Rite Aid’s 2015 Miracle Balloon campaign is now underway for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital. A leading nonprofit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals to provide pediatric equipment, treatments, research, therapy programs and charitable care benefiting local sick and injured kids, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have benefitted generously from Rite Aid, which became a sponsor in 1994 and currently is the organization’s sixth-largest corporate partner. To date, Rite Aid has raised nearly $70 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including $6.3 million in 2014.
Now through April 25, Rite Aid associates and customers can give the gift of a miracle by purchasing $1 paper Miracle Balloons, which will be proudly displayed in stores throughout the campaign. To show appreciation, supporters will receive $7 in coupon offers for a variety of items sold at Rite Aid.
Last year, central Ohio Rite Aid stores raised close to $6,000, which benefitted Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Throughout the spring campaign, associates and managers at the 13 central Ohio Rite Aid locations will join their counterparts from around the country, implementing and hosting various philanthropic efforts, including bake sales, in-store raffles, golf tournaments and car washes to help raise additional funds for their respective communities.
“Rite Aid’s annual campaign for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is just one of the many ways our associates bring our core value of being a caring neighbor to life,” said Ken Martindale, Rite Aid president, chief operating officer and president of The Rite Aid Foundation. “Our associates have such a passion for supporting their local children’s hospitals and I know through their efforts this year, they will make even more miracles happen."
“We are excited to be celebrating the start of another campaign with our long-time partner, Rite Aid,” said John Lauck, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals president and CEO. “We are so grateful for the support we receive each year, including $6.3 million in 2014, the 20th anniversary of our partnership. Each dollar Rite Aid customers, associates and supplier partners raise truly goes a long way in helping create miracles for sick and injured children.”
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2014 annual revenues of $25.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.
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, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital:
Ranked 7th of only 10 children's hospitals on U.S. News & World Report’s 2014-15 “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, also ranked among the Top 10 on Parents magazine’s 2013 “Best Children’s Hospitals” list, 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.
For further information, please contact:
Kristin Kellum: 717-975-5713
Kristin.kellum@riteaid.com