Easter Basket Blitz Brings Smiles Throughout the U.S.

Berenice Martinez wasn’t expecting her son Joshua to have such a joy-filled day as a patient at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. But on March 28, he was surprised with a personal visit from the Easter Bunny, an Easter basket, and his first ride in a Wells Fargo stagecoach.

The memorable day was made possible by Wells Fargo’s nationwide “Hops for Hope” volunteer effort, which delivers baskets to children in hospitals, children’s homes, homeless shelters, and more. The annual event is organized by Cash Vault Services in Wells Fargo’s Payments, Virtual Solutions & Innovation group.

“Sometimes one can feel overwhelmed with the worries that come along with illness,” Martinez said. “Joshua’s father and I both loved it and Joshua was really happy. He was especially happy that he got to be the first child to ride the stagecoach. Thank you, Wells Fargo, for the great experience and for always thinking of these little details that make our children smile.”

What started as a volunteer effort in 2001 with 25 baskets in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has blossomed into a springtime tradition, in which volunteers deliver nearly 3,000 baskets to young recipients at more than 35 locations in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Team members from scores of Wells Fargo businesses either donate or assemble the basket gifts. Deliveries range from 20 to 425 baskets, and about four events each year also involve the Wells Fargo stagecoach.

“Hops for Hope is one of those events that makes you feel fulfilled every time you participate,” said Adamis Garcia, a Wells Fargo administrative assistant who organized the creation and delivery of more than 300 basket gifts in Miami to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Holtz’s Children’s Hospital. “The smiles and excitement we bring to the kids’ faces is priceless.”

Learn more about the project’s origins and meet one of the Easter bunnies who has been bringing smiles to children for more than a decade in South Florida.

For more stories about how Wells Fargo is helping to make our communities better, please visit Wells Fargo Stories at https://stories.wf.com/?cid=intpart_wfs_3bl_1801_0.