Once Ed saw a Christian Children's Fund advertisement on the Internet requesting a $20 donation to sponsor a child, and he immediately sent $75 toward the sponsorship of a child in Guatemala.
"Then he called home," said Patricia, "and said, `Guess what I just did?' The man would give the shirt off his back if you ask for it."
Yet she's also quite freehanded: Patricia has administered facials to critically ill children in hospitals. During the holiday season, she'll often refuse payment from a client, smiling with the wave of a hand and saying, "You don't owe me anything."
All the while, friends, customers and people in need have been saving up IOUs, waiting for the time to show their gratitude.
That's why Ed said staging the holiday party "means more for me and my wife because of her thyroid cancer. But I think what you find out is that when you do something like this, you get 10 times back what you put into it."
joseph.burris@baltsun.com
Casey Cares
To donate to the Casey Cares Foundation, call 443-568-0064 or go to caseycaresfoundation.org. Donations can also be mailed to: The Casey Cares Foundation, 1401 Rome Road, Baltimore 21227.
Spirit of Sharing
The Sun's annual Spirit of Sharing Holiday Campaign raises money to help needy families in the Baltimore area during the holidays. The campaign, administered by Baltimore Sun Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, runs through January. For every $1 contributed, the foundation will contribute 50 cents (up to $100,000). Administrative costs are covered by Baltimore Sun Charities, so all money raised will be distributed locally to those in need. Donations are tax-deductible. Contributions may be made online at baltimoresun.com/spiritofsharing, by phone by calling 888-683-4483 or by sending a check to Baltimore Sun Holiday Campaign, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278-0001.
The agencies featured in the Spirit of Sharing articles are not necessarily past or future grantees of the Baltimore Sun Charities Spirit of Sharing campaign.
