Helping kids live better really matters for Walmart and Sam's Club associates, customers and members in Hawaii who in just six weeks raised $276,831 for Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. The Hawaii campaign results are a 19-percent increase from last year and come when the national campaign reaches a major milestone mark. Walmart and Sam’s Clubs across the country and Canada have now cumulatively raised more than $1 billion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since the fundraising effort began in 1987.
Kapiolani, Hawaii’s only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, partnered with the 10 Walmart stores and two Sam’s Clubs in Hawaii for the local campaign. The island locations were also included in the national spotlight with three Hawaii stores recognized in the top 20 for most successful finishes when compared among other markets for Walmart in the U.S. The top local fundraising Walmart stores for 2018 were Hilo, Fort Street Mall and Mililani. The Hilo location led all Hawaii stores by raising $45,000.
This year’s donations from local Walmart and Sam’s Club stores will fund Kapiolani’s efforts to provide health care services and specialized programs for women and children regardless of a family’s ability to pay. The Child Life program, Critical Care Transport services, Animal-Assisted Therapy program and Chaplaincy services are among the many healing touches at Kapiolani that are not covered by insurance and benefit from this successful fundraiser.
Walmart and Sam’s Club in Hawaii have now raised $2,911,496 for Kapiolani since 1995 to help support Hawaii’s only maternity, newborn and pediatric specialty hospital. As a not-for-profit medical center, Kapiolani treats keiki no matter their illness or injury.
“The needs for our keiki are never-ending, so the generosity of our local Walmart and Sam’s Clubs associates, customers and members makes all the difference,” said Martha Smith, CEO of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. “The associates have become more than fundraisers for our medical center – they are passionate ambassadors of our medical center who truly believe together we can create a healthier Hawaii. We are extremely thankful for every contribution.”
“We’re honored to be able to support the patients, families and staff at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and their valuable programs each year,” said Lance McAlister, Hawaii Market Manager for Walmart. “Our Hawaii stores’ creative fundraising efforts and inspiring customer support have totaled nearly $3 million over the years. In fact, three of our Hawaii stores are among the top 20 Walmart stores nationwide this year for the CMN campaign.”
Money is raised primarily through a register campaign where customers and members contribute $1 or more when they checkout. Local Walmart and Sam’s Club associates also fundraise in other ways including bake sales, in-store contests and events. Every contribution impacts Hawaii as 100 percent of every dollar donated to the Kapiolani Children’s Miracle Network stays in the islands to support programs and services.
For more information on Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, visit CMNHospitals.org.
PHOTO CAPTION: Representatives from Walmart stores in Hawaii recently gathered at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children to celebrate their successful fundraising campaign for Kapiolani, Hawaii's only Children's Miracle Network Hospital, with the organization's co-founder, Marie Osmond.
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About Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children is Hawaii’s only maternity, newborn and pediatric specialty hospital. It is well recognized as Hawaii’s leader in the care of women, infants and children. With 243 beds, the not-for-profit hospital delivers 6,000 babies a year, and is also a medical teaching and research facility. Specialty services for patients throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region include intensive care for infants and children, 24-hour emergency pediatric and adult care, critical care air transport and high-risk perinatal care. Over 1,600 employees and more than 650 physicians provide specialty care at Kapiolani. The hospital is home to the Kapiolani Women’s Center and the Women’s Cancer Center, and offers numerous community programs and services, such as specialty pediatric clinics and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Kapiolani is an affiliate of Hawaii Pacific Health, one of the state’s largest health care providers and a not-for-profit health care system with over 70 locations statewide including medical centers, clinics, physicians and other caregivers serving Hawaii and the Pacific region with high quality, compassionate care. In addition to Kapiolani, Hawaii Pacific Health includes Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Medical Center and Wilcox Medical Center. Learn more at Kapiolani.org.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2.2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Our philanthropy helps people live better by supporting upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where Walmart operates and inspiring our associates to give back. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit Giving.Walmart.com/Foundation.
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.