Coastal Virginia Magazine's Giving Back Awards 2014, 2015, and 2016

Coastal Virginia Magazine recently revealed the winners for their annual
Giving Back Awards, and Mariah's organization, Blankets for the Homeless,
was recognized once again after being voted #1 in 2014.

The awards aim to highlight the real superheroes across Coastal Virginia that work tirelessly to address the needs of the community and the people in it. After a nomination period and a series of online voting rounds, Blankets for the Homeless was voted #2 in our region for the 2015 year. Special thanks to Coastal Virginia Magazine's publisher, Randy Thompson; editor and chief, Melissa Stewart; Creative Director, Dave Uhrin; Videographer, Chris Conway; and everyone who voted for Blankets for the Homeless in the 2014 Giving Back Awards. We are appreciative of all those who help spread the word and bring awareness to the community about the homeless. We also want to congratulate all of the other non-profits who work endlessly for their cause to make a positive impact.

Blanket Girl' hopes her heartwarming mission will spread this Christmas

Twenty years after she was born and abandoned on Christmas Eve, Mariah Smith is working to warm the hearts and spirits of those in need this holiday season, earning the nickname "Blanket Girl."

Smith, the founder of Blankets for the Homeless, started her mission at the age of 17, after an encounter in a parking lot left a lasting impression. She saw a homeless man coughing and shivering, and, wanting to do something to ease his discomfort, gave him a blanket from her car and offered her the food she had just bought.