwise go without.
We also recently had the opportunity to support the blind and visually impaired of Austin by making a donation in honor of “White Cane Day“. The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities.
ABC Blind & Drapery has called Austin home for many years now, and we are thrilled to be able to give back to the community that has helped us grow. We hope that you take a moment to remember what this season is all about and enjoy time spent with loved ones over the holidays!