A Season of Giving Back

It was through visits to my brother Kevin’s group home on Long Island, NY that I became aware of a troubling statistic: 80% of adults with developmental disabilities remain unemployed after aging out of vocational programs. My family was determined to find a solution that could help this underserved population feel a sense of belonging while contributing to their local communities. What resulted was Smile Farms, a non-profit organization creating meaningful work opportunities in agricultural settings for individuals who are differently abled. Today, I’m very proud that Smile Farms is helping to employ over 140 individuals with disabilities across eight campuses – and growing. 

I’m equally proud that 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. has embraced the organization as its signature philanthropic partner. As the holiday shopping season gets underway, our company’s family of brands has introduced a special gift collection benefitting Smile Farms. For each gift purchased from the collection now through December 24, the company will donate 20% of the Net Proceeds from each item to Smile Farms.

During this season of giving back, I hope you’ll consider making a difference by shopping our holiday collection here which will help us to create employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Together, we can make a difference – one job at a time.

All the best for the holiday season to you and your family,

Jim