Kamryn Lambert Foundation Hosts Annual Holiday Drive

Every kid needs a little love when Christmas rolls around, but some might need an additional helping hand here or there. The Kamryn Lambert Foundation, a local nonprofit organization founded by Pasadena native Debi Katzenberger, is out to help some of those kids in need with its annual holiday drive.

The Kamryn Lambert Foundation was founded in honor of Katzenberger's granddaughter, who passed away at age 9 after battling leukemia. The Foundation is known for a variety of programs for kids in need, particularly its annual nursing scholarships. The holiday drive was the first charitable act that Kamryn's family did in her name.

"Our family knew first hand the hardship both financially and mentally that the holidays can pose to families with a critically ill child," said Katzenberger. "So we began this new holiday tradition that year."

The holiday drive has been active since 2007 and focuses on helping patients and families at the University of Maryland Pediatric Hematology/Oncology clinic.

"This is now our fifth year," said Katzenberger. "We have been able to expand each year and now provide to the clinic families as well as the families of children who are inpatient over the holiday."

During the first year of the drive the Foundation collected around 100 gifts for families in need. In 2010 the Foundation collected well over 1000.

Along with toys, the Foundation also collects gift cards, gift certificates for hotels near the hospital, restaurant certificates and other items that are useful for pediatric patients and their families.

"Holding this holiday drive each year helps us to remember all the holiday joy we had as a family while Kamryn was with us," said Katzenberger. "It's another way that we can keep her memory alive through giving of ourselves just like Kamryn did every day of her life."

For information on how you can help with the Kamryn Lambert Foundation's holiday drive and other programs, visit their website.