In 2025, Our Promise to Nicholas Foundation completed the 11th year of the Nicholas Giving Tree Project. This holiday season, we sent 66 holiday care packages to children across the United States living with Batten disease. Packages were mailed in early December to ensure they arrived in time to offer comfort and support during the holidays.
Each care package included pajamas or bed sheets, toiletries, and over-the-counter items such as children Tylenol, along with special touches meant to bring warmth and joy. These gifts offered families a moment of relief and a reminder that they are not alone.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed, with special recognition to the Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, our largest donor this year, whose generosity helped cover the cost of pajamas and bed sheets that were not fully sponsored. We also thank the Southern New Hampshire Quilting & Sewing Group for handmade pillowcases, the Southern New Hampshire National Charity League for cards, ornaments, and donations, and Russell’s Garden Center for donating bells, socks, and toys. A heartfelt thank you to the many individuals and little elves who helped shop, organize, and pack each box with care.
Once again, Our Promise to Nicholas Foundation included a Visa gift card for each child to help families purchase essential items. As community support for this project has evolved, our foundation ensured that every child received a meaningful and thoughtfully prepared package.
This year also marks the final chapter of the Nicholas Giving Tree Project. After eleven beautiful years, we are lovingly closing this tradition and thoughtfully stewarding our resources to support Batten families in new ways. This project has been a deeply meaningful way to honor Nicholas’s life and legacy, and we are profoundly grateful to everyone who made it possible.
Thank you to all who have supported this project over the years. Your generosity has brought comfort, connection, and joy to families across the country, and Nicholas’s spirit will continue to shine through the community you helped build.
