Teaching our children the gift of giving by Rick Peltier

It feels good to receive a gift, no matter how old you are. Who doesn’t appreciate someone saying “thank you” with a token of their gratitude?

Our children and grandchildren enjoy receiving presents even more. Kids want everything, right?! Every toy commercial on television in December was followed by this statement from my daughter, “I want that.”

I politely explained that she can’t have everything she wants – none of us can. We, as adults, know this reality well. However, this is a hard lesson for a four-year-old to truly understand.

Fortunately, my wife and I were blessed with an opportunity to lead by example on the Friday before Christmas.

Members of St. Mary’s Health Foundation’s new Ted and Clare Ziemer Society decided to teach their children about the “gift of giving” by purchasing presents for kids of all ages who have to spend the Holiday Season in the hospital. Some Ziemer Society women also remembered parents of babies in St. Mary’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with gift cards, toiletries and notes of encouragement.

It was an encouraging experience for everyone involved, especially the children. The Ziemer Society got their kiddos engaged every step of the way – from shopping together for the gifts and then delivering them to children on the Pediatric Unit at St. Mary’s.

My wife also took our daughter shopping for gifts, who recognized the importance of our hospital visit afterwards by saying, “We did something good today for those kids, Daddy.”

I proudly answered, “Yes, we did, baby. Thank you for buying presents for them with Mommy.”

Two days later on Christmas morning, we watched our daughter jump up and down multiple times in excitement after receiving the Barbie Pop-Up Camper she asked Santa to bring her this year.

But, I assure you her excitement is secondary to the amazing feeling she and all of the Ziemer Society kids gave me on Friday, December 23rd, 2016.

Thank you to parents and families everywhere who teach their children that the best gifts aren’t always received, they are given.

If you are looking to give a gift before the end of 2016, I hope you will consider making a difference for children and families we have the honor to serve at St. Mary’s Health. Online giving is secure and convenient. In fact, it’s only a click away.

Your gift to St. Mary’s Health Foundation will help make the holidays a little more special for our patients.

You can also be a part of something special by joining St. Mary’s new Ziemer Society.
It’s a social society with a philanthropic focus. And, it’s already making an impact on our Mission.

Thank you for Supporting our Healing Ministry! Happy Holidays and Many Blessings,

Rick Peltier
Director, St. Mary’s Health Foundation
(812) 485-4412 | richard.peltier@stmarys.org