The votes are in!

Our charitable giving program, Matters of the Heart, lets employees decide which organizations Avanos will support through charitable donations. It’s another way we demonstrate our commitment to what matters!

The program awards $5,000 to the top 10 charities, as ranked by employee votes.

We’re excited to announce this year’s winning Matters of the Heart charitable organizations (listed alphabetically):

• Atlanta Community Food Bank – Nominator: Ron Warren. Working to end hunger with the food, people and big ideas needed to ensure our neighbors have the nourishment to lead healthy and productive lives.
• Canine Assistants – Nominator: James Zacha. Places service dogs with people with mobility difficulties and other special needs and conditions. Educates dogs and the people who need them so they may improve the lives of one another.
• Cure Alzheimer’s Fund – Nominator: Larry Nielsen. Dedicated to funding research with the highest probability of preventing, slowing or reversing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Iowa Dance Marathon – Nominator: Tony Schuster. Creates and sustains special projects to provide emotional and financial support and services for pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients and their families treated at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
• Kendle’s Krew – Nominator: Christy Hall-Kanazawa. Created to honor the life of Kendle Mae Baggarly and help her continue to change the world for her friends with disabilities.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Nominator: Cory Duck. Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
• Our Promise to Nicholas – Nominators: Kristin Gibbons, Eric Weiss, Jackie Geitz. Fundraising and events to champion the mission to cure Batten Disease, a rare, fatal neurological brain disease affecting children.
• Shoes That Fit – Nominator: Troy Moock. Understanding that the gift of shoes is about much more than shoes – it’s the confidence children need to step forward with dignity and joy, prepared to learn, play and thrive at school each day.
• Solving Kids’ Cancer – Nominator: Nicole Cooper. Helping to accelerate new, next-generation treatments, including immunotherapy, cancer vaccines and new drugs by applying an understanding of the entire childhood cancer research landscape to wisely invest in innovative projects.
• Warrior’s Weekend – Nominator: Austin Clark. Assisting combat-wounded veterans with a relaxing water therapy weekend in Port O’Connor, Texas.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for their favorite charities!