U.S. Cellular boosts Joplin-based group
December 11, 2015
To celebrate the holiday charitable season U.S. Cellular today announced Joplin-based Bundles of Hope is the second of three organizations to receive support from its Future of Good campaign, which began on Giving Tuesday. The month-long giving campaign champions and invests in youth who are doing good in their communities by supporting their causes and increasing their impact.

Joplin's Mackenzie and Mason Hymer and Abby and Mati Goebel were selected and their video was released recently, highlighting how and why they founded Bundles of Hope. Their organization donates care packages to children during their first night in foster care.

Mackenzie, a 13-year-old who was adopted at birth, and Mason, a 12-year-old adopted from the foster care system, both decided they wanted to give back after discovering that most children taken into the system are not able to bring their own belongings with them. After enlisting the help of friends, Abby and Mati Goebel, both 14-years-old, Bundles of Hope was born.

The Hymers and the Goebels make care packages for children who are entering the foster care system for the first time or who are involved in shifting placements. Each care package includes journals, blankets, toiletries and any other new or gently used items that are contributed to the organization by local businesses. To date, more than 900 children have received a care package through Bundles of Hope, which is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

To raise awareness for Bundles of Hope, U.S. Cellular will provide the organization with $10,000 of total in-kind supplies and monetary contributions which include a digital billboard and backpacks, blankets, and pajamas to include in their foster care bundles.

The youth who started Bundles of Hope are positively changing the lives of kids in their community and we encourage everyone to give back in their own way during the holidays, said Dorsey Ragland, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Missouri. Thats why were so thrilled to make a contribution to Bundles of Hope through our Future of Good program.

Bundles of Hope started as an idea close to all of our hearts, said Mackenzie Hymer, referencing her and the three founders shared vision. We really wanted to make a difference in other foster childrens lives and this generous contribution from U.S. Cellular will help us continue doing so.

Bundles of Hopes story and video is the second of three U.S. Cellular will release throughout the campaign. Consumers can get involved by uploading a photo to the Gallery of Good here from December 1-31, 2015. For every photo that is submitted, U.S. Cellular will contribute $2.50 to both the National 4-H Council and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, up to $25,000 for each organization.

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