Paragon News

Team Paragon Visits LeBonheur to Deliver Handmade Blankets

Memphis, TN - 04/06/2010

Paragon employees recently visited LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center to deliver no-sew fleece blankets to the patients. The blankets were made as part of Paragon’s Employee Appreciation Week; all employees were offered ACTS (Assisting the Community Through Service) time during the workday to work on the blankets. Paragon’s ACTS program allows employees 40 paid workday hours per year with which to volunteer for approved organizations.

Team Paragon made 12 blankets with their ACTS time during their Employee Appreciation Week, and with the help of LeBonheur Club’s blanket chair Becky Halvorson, they delivered them to the hospital.  Employees Donna Bain, Chondrea Black, Ashley Cullum, Katie Pemberton, and Tracey Thesmar visited several patients on LeBonheur’s seventh floor and delivered the blankets, with patterns ranging from monster trucks and aliens to flowers and Dalmatian puppies.

“We always try to make giving back to the community part of our Employee Appreciation Week by incorporating ACTS, but it can be difficult for many of our employees with operational deadlines to leave the office,” said Paragon Controller and LeBonheur Club member Tracey Thesmar.  “This opportunity was perfect because employees could work on the blankets whenever they had a few free moments.  The experience was rewarding for us and we certainly hope it was for the patients as well.”

tags: Community Service LeBonheur ACTS