WAL-MART Surpasses $300 Million Raised for CMN

Locally Wal-Mart associates and customers have raised more than$572,753 for Faxton-St. Luke’s HealthcareFaxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare and Children’s Miracle Network announced today that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has reached an incredible milestone in the organization’s history – donating and raising more than $300 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in 18 years. Donations made to Children’s Miracle Network directly benefit 170 children’s hospitals in North America including Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. Participation by Wal-Mart in Utica this year has grown to five Wal-Mart stores and a Distribution Center, providing a very large support base for Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare.“Wal-Mart’s associate-based fund raising is unprecedented,” said Mick Shannon, co-founder of Children’s Miracle Network. “In addition to contributions made through the Wal-Mart & SAM’S CLUB Foundation, associates nationwide band together every year to carry out grassroots fund raising efforts at their locations to help local children’s hospitals – and they engage customers and community to take part. It’s a unique approach that works extremely well.” Through bake sales, softball and golf tournaments, selling Children’s Miracle Network balloons and other activities Wal-Mart and SAM’S CLUB efforts have helped fund programs, services and equipment that provides direct patient care to local women and children.Sharra Decker, mother of then four-month-old Elissa White, knows first-hand the importance of having a CMN hospital in our community. Elissa was diagnosed with viral meningitis las September and was admitted to the Pediatric Unit at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. “Elissa was in the hospital for three days,” Sharra said. “It was a very stressful time for our family. I had to be strong and close to home for my other two daughters. The staff was strong for me. The nurses and child life specialist were a great support team.” Today Elissa is a healthy and happy eleven-month-old who always has a smile on her face.“Wal-Mart associates have a strong commitment to give back and help others,” said Betsy Reithemeyer, vice president of Wal-Mart Corporate Affairs. “One hundred percent of the dollars raised for Children’s Miracle Network stays within the communities where funds are donated, which is in step with our philosophy of giving back locally. It is our customers and associates who help make miracles possible each year for the children at these hospitals.” "We are so fortunate to have the support of Wal-Mart,” said Andrea LaGatta, Children’s Miracle Network Coordinator. “The nurses, physicians, staff and the children at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare thank Wal-Mart associates and customers in our area for supporting the hospital and Children’s Miracle Network and for making miracles a reality in our community.” Sharra Decker is thankful for the care they received during her daughter’s illness and is anxious to give back to an organization that has been so generous to her. About Faxton-St. Luke’s HealthcareSince 1992, the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare has worked diligently to help children and their families who come to Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. In 2004, more than $500,000 was raised from individuals, corporations, businesses, and civic groups to treat children suffering from illnesses and recovering from accidents at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare. Without CMN funding, these children and their families would often times have to travel to Syracuse or Albany for treatment. CMN dollars raised in the Mohawk Valley provide services, state-of-the-art equipment, and the comfort of being close to home, family and friends. To learn more go to http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/.About Children’s Miracle NetworkChildren's Miracle Network—the alliance of premier hospitals for children—is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind. To learn more go to http://www.cmn.org/.