Casting Whimsy owner receives Spirit of Giving Award

Marking United Relief Foundation's 13 years of charitable service, the foundation presented the Spirit of Giving Award to Casting Whimsy owner Paula Aitken and her family in recognition of their extraordinary support of the foundation's Standing Tall for veterans in need efforts.

As valuable as corporate contributions are to any charitable organization, the story of Casting Whimsy and family exemplifies the generosity of individuals and small businesses.

It was in August of last year when Casting Whimsy owner Paula Aitken reached out to the United Relief Foundation with a Standing Tall commitment, donating 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of her hand-knit cup koozies until Oct. 31.

Inspired and impressed by the good the foundation was doing and the differences the foundation was making, Aitken's mother joined with a hand-knit blanket and her husband with handmade leather koozies, and Aitken committed to continuing to donate 100 percent of each koozie sale to the United Relief Foundation until the end of June this year.

Their generosity of time, energy and money didn't stop there. Through their business, they are encouraging their customers to Stand Tall for veterans in need by rounding up their sales, with the rounded-up amount being donated to the United Relief Foundation.

Located in Woodstock, Casting Whimsy is a family-owned business created by two tea lovers. Their creations are crafted in small batches using fair-trade, loose leaf tea; organic dried spices; herbs; fruit; and artisan ingredients with a whimsical twist. Visit CastingWhimsy.com.

Based in Deerfield, the United Relief Foundation is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization doing the good deeds that make profound lasting differences for veterans in need. For details, visit UnitedReliefFoundation.org.

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