The Eblen-Kimmel Charities

 To better assist the large number of referrals from schools, hospitals, and other agencies working with children, the Eblen-Kimmel Children’s Outreach was created in the fall of 1996. Beginning with the Michael Wellisch Children’s Cancer Services in 1993, the Children’s Outreach Programs have grown to include assistance to area children with medication, medical supplies, eye glasses, food, insurance, physician visits, school supplies, clothing, shoes, and other emergency needs.

In May of 2001, the Peter F. Drucker Foundation named the Children’s Pharmacy the most innovative nonprofit program in the country.

The Michael Wellisch Children’s Cancer Services: Established in 1984 as the Michael Wellisch Foundation, this strong community based program became part of the Eblen Foundation in 1994. Set up as a living memorial to Michael Wellisch, an outstanding student leader, scholar, and athlete, who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 19.

Michael’s program provides assistance to children stricken with cancer and their families with medication, travel, and other emergency assistance.

The Michael Wellisch Children’s Cancer Services was the first named program of out outreach and served as the springboard to the development of our Children’s Outreach programs - all of which will continue in the spirit that Michael began.

The Dana Luther Jarrett Cystic Fibrosis Outreach: In effort to help stem the ever growing expenses families incur from the on going fight of living with Cystic Fibrosis, this partnership with the Mission Children’s Hospital reaches out to the children and adults in western North Carolina with Cystic Fibrosis. Named in memory of Dana Luther Jarrett, a writer and tireless advocate for all children and adults living with Cystic Fibrosis, this program continues to carry on the fight that was such an important part of Dana’s life and the beginning of the work of the Eblen-Kimmel Charities.

The Mission Hospitals / Eblen-Kimmel Children’s Healthcare Initiative: Created to assist families who were having difficulty paying the enrollment fee for the North Carolina Health Choice program, the Mission Hospitals / Eblen-Kimmel Children’s Healthcare Initiative provides enrollment fees for children whose families cannot pay the $50 to obtain health insurance through the state’s Health Choice for Children.

Health Choice provides coverage for doctor visits, wellness checkups, eye exams and glasses, hearing exams and hearing aids, prescriptions, hospital coverage, dental care, and mental health to children whose families fall below a certain income level. This insurance is free of charge to most, but a $50 per child fee ($100 maximum per household) per year is charged for families who fall between 150 to 200 per cent of poverty level.

Even at such a low cost, many families find themselves having difficulty paying for the enrollment fee. Out of concern for these families a partnership with Mission Hospitals, through its Healthcare Foundation leadership of Bruce Thorsen was formed.

The Mission Hospitals/Eblen-Kimmel Children’s Healthcare Initiative now pays for nearly twenty-five per-cent of all children enrolled in Buncombe County. The Children’s Healthcare Initiative also pays for physician visits for children who can’t afford the medical attention they may need.

The Patrick Sizemore Children’s Outreach: Every year thousands of families in our community face the daunting and difficult task of having to deal with a child’s illness and the costs that accompany it. As costs increase during these times, many families find they have to pay medical costs first and leave other necessities until later. By having to do so, the financial strain only adds to the emotional and physical strain they are already facing. All too often food, rent, utilities, and other needs go unmet because of the families meeting their children’s medical obligations. Through The Patrick Sizemore Children’s Outreach program, these children and their families can meet their medical needs and receive help for non-medical necessities.

The Patrick Sizemore Children’s Outreach was established in memory of Patrick Sizemore, an ambassador of the Eblen-Kimmel Charitable Group, who lost his life to cancer at the age of 11. With the gracious support of Patrick’s family and friends, he has left a legacy of love, compassion, and service to the children of western North Carolina.

If the Shoe Fits: Founded in 1999 by the Asheville Tourists Baseball Club as the Asheville Tourists Children's Fund to assist children with specific individual needs, the If the Shoe Fits Program was developed in 2002 to assist children in local schools to purchase shoes that parents could not afford. Partnering with the Eblen-Kimmel Charities since 1995, this focus on one area of need has ensured a more successful program and assists hundreds of children each year. In 2007, Nike joined the If the Shoe Fits program to provide hundreds of more shoes each year.

Thanks to guidance counselors, teachers, local shoe retailers, and other supporters, If the Shoe Fits, continues to help our children continue to walk proudly towards their future.

The Student Clothing Project: The Student Clothing Project began a few days before Thanksgiving in 2006 when we received a call from a friend who was interested in joining us in a project that would assist students who are in need of clothing. Our friend had been assisting students in northern Buncombe County for some time and approached Eblen-Kimmel Charities to help oversee and expand the program and work directly with the schools in Buncombe County and Asheville City. Thanks to the vision and generosity of our benefactor, we will help more and more children each year

The Student Clothing Project is open to all students in need of clothing in Buncombe County and Asheville City school systems. This program not only provides the clothes students need, but also gives the students the choice and dignity that that their classmates have and don’t have to depend on hand-me-downs or other second-hand clothing to wear to school.

The Regent Park Early Childhood Education Project: To assist in meeting developmental needs of infants, toddlers, and pre-school children, the Eblen-Kimmel Charities has joined with the Regent Park Early Childhood Development Center to provide the opportunity for children with special needs or special circumstances to receive the education and develop the skills they need as they prepare to enter school.

The curriculum of the Regent Park Early Childhood Developmental Center emphasizes each stage of readiness and allows for careful attention to each child’s strengths and learning style. We are honored to be part of this partnership and by providing scholarships, through designated donations, help provide the tools for a promising future.