local Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members raise more than $132,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital

Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members in the Dayton area put their money where the miracles are during the annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising campaign.

The Dayton community raised $132,951 for Dayton Children’s Hospital during the 2018 campaign. The effort was part of a national campaign for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals which resulted in more than $36 million raised across the country, putting the total raised in the U.S. and Canada since 1987 over the $1 billion mark.

“Research done by Engage for Good shows that the cumulative $1 billion in cash raised for CMN Hospitals over the years by Walmart and Sam’s Club represents the largest amount ever raised for a nonprofit by one company in North America,” said David Hessekiel, president of Engage for Good, a trade group that tracks cross-sector efforts to generate positive social and business impacts.

Donations poured in August 27 to October 7, as Walmart and Sam’s Club associates at 23 locations held various in-store fundraising activities and asked customers and members at the register to help kids live better. Most of the money was raised one dollar at a time, by asking customers to purchase a miracle balloon in support, however associates at each store held a special event to add to those dollars, such as a golf outing, a car show and a garage sale.

“We have been proud to partner with Walmart and Sam’s Club and Children’s Miracle Network for many years,” says Deborah Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s Hospital.  “Their donations have been crucial in purchasing the life-saving and life-changing equipment for Dayton area children. Just last year, we named the eighth floor activity room in our new patient tower for them in honor of their efforts.”

“The $1 billion raised by Walmart and Sam’s Club customers, members and associates has changed the world of children’s healthcare,” said John Lauck, president and CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Because of their generosity, tens of millions of kids across the U.S. and Canada are living better.”

Walmart and Sam's Club funds impact each of the 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which treat one in 10 children across North America. Hospitals use the funds based on what they need most — typically providing lifesaving equipment and research, supporting top therapy programs and providing charitable care.

About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity's Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children's hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.