Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced today the successful completion of the Miracles At Play challenge with 100,000 people signing up to support the movement, resulting in a $100,000 gift from Wolfe Associates, Inc. The funds will be donated to Nationwide Children’s to support clinical programs, research and treatment for patients whose families have no ability to pay.
This past Valentines Day, Nationwide Insurance and Wolfe Associates, Inc. joined with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to launch Miracles At Play – a community-wide movement aimed at celebrating the many miracles that take place each and every day at the hospital. To kick-off Miracles At Play, a dramatic downtown wallscape featuring the “Miracle 7” children was unveiled. Donated by Nationwide Insurance, it towers 12 stories above downtown Columbus at 8 E. Long Street, and is one of the largest wallscape advertisements of its kind in the country.
“We’re pleased to see Miracles at Play gain traction in our community,” said Chad Jester, vice president of corporate citizenship for Nationwide. “The wallscape provided a dramatic way to introduce Miracles at Play, and support from partners like Wolfe Associates added to the momentum that began in February. It's great to see the support of Nationwide Children's Hospital grow as more people learn about the miracles happening there every day."
The public was invited to become a part of the movement by signing up at MiraclesAtPlay.org, “liking” the hospital on Facebook, following the hospital on Twitter @nationwidekids, or sharing their own miracle stories at MiraclesAtPlay.org. For each person who signed up to support the movement, Wolfe Associates, Inc. offered to donate $1 to the hospital.
“We are gratified that the community embraced this challenge and joined the Miracles At Play movement to support the hospital,” said John F. Wolfe of Wolfe Associates, Inc. “The challenge provided a way for everyone in the community to join us to help the children who are still waiting for their miracle to happen. Wolfe Associates, Inc. is proud to have been a part of the Miracles At Play kick-off challenge.”
The sign-up challenge was just the beginning of Miracles At Play, and what Nationwide Children’s hopes to be an on-going community effort. After joining the movement, supporters learn more about inspirational stories from inside Nationwide Children’s and are able to share their own miracle story (as patients and families). As part of the movement, they also have the opportunity to support the hospital through events and on-line activities such as sending e-greeting cards to hospitalized patients.
“On an average day, nearly 3,000 children and their families turn to Nationwide Children’s,” said Steve Allen, MD, chief executive officer of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “We are here to provide the absolute best care for every one of them and no child is turned away because of the family’s inability to pay. This is only possible because of the amazing support we have here in Columbus from individuals and organizations like Nationwide Insurance and Wolfe Associates, Inc. Miracles are made possible at Nationwide Children’s because the people in this community care so much about all of our kids. On behalf of our patients, we extend heartfelt appreciation to our community, Nationwide Insurance and Wolfe Associates for their generous support.”
