Downy(R) and Soap Opera Star Leticia Calderon Bring a ‘Touch of Comfort’ to Hospitalized Children Through Donation of Quilts

Each year in the United States, children account for more than six million hospital stays and must confront the challenges of overcoming illness while being away from home and the people they love. To help provide some comfort to kids while they fight to get well, Downy fabric softener has partnered with Quilt for Kids, Inc. and Las Comadres to sew more than 100 hand-made quilts to distribute to children through the brand’s “Touch of Comfort” program.

Started in early 2009, Downy’s Touch of Comfort was created in partnership with non-profit organization Quilts for Kids, Inc. to deliver hand-made quilts to children staying in Children’s Miracle Network hospitals throughout the country. Downy has partnered with Las Comadres — an international organization of Latinas with networks in more than 90 cities and 12,000 members — to participate in the brand’s pledge to deliver 10,000 quilts to children. Soap opera star and mother of two Leticia Calderon visited Miami Children’s Hospital on February 24th to kick off the program’s initiative aimed at helping Latinas contribute to the cause.

“Every mother, anyone who has a child in their life, knows how important it is to comfort them when they get a scraped knee, feel scared or miss their family-and a hand-made quilt for hospitalized kids is like a warm hug to let them know we care,” said Leticia Calderon. “I am proud and grateful to be a part of this effort and encourage all Latinas to consider donating their time to support Quilts for Kids, join a quilt making group, do a family project, or join Las Comadres, to reach the brand’s goal of 10,000 quilts.”

Downy created Touch of Comfort with Quilts for Kids, Inc. because of the organization’s dedication to delivering quilts that comfort hospitalized children. To date, Quilts for Kids, Inc. has distributed more than 60,000 quilts worldwide and has more than 50 chapters across the nation.

“We have been bringing a soft touch to homes for almost 50 years and this is an important way to show our commitment to helping provide comfort to families around the nation,” said Marc Villegas, Brand Manager for Downy. “This program is close to our hearts and we want to do our part to help Quilts for Kids provide personal, volunteer-made quilts to children being treated at hospitals around the nation.”

Linda Arye, president of Quilts for Kids, Inc., says, “Together, Downy and Quilts for Kids, Inc. are working to help provide these children moments of joy and comfort, making them feel more comforted in an unfamiliar place.”

Las Comadres is initially organizing quilting groups in five cities: Miami, Houston, San Antonio, Los Angeles and New York, with Comadres in more cities working on individual projects. Latinas interested in joining a local quilting group can go to www.LasComadres.org to learn more or visit QuiltsforKids.org to start their own.

“Our Comadres are nurturers and this program is a great opportunity for us to give back to the community we love, and engage Latinas who we know are looking for ways to connect with charities that matter and that make a difference in children’s lives,” said Nora de Hoyos Comstock, president of Las Comadres.

For more information about Downy Touch of Comfort visit: www.downy.com . On the site, visitors can learn how to:

– Order a quilt kit to create a quilt and send to Quilts for Kids, Inc. for distribution to a child in need

– Find information about how to make a direct donation to Quilts for Kids, Inc.

– Find out how to contact local Quilts for Kids, Inc. chapter to get directly involved

– Share stories about the quilt they have created or how the program has impacted them
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