As a part of its annual charity fundraising event, The Garland Co. Inc. raised $56,000 to support Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow in its efforts to bring the spirit of Christmas joy to seriously and terminally ill children and their families year round. Garland’s Spirit Week, now in its tenth year, is a weeklong event held at the company’s headquarters in Cleveland dedicated to raising money for worthy causes through various fundraising activities. Garland’s corporate employees as well as its sales representatives located through the U.S., Canada and the U.K. all participated in the week of giving.

Garland employees, Halle Trapp (L) and Taylor Miller (R), help paint a fence on a pergola at Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow in Middlefield, Ohio. Several Garland employees volunteered their time at the private park in support of the charity.

Garland’s support extended beyond just monetary contributions as many employees spent time volunteering at “The Hollow”—a 93-acre private park in Middlefield, Ohio complete with elves, reindeer, a toy shop and bakery. “The Hollow” is designed to mimic the North Pole with every detail meticulously planned to create a truly magical escape for sick children and their families.

Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow was founded in 1981 to bring the magic of Christmas to a family’s home, a hospital or to welcome friends and family members to the “The Hollow.” The personalized and extravagant memories this organization creates give families a very special Christmas celebration any time of year. The organization is 100 percent volunteer driven – no one receives a salary or fee.

“I am reminded every year during Spirit Week how truly incredible Garland’s employees are,” said Scott Craft, Garland’s vice president and general manager. “Even after doing this for 10 years, our employees are still just as enthusiastic and giving as they were the first year.”