When funds find their way home

Most of us never expect a miracle to hit close to home, but that’s what happened for Sam’s Club #6569 general manager, Greg Sackett, in Bluefield, VA.

For years, Greg’s team at his Sam’s Club has supported the six-week fundraising campaign for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Funds from their store benefit West Virginia University Children’s Hospital. In 2011, the Bluefield store was the top fundraising Sam’s Club in the country, raising more than $39,000. It’s no secret Greg’s enthusiasm for supporting WVUCH is contagious among his fellow associates.

Greg has wrestled, Zumba danced and fished his way to fundraise on behalf of his Sam’s Club to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. His fellow associates also participate and make sure they ask members to donate.

What has helped fuel Greg’s passion for helping local kids? In 2010, he happily welcomed his baby daughter Carleigh into the world. But to his family’s dismay, she was stricken with a life-threatening throat problem preventing her from getting enough nutrients and oxygen. Thanks to the team at WVU Children’s Hospital, Carleigh was provided treatment that saved her life. Here she is pictured in 2012.

It wasn’t lost on Greg that the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at WVU Children’s Hospital is named in honor of Walmart & Sam’s Club to recognize the hard work of associates and members working together to save kids’ lives.

“I am so thankful for all that our Children’s Miracle Network Hospital has done for our family,” says Greg.

And he is also thankful for his fellow Sam’s Club associates who make miracles happen for families just like his, every May and June.

Smart Summer Snacking

Guest Author: Estela Schnelle, Registered Dietitian, Mom of two adorable girls, Editor of the blog Weekly Bite, and Official Dietitian for Produce for Kids

With summer right around the corner, this is the perfect time to take advantage of all the fresh seasonal produce. Kids playing outside in the hot summer months can work up their little appetites. Here are some of our favorite summer snacks.

• Watermelon Sticks: cut watermelon into wedges and insert popsicle stick in watermelon rind.

• Frozen Grapes: Wash and dry grapes, place in the freezer for 2-3 hours (or overnight) and you have a refreshing frozen treat. This snack is preferred for older kids, as it may be a choking hazard for the little ones.

• Smoothie Popsicles: We are big smoothie lovers in our house. In the hot summer months I make our favorite smoothies and pour them into popsicle molds. Here are our two favorite smoothie combos: 1) 1 frozen peeled banana, ½ cup yogurt, a handful of spinach. 2) 1 sliced peach, 1 sliced mango, 1 frozen banana.

• Banana “Ice Cream”: This is one of our all-time favorite snacks! Simply peel and slice a few bananas, place in a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze overnight.  When you’re ready for a creamy snack, place frozen banana slices in a food processor and blend until smooth. The result is a delicious, creamy, frozen treat that tastes just like ice cream! Add your favorite toppings to make a sundae.

When it comes to summer snacks the options are endless! Take advantage of all the delicious produce and check out Produce for Kids for more snack ideas!

Produce for Kids is an organization that encourages healthy eating among families by providing chef-created and nutritionist-approved healthy meal solutions and resources for parents, while raising funds for local children’s nonprofit organizations such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The following grocery stores are participating in a promotional campaign to raise funds for the local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. Simply purchase fresh produce items from a participating sponsor and a donation will be made to help local kids.

AWG (Major Savings, Advantage, Independent, Country Mart, Homeland, United) thru June 23
Fred Meyer June 14 – July 26
Kroger Southwest June 13 – July 24
Meijer thru June 23
Price Chopper June 17 – July 28
Publix thru June 28

A few guys worth hearing from

You may have heard the advertising campaign called "Radio Gets Results." The CMN Hospitals Radiothon team would certainly agree to this statement, as would our many member hospitals and the millions of kids they treat each year.

That's because since 1998, CMN Hospitals Radiothon supporters across North America have raised more than $450 million! Hospital employees, their partners and Miracle Families hit the airwaves to tell their stories, recap examples of what Radiothon dollars have provided and articulate what additional funds could do. Year in and year out, our hospitals' supporters are always there to call in and make a difference.

And all along the way, our Radiothon team has been there to help guide and grow. They have recently decided to share their stories through a multi-authored blog, and we're admittedly big fans! Their stories from the road and commitment to thinking big are evident in each post.

We love it all — from Anthony's blog about witnessing a hero in action to Everett's Billion Dollar Thinking for kids equation and the visual impact radio can have to Perry's consideration of the Why. We urge you to check it out and add it to your regular reading list. And though they may get this joke a lot, we can't resist: Let's hear it for the Radiothon Team!

 

#MiracleMoms

Guest blog from Stephanie, creator of How to Survive Life in the Suburbs.

It is my greatest pleasure to introduce #MiracleMoms! Children’s Miracle Network and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals have teamed up with a group of excited and motivated bloggers from across Canada and the United States to create an incredibly unique program. We call it #MiracleMoms.  

We are 10 bloggers telling 10 unique stories of struggle, hope and joy. Sharing intimate moments with moms who have experienced first hand the value of a children’s hospital in their local community.

These stories are intended to touch your heart in a way that showcases the critical need to raise awareness and funds for research, life-saving equipment and specialized programs to ensure our most vulnerable children receive excellence in care. #MiracleMoms is a group of loving, passionate, and motivated women eager to tell the stories of families who use, or have used, the services of Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals across North America.

The objectives of this program are really quite simple:  

1) To create awareness for Children’s Miracle Network and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

2) To create a forum to tell the remarkable stories of 10 very special families with respect, care and passion. 

3) To encourage our readers to join our teams and donate to their local children’s hospital.  Our hope is to harness the power of social media, to create a deeper understanding  and broader audience of support for children’s hospitals across North America, and in doing so raise funds for this very worthy cause.  

Please follow this exciting new program on Twitter, hashtag #MiracleMoms or visit our #MiracleMoms blogs below to read first hand the stories of real moms, real miracles and really cool kids!

My Organized Chaos
How To Survive Life In The Suburbs
Bored Mommy
Things I Can't Say
Tammy's Two Cents
Nugglemama's Handful
Loulou's Views
Listen To Lena
Busy Mommy
CMNH Radio

A Miracle Gift for Mother's Day

All of us at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals are big fans of moms. They not only teach and comfort us, they also make countless sandwiches, are great at reading bedtime stories and help us dream big. For the kids in our hospitals—right this very minute—they're also pillars of strength.  

We hope you all have a very happy Mother’s Day and show the moms in your lives how much you care. We loved this gift one of our staff members put together for her mom (we’re hoping she doesn’t see this until Monday!) and thought we'd share it with those of you still looking for the perfect present. Our favorite part of this idea: All of the items are from our 'May is for Miracles' partners. Honoring Mom while helping local kids? It's the perfect combo.  

‘Creating Miracles’ Charm Bracelet: White House Black Market, $20 ($10 goes to your CMN Hospital)
Hand Cream + Nail Polish: Rite Aid, $7
Tulips, 1 bunch: Costco, $10

Click here for a printable Mother's Day card:  Download Mother's Day Card

You can also donate to your local CMN Hospital when you visit a Chico's, White House | Black Market, Soma Intimates or Boston Proper store this May. Look for our (fashion-forward) Miracle Balloons to help kids in your area!

One flight, a lifetime of memories

Our staff at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is gearing up for a busy year with the 2012 Champions—one child from each state who represents all of the kids treated by the children’s hospitals in their area and real-life examples of the miracles happening every day.

While the ages, backgrounds and health issues of our Champions are often quite different, they all share a common trait of being incredibly inspiring kids. These Champions are hopeful, positive and—with insightfulness beyond their years—are often instrumental in helping create awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in their communities. 

In the fall, they travel to Washington, D.C. for a few days where they meet with delegates on the important work of children’s hospitals. Boarding a chartered Delta jet, the kids and their families arrive in Orlando, Florida where they meet with and inspire hospital staff and corporate, media and celebrity partners.

The Delta charter is always a highlight of the trip, as Champion families get to feel like celebrities in their own right as they board their own private 767. Over the years, though, we’ve found that the Delta staff aboard gets just as much joy out of the flight as the kids.

The 2011 Champions were fortunate to have Delta Captain Donald Schumacher fly their jet. He went to work that day not knowing who his passengers would be. Below is what the Captain shared with our Champions staff.

We love seeing first-hand how much our Champions mean to everyone they encounter...

 

Special Guest Post from 

Capt. Donald Schumacher

Delta Air Lines

Last October, I had the greatest pleasure meeting such wonderful children and their families, then flying them from Orlando to Washington, D.C. When I arrived back home, I could not stop talking to my wife and children about the most incredible flight of my Delta Air Lines career. Many of your "champions" stole my heart that day, and I revisited many of their stories while sharing the Champions yearbook with my own family. It is quite impossible to put into words how much that one flight meant to me. But the best was yet to come.

My wife took the pictures that your staff sent and created a beautiful music video of all the children set to the Carpenter's song "I'm on the Top of the World". She gave me this gift on Christmas Eve, along with the adorable framed picture you sent with all the children's names written on it. I was totally speechless as tears filled my eyes. That day, those children, their families, and all the people who made this event happen, live forever in my memory. If I have no other flight like this one in my remaining days as a pilot, I will thank God that He gave me such a special opportunity last October.

I appreciate what Children's Miracle Network Hospitals has done to make my life a little bit richer. I'm truly indebted.

(Below, Capt. Schumacher meets our 2011 Arizona Champion Jacob, our Rhode Island Champion Evan, and Oregon Champion Hanna as they prepare to board "Champions 1.")

 

Why May is for Miracles

From John Lauck, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals President and CEO

The month of May means a lot to us at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The promise of summer becomes more evident with each day, and the promise of saving and improving kids' lives is reflected in the many fundraising efforts happening this month across North America. It's why we say "May is for Miracles," and it's 31 days that truly impacts every one of our 170 member hospitals and the children they treat.

As you run errands and check off shopping lists these next few weeks, you may notice our Miracle Balloon at the register. Your decision to say "yes" adds a dollar or more to your receipt, and provides hope for families — some of whom you probably know. From a child being admitted to a child recovering from treatment, your decision to donate will be evident at your area's member hospital (looking for yours? You can find it here).

And believe me, your donation really adds up! Most of our funds are given $1 at a time, and with the encouragement of thousands of store employees motivated to help kids at their nearest CMN Hospital.

Just last year, contributions like yours helped raised a record-breaking $264 million, $30 million more than in 2010. These additional funds went to immediate use at our hospitals, but the need continually grows for life-saving treatments, charitable care, vital equipment and much-needed research.

I invite you to check out our website www.mayisformiracles.org to learn all about what's going on in your community’s stores, pharmacies and theatres. From purchasing a Miracle Balloon to sending a virtual "Smile" or spreading the word about your local member hospital, I hope you'll join us in making miracles happen for the kids and families in your communities this May, and every month. It starts with the power of one Balloon.

 

John Lauck, Mark Wills and Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan help introduce our 2011 Rhode Island Champion, Evan, treated for spina bifida at our Hasbro Children's Hospital.