After the launch of tween retailer Justice (an ascena retail group company) and Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s spring “Give Hope” national store campaign in early April, the fundraising effort raised $535,369 during a four-week period with The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s the beneficiary. In the two years since the partnership between Justice and Nationwide Children’s was established, the specialty retailer has raised more than $1 million dollars for the hospital. The dollars raised benefit patients and families everywhere who seek out Nationwide Children’s expert research and care. In all, more than 1,000 Justice retail stores across the country participated in the campaign. In addition to donating at the time of their purchase, Justice customers also had an opportunity to give a gift online.
“We at Nationwide Children’s are truly grateful for this partnership with Justice,” said Jim Digan, President of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation. “In just two short years, Justice has helped us raise more than $1 million dollars to support pediatric research and that is a testament to the caring and compassionate nature of both the Justice stores’ customers and associates. I have personally visited a number of the Justice retailers throughout the nation, and it is evident that we have a great relationship with empathetic and kindhearted individuals and we look forward to coming together again in 2016 to help kids everywhere."
Not only will Nationwide Children’s and Justice partner again in 2016 to support pediatric healthcare research, but the hospital and the retailer also will continue to strive to empower tween-age girls, focusing on a strong sense of self.
“Beyond leading fashion, our business is focused on the empowerment and self-esteem of all tween girls during a very significant time in their lives,” Justice CEO Brian Lynch said. “The Give Hope campaign nicely resonates with our customers who see the value of helping kids everywhere. And our partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital further serves our tween girl’s physical, and mental health. Even better, we both do so nationally and globally. Our missions nicely align and we are honored to continue with this partnership.”
Lauren Cunningham – Age 10, from Lima, Ohio
Lauren Cunningham was the beautiful face and soul of the Give Hope national campaign.
Lauren began her journey at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in May 2014 and will remain in care at the hospital through the Fall of 2016. After feeling ill following a day-long softball tournament and several diagnoses of sinus infections, Lauren began suffering from increased
headaches, pain and double vision. Lauren then was diagnosed with leukemia and began a difficult road of treatment, which unfortunately led to time spent in the ICU at the beginning of her therapy. In addition to sharing her story during the Give Hope campaign, Lauren has actively participated in other Nationwide Children’s initiatives to Help Kids Everywhere as she also has engaged in the “Bald is Beautiful” fundraising challenge illustrating how her strength is a beacon of light for her family. A fashion savvy 10-year old, Lauren recently was invited by Justice to take a behind the scenes tour of the retailer’s headquarters in New Albany, Ohio, about 30 minutes east of Downtown Columbus. As a guest, Lauren visited several departments and staff, including the creative and fashion design and textile design teams, and learned what it takes to design the latest trends for tween-age girls. Read and watch more about Lauren and her family’s journey.
About Justice
Headquartered in New Albany, Ohio, Justice is part of The Ascena Retail Group, Inc. With over 1,000 stores throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, Justice is the premier tween specialty retailer in the world. Justice provides the hottest fashion merchandise and accessories for tween (age 7-12) girls. Justice also offers fashions to tween girls through its e-commerce site, shopjustice.com. To learn more about The Ascena Retail Group, Inc., visit asceanretail.com.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Ranked 9th of only 12 children's hospitals on U.S. News & World Report’s 2015-16 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare networks providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide Children’s has a medical staff of 1,100 and nearly 10,000 employees providing state-of-the-art pediatric care for one million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. Nationwide Children’s remains true to the original mission since its founding in 1892 of providing care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.