About the Author
Bailey Peterson-Webster, Sr. Community Engagement Specialist
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The holidays are a time for gratitude — spending time with loved ones and showing how much they mean to you. It’s also a time for giving back. Gratitude naturally leads to paying it forward and spreading holiday cheer.
With that in mind, I was proud to see our Carnation Solar team spend part of their holiday season representing National Grid Renewables at A New Leaf’s annual holiday party in Columbus, Ohio. A New Leaf provides foster care services for children and families across Central and Southern Ohio. Each year, the holiday party gives kids a chance to celebrate and make lasting memories.
Not your average party
A New Leaf’s holiday party began in 2003 with a sleepover at a local college. Kids played basketball, bounced in inflatable castles, and participated in other sorts of activities from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
As the organization and its care network grew, the party evolved. Now, with support from sponsors, A New Leaf rents out Scene 75 — a massive indoor activities facility that one party organizer accurately described as “Dave and Busters taken to another level.” This year, more than 65 foster families attended, with kids enjoying indoor go-karts, roller coasters, drop zones, black light golf, fast-pitch baseball, and more. Each kid received a game card for video games — and best of all, families got to meet Santa for photos.
Scene 75, located in Columbus, is centrally located for 60% of A New Leaf’s families, making it the perfect venue for this special event. Thanks to sponsor support — including support from National Grid Renewables’ Carnation Solar project — A New Leaf can focus more resources on providing meaningful gifts to the foster kids.
Showing up and giving back
At the party, my colleagues staffed a Carnation Solar table where families spun a prize wheel (complete with solar panel trivia!) and checked out 3D renderings of solar projects. It was a big hit with the kids.
Beyond the party, 15 of our employees (including myself!) participated in a volunteering event to make tie blankets and assemble gift bags for teenagers. These bags included essentials like body wash, deodorant, socks, sweatpants, toothbrushes, t-shirts — things to help a teen settle in on their first night with a foster family.
I’m grateful that our company and Carnation Solar had the opportunity to contribute to this time-honored tradition. As anyone who’s ever been to the A New Leaf holiday party can attest, it’s a special event that brings smiles to a lot of faces.
