Who We Are

“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.”

– Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

The Giving Palm started in 2015 after our founder experienced the acute stress of childhood hospital stays. We believe that books are a way to form a community and identity despite being physically isolated. Books with characters representative of patients can aid in feelings of connection both socially and personally.

The connections made in books can transcend into reality. With the emergence of more communication apps and blog sites like Tumblr and Instagram, bookworms can come together to discuss favorite books as well as make new friends. Books create a community for people to share and discuss. We read to know that we are not the only ones having a difficulty in life. 

The Giving Palm was made to provide books with diverse characters and programming for hospitalized children. It began at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and has now been brought to Marshall University. The Giving Palm is now hoping to become a more digitally friendly organization via Kindles as well as forming an ambassador network within universities to take part in this movement.