We are thankful for the JOYFM listeners for collecting over $7,000 worth of items for the annual Easter Basket delivery in St. Louis.   Over 20 volunteers helped to pick up the items from the area drop off locations, and assemble the baskets.  Former Cardinals Pitcher, Andy Benes, delivered over 200 baskets to children in the hospital on the Thursday before Easter.  Here are a few pictures of the big day!

Coach Dungy delivers a basket to a patient at Riley Hospital for Children

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis-based homebuilder C.P. Morgan has teamed up with Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy for the fifth year of Basket of Hope. Basket of Hope is a program which brings baskets filled with inspirational materials to seriously ill children at Riley Hospital for Children.

For every Colts’ win, C.P. Morgan donates $500 to Basket of Hope which goes to providing each basket with over $100 worth of materials, including a Bible, a hat, toys, games, music and other books.

“The donations C.P. Morgan provides allow the program to touch the lives of so many children and parents as they deal with the difficulties of childhood cancer or other life threatening diseases,” said Dungy. “As our major sponsor they have provided not only monetary support but emotional and spiritual support to the basket recipients.  Their attitude toward the Basket of Hope has helped improve and advance the program tremendously.”

Dungy, as well as several Colts players visit the hospital frequently to personally deliver the baskets to the ill children. The program hopes to help meet the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of these children and their families in times of confusion and desperation.

“Jesus loves the little children,” said Dungy. “Basket of Hope is a way to let Jesus love the children through us.  My involvement with these hurting kids has been a blessing to me.”

C.P. Morgan’s participation with Basket of Hope began in 2002 and over the past five years has donated over $53,000. As a Proud Sponsor of the Indianapolis Colts, C.P. Morgan is thrilled to partner with Dungy to offer hope to the children at Riley Hospital for Children.

“Coach Tony Dungy is a man of high character and tremendous compassion, who has shown his commitment to the Indianapolis community by bringing this program to the city,” said Tom Eggleston, Chief Executive Officer for C.P. Morgan. “C.P. Morgan is honored to support Coach Dungy and support the Basket of Hope program.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities is supporting Basket of Hope in Indianapolis! They are making a generous donation and providing meal coupons to be distributed in the baskets. They will be joining us on our next trip to Riley Hospital for Children on November 17th. Tony Dungy will also be in attendance to deliver baskets and support World Children’s Day along with McDonalds. We are very grateful for this new partner and see it as a perfect fit. There is a McDonalds located in Riley hospital so the meal tickets will be a huge hit with the families.

Thank you Ronald McDonald House Charities!!!