Art That Heals: Healing Backpacks for Boston Veterans

Mission in action. Full circle.

Mabazza Foundation is launching Art That Heals: Healing Backpacks for Boston Veterans, our second year in a row receiving approved City of Boston grant funding to support veterans through healing-centered wellness work.

This year, we have an opportunity to expand the original scope and make these backpacks even more meaningful.

These are not just backpacks. They are comfort bags for veterans receiving hospital-based care, including cancer treatment and recovery. Each bag will include practical items like hygiene supplies, wipes, toiletries, snacks, water, journals, comfort items, art-based reflection materials, and encouragement cards.

This project is deeply personal.

When I was going through chemotherapy, I learned quickly that treatment days are long, exhausting, and emotional. I packed a bag with my iPad, snacks, water, books, and anything that helped me get through the hours in the chemo chair. But not everyone knows what to bring. Some people are newly diagnosed. Some are overwhelmed. Some simply do not have the resources to pack what they need.

Now, I am turning that experience into help for others.

You can support this project in two ways:

You can donate directly to Mabazza Foundation, or you can purchase items from our Walmart registry. Every item purchased from the list will be included in Healing Backpacks for veterans in treatment.

Walmart Registry:
https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/96ff154e-c4ae-428f-8c26-309f669fc80a

Your support helps us add more care, dignity, and comfort to each backpack.

A small item can become a big reminder:
You are not alone. Your healing matters. Your service is remembered.

Thank you for helping us fill these backpacks with more than supplies. Thank you for helping us fill them with care.

Funding Levels and Benefits Available

Art That Heals: Phase II - Hospital-Based Wellness for Boston Veterans

Mabazza Foundation welcomes support at multiple levels for Art That Heals: Phase II, an approved City of Boston grant-funded initiative providing Healing Backpacks to veterans receiving hospital-based care, including veterans undergoing cancer treatment and recovery. All funders and product contributors will be acknowledged in a respectful, mission-focused manner. Benefits are designed to recognize community support and will not imply product endorsement, medical advice, or clinical recommendation.

Funding Level	Contribution	Recognition / Benefits
Lead Wellness Sponsor	$10,000 and above	Top-level recognition in the 12-page color veteran resource guide, website acknowledgment, selected social media recognition, donor communications, and a post-program impact summary.
Healing Backpack Sponsor	$5,000 to $9,999	Recognition in the printed resource guide, Mabazza Foundation website, selected social media or program updates, and a brief impact summary after distribution.
Program Supply Sponsor	$2,500 to $4,999	Recognition in the resource guide and website. Support helps fund toiletries, wipes, hot and cold packs, comfort items, journals, printed materials, and wellness supplies.
Community Supporter	$500 to $2,499	Recognition in the resource guide or on the website. Support strengthens the overall program and allows additional care items to be included in each backpack.
In-Kind Product or Supply Contributor	Product or supply donation	Recognition in the resource guide and possible website or program update acknowledgment, depending on the value and type of contribution.

Detailed Benefits

Lead Wellness Sponsor: $10,000 and above

Recognized as a Lead Wellness Sponsor in the 12-page color veteran resource guide included in each Healing Backpack. Sponsor name/logo may be included on the contributor acknowledgment page, Mabazza Foundation website, selected social media recognition posts, and post-program impact summary. Sponsor may also receive a written impact report including number of veterans served, general program outcomes, photographs when appropriate and permitted, and acknowledgment in donor communications.

Healing Backpack Sponsor: $5,000 to $9,999

Recognized as a Healing Backpack Sponsor in the printed resource guide, on the Mabazza Foundation website, and in selected social media or program updates. Sponsor support will help expand the quality and usefulness of backpack contents, including hygiene items, comfort supplies, wellness materials, art-based reflection tools, and printed veteran resource information. Sponsor may receive a brief impact summary after distribution.

Program Supply Sponsor: $2,500 to $4,999

Recognized as a Program Supply Sponsor in the resource guide and on the Mabazza Foundation website. Support at this level helps fund practical backpack items such as toiletries, wipes, hot and cold packs, comfort items, journals, printed materials, and wellness supplies. Sponsor may be included in a group acknowledgment of community partners.

Community Supporter: $500 to $2,499

Recognized as a Community Supporter in the resource guide or on the Mabazza Foundation website. Support at this level helps strengthen the overall program and allows the foundation to include additional care items in each backpack.

In-Kind Product or Supply Contributor

Local vendors and corporate partners may contribute products or supplies for inclusion in the Healing Backpacks. Examples may include toiletries, hygiene items, shelf-stable snacks, bottled water, comfort supplies, wipes, wellness items, hot/cold packs, journals, printed materials, or other appropriate items for veterans receiving hospital-based care. In-kind contributors will be recognized in the resource guide and may also be acknowledged on the foundation website or in program updates, depending on the value and type of contribution.

Shared Funding Structure

The project is already supported by an approved $9,999 City of Boston grant and a 15% contribution from Mabazza Foundation. Additional support from Sanofi or other corporate sponsors will help enhance the quality, durability, and usefulness of the Healing Backpacks. This shared funding model ensures that no single sponsor is responsible for the full cost of the initiative and demonstrates broad community investment in supporting Boston-area veterans.

General Recognition Benefits

All contributors may be listed in the veteran resource guide distributed with the backpacks. Recognition may also include website acknowledgment, social media acknowledgment, inclusion in program updates, and a post-program impact summary. All acknowledgments will be appropriate to the funder's level of support and consistent with Mabazza Foundation's mission of dignity, health equity, emotional support, and community care.

Art That Heals: Healing Backpacks for Boston Veterans,

Every Dollar helps Cancer Survivors