To a newly diagnosed cancer patient, a blanket can feel like a small shield against a world that suddenly feels unpredictable. The gift of a blanket can signal that someone took the time to think of them. A blanket can be the reminder that they are not alone. Since 2022, the Hirshberg Foundation has partnered with Talking Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing compassion and ease to patients facing serious illness. Through their Purple Ribbon Project, Talking Angels donates beautiful keepsake blankets to our foundation, offering a gesture of care to pancreatic cancer patients and the loved ones who support them.
Talking Angels was founded in 2018 by Chandra Heyman, whose experiences with hospice during the final months of her parents’ lives shaped the heart of the organization. Chandra witnessed firsthand how small tokens of kindness, like a handmade blanket, could be deeply meaningful for families navigating illness. Those gestures inspired her to create Talking Angels, a nonprofit committed to easing emotional pain and offering warmth when it’s needed most.
Since then, Talking Angels has expanded its reach across palliative care, hospice programs, skilled nursing facilities, and cancer centers, donating thousands of blankets to patients and families. With over 500 ribbon blankets donated each year, the program continues to grow, bringing hope, comfort, and dignity to people across the country.
Our partnership began in 2022 when we received a call from Chandra, who wanted to donate 20 special-edition Purple Ribbon blankets for pancreatic cancer patients in our community. These blankets were created in honor of an anonymous donor’s wife, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in February 2022. The pancreatic cancer patient found solace in the resources she received from the Hirshberg Foundation after her diagnosis. Wanting to honor her memory, her husband encouraged Chandra to reach out and extend her compassion to other families facing this disease.
Chandra responded by launching the Purple Ribbon Project during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month to honor the donor’s wife. Her husband wrote, “My beautiful wife battled pancreatic cancer for seventeen months and through it, Talking Angels (through the help of nurse C.M. at Cedars-Sinai) provided her additional love and support.”
Today, Talking Angels donates blankets not only to the Hirshberg Foundation but to Kaiser, City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai, and other cancer treatment centers, giving patients undergoing chemo and other therapies something to help them through treatment.
“The Talking Angels Foundation is honored to partner with the Hirshberg Foundation in expanding support for individuals facing pancreatic cancer. This collaboration strengthens our shared goal of delivering comfort and care to those who need it most. With the generosity of our supporters and the unified commitment of both organizations, we will widen our impact, uplift more families, and help ensure that every patient feels seen, supported, and embraced,” shared Chandra Heyman, Founder of Talking Angels.
Our partnership with Talking Angels allows us to provide a symbol of hope, kindness, and a literal hug to pancreatic cancer patients in need. As Amy Reiss, Director of Patient Programs, wrote, “A simple gesture, like receiving a soft blanket on a difficult day, can mean more than words can express. These Talking Angels blankets offer a reminder that patients are surrounded by a community that truly cares. This partnership allows us to extend not only resources, but compassion, and that can make all the difference for someone in treatment.”
As Lisa Manheim, Executive Director, said, “Collaboration is at the heart of our mission, and partnerships like this uplift our entire community. We are grateful to Talking Angels for their generosity and for joining us in supporting patients and families. When organizations come together with shared purpose, we can provide connection and meaningful care in ways none of us could achieve alone.”
We are deeply grateful to Chandra and the entire Talking Angels community for their generosity and their belief in the power of human connection. This partnership expands our ability to offer practical and emotional support to pancreatic cancer patients and caregivers. By working together, we strengthen our commitment to caring for patients and families, to ensure that there is support every step of the cancer journey.
If you or someone you love is facing pancreatic cancer, we are here for you. Explore patient and caregiver resources or connect with Amy, our Director of Patient Programs today.
