Inspirational Speech Leads to Massive Charitable Undertaking

The Blanket America project, a new charitable organization, is the brainchild of Mesh Gelman, a 34 year old owner of a bed, bath and window treatment design company in Manhattan. On January 20, 2009, Gelman and his staff, like millions across the globe, were watching Barak Obama take the stage to give his historic and inspirational inaugural address. What Gelman heard when Obama said, "For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness" was a call to action.

The phrase "patchwork heritage" struck Gelman with inspiration. America, with is seemingly endless variety of languages, races and ethnic groups, is much like a patchwork quilt. When patches are united, they are strong. When patches are divided, they are weak. Even though we as a nation have our struggles and differences, we as humans all have something we can contribute to help our fellow citizens. With this in mind, Gelman and his team created the Patchwork Heritage Quilt, followed by an entire collection.

The Blanket America Patchwork Heritage Quilt was created with the sole purpose of charitable giving. Using a new model of sharing called buy one, give one, Blanket America is working with Gifts in Kind International to donate 1 million blankets to those in need this year.

The Patchwork America Quilt is creatively and appropriately designed using 13 different fabrics representing the 13 colonies. The reverse of the quilt is printed with the Presidential Inaugural Speech from January 20, 2009, highlighting the words, "Patchwork Heritage" with our lady liberty set in the background.

Through the purchase of each patchwork Heritage Quilt by Blanket America, the proceeds, from $15 to $20, are used to purchase one blanket. This warm blanket is then donated to Gifts in Kind International, who distributes them to other charities throughout America. These blankets are then given to those in need.

Gifts in Kind is a well known charity which works with half of the Forbes 100 companies, small businesses and individuals to distribute goods to those in need. They distribute these donated items to more than 150,000 community charities throughout America. Last year alone Gifts in Kind gave away nearly $750 million in goods to the poor. As the need for charity grows, Blanket America hopes to increase charitable giving even more.

Prices of the quilts are $59.99 for the throw size, $79.99 for the full/queen size and $99.99 for the king size. Blanket America is also offering matching pillow shams and decorative pillows, all created in the Patchwork Heritage design.

To make a purchase or show your support for this project, visit Blanket America's website at http://www.blanketamerica.com/. A list of local participating retailers is on the site. Also selling the Blanket America collection is Amazon.com and JC Pennies, two of the nation's leading retailers.