On Saturday, April 12, a famous, furry visitor paid a visit to YWoodlawn, the YWCA’s campus in Woodlawn. Thanks to the HERO Foundation, the Easter Bunny arrived at YWoodlawn for a day of family fun. The event was a great opportunity to enjoy seasonal festivities for families who would possibly not be able to make a special trip to see the Easter Bunny.
“Our friends at the HERO Foundation have continued to outdo themselves most recently by bringing a lot of Easter joy to YWoodlawn!” said YWCA Central Alabama Chief Housing Officer Jennifer Clarke. “HERO gave the Easter Bunny a ride over to Woodlawn where he greeted over 50 YWoodlawn children, all of whom were able to hunt for 1,000 hidden eggs in the YWCA’s Kaboom playground, compete in bunny-themed games like the bunny-hop-sack race and, of course, enjoy meeting the Easter Bunny!”
This day of fun wouldn’t have been possible without the kind hearts and help from the HERO Foundation. The HERO Foundation, or “Harbert Employees Reaching Out” is a volunteer program that responds in times of natural disasters, medical conditions or financial hardship. HERO was established in 1998 after a spring tornado left dozens of Alabamians without shelter, clothes or food. The committees that manage HERO are made up of employees all across Harbert Management Corporation. The philosophy behind the HERO Foundation is that engagement, volunteering and helping your neighbors in need are actions that foster and strengthen communities; it’s not enough to simply work and live in this world.
“The Easter Egg hunt was such a fun event, to see all the smiling faces of the children and parents, and we look forward to next year’s event,” said Tricia Felgner of the Harbert Management Corporation. “The HERO Foundation believes in the work the YWCA does in the community and we are glad our partnership has grown through the years.”
YWoodlawn is one of the YWCA’s most recent expansions into providing a wider array of services to women and their families in crisis. YWoodlawn includes 58 units of service-enriched permanent housing, a first class facility for families experiencing the crisis of homelessness, the area’s only playground, a community garden and a Family Resource Center that supports the neighborhood through a range of programs for those with low and very low incomes. Family Resource Center programming includes individual and group classes focusing on the arts as well as culinary classes, GED classes, computer training, an after-school homework clinic and healthy lifestyle programs for adults and children.
“It is events like this that help build a community,” Clarke added. “Parents coming outside with their kids; kids playing on the playground with their neighbors; neighbors getting to know each other in casual conversation. HERO has helped them come together in a moment with no crisis, a moment of real joy. We are grateful to HERO for all that they do and the way in which they model true selflessness and giving to those with the greatest needs.”
We thank the HERO Foundation for their generosity on this fun day. Efforts like theirs help the YWCA Central Alabama continue to provide outstanding services for women and families in need. If you would like to get involved or donate to us, please click here.
