Happy H lidays!
We are always
grateful for local
organizations
that give to
their Children’s
Miracle Network hospital through
employee giving campaigns.
Tree Top held their annual
campaign and the company
and its employees generously
gave over $12,600. Since
Yakima Housing Authority
employees started giving in
2004, the organization has
donated over $5,800. Thank
you for your continued
dedication to helping kids!
As most of you know by now, my name is Josh Munson and I am a new
development coordinator with The Memorial Foundation. I returned home to the
Yakima Valley after earning a degree in public relations at Washington State
University and working in student services for Washington State University’s
Global Campus. I have a passion for community engagement, traveling, and
Cougar football! As the holiday season arrives, The Foundation has been
embraced by our friends wanting to help those within our community that are in
need. While this is such a magical time of year, I get to witness the miracles that
all of you provide every single day of the year. I hope you realize how vital your
efforts are toward making miracles possible for local kids year-around. Thank
you and Happy Holidays!
Tyson’s Story
On December 7, 2000, Tyson was born 6-weeks
premature after his parents learned he was growing
at a disproportional rate: his head was growing
normally, his body was a few weeks behind his
head growth, and his arms and legs were growing
even slower than his body.
Tyson was at the UW Medical Center for a week and a half as doctors helped
strengthen his body, lungs and heart. He was then transferred to Memorial’s
NICU where he continued to grow stronger. When Tyson was discharged, he
weighed less than 5 pounds, but was strong and thriving on his own.
John Drakes and his brothers
from the Reckin Crue hosted
another Mayhem and Miracles
event. The group raised
$7,042.50. John says, “We
hold the event because we
believe in what Children’s
Miracle Network is about. We
are fathers, grandfathers and
uncles -- we know the fear and
pain that comes from a child
that is sick or hurting. If we can
help one family or one child to
be healthier and happier then all
the work is worth it.”
Today, Tyson is a healthy 16 year-old excited to drive and plays the trombone.
He holds the record in his PE class for doing the most consecutive pushups,
which he boasts is 100.
Throughout October, his mom Debbie organized a Thirty-One Gifts charitable
campaign for thermal tote bags which will be used for new mothers to safely
transport breast milk from home to the NICU. Debbie and Tyson donated 36
totes to be given to new moms and NICU babies, just like they once were.
To read the full story, visit our blog at cmnhospitals.org.
Our Name Change
As of November 1, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital has officially been renamed
Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital. This name change is a result of the
hospital entering into a partnership with the Virginia Mason Health System.
While the name of the hospital has changed, the mission has not: We will
continue to provide services to local kids with special healthcare needs, where
100% of the funds raised through Children’s Miracle Network stays local. We
look forward to continuing to achieve this mission with you in 2017.
Walmart associates embraced
this year’s change-in-campaign
schedule head on and fought
through the challenges that
came with it. Because of their
perseverance, the market goal
of $70,000 was exceeded and
$79,694.26 was raised over the
seven-week campaign! Thank
you for continuing to invite
customers to join this mission
where every dollar donated
helps kids in our community.
We welcomed a
new store location
for Love’s in
Boardman, OR,
this year. Each new
location sets a goal of $2,000 for
its campaign – this team nearly
tripled the goal by raising
$5,365.10! It’s that commitment
and dedication that gave this
year’s campaign a face and a
heart. We love Love’s!
Here’s the scoop
on the 2017
Miracle Treat
Day: It will be
held nationally
on Thursday, July 27. Mark
your calendars for a treat
because at least $1 from every
blizzard sold goes toward your
local Children’s Miracle Network
Hospital.
Costco ended its yearly Miracle May campaign with a
bang: Out of all of the hospitals in the Children’s Miracle
Network Hospitals Pacific Region, our market had the
largest percent increase (26.61%) from the previous year’s campaign. Great job
team on taking first place and raising $119,221.90 for our kids!
Under the leadership of Carol, Tiffani, Ali, and Denny, the
Ellensburg Rite Aid achieved its goal of being the store with
the largest percent increase in donations out of the entire
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Pacific Region! We continue
to be thankful for our partnership with such a giving company.
The past year marked Ace Harware’s 25th year of
partnership with Children’s Miracle Network. The
company was also named “Corporate Partner of
the Year!”. We celebrated over root beer floats at the Ace Hardware
Corporation Distribution Center. Over the last year employees at the
distribution center donated nearly $33,000 and proudly share that 94% of their
team members contribute monthly to Virginia Mason Memorial, their local
Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Cheers to another 25 years, Ace!
Our friends at IHOP this year gave back to Children’s Miracle
Network Hospitals through National Pancake Day and two
balloon campaigns. Our market is looking at increasing
donations by over $2,000 from 2015! Don’t forget to save
the date for one of our favorite days of the year: National Pancake Day will be
held on March 7!
It’s time to par-tee: The 2016 Golf to Give Classic, which
is sponsored by Apple Tree Resort, Ace Hardware and
Les Schwab, celebrated its 20th tournament on October 15
by raising $15,000! Even with the subpar weather of high winds and showers,
21 teams showed up to support the vision of enhancing children’s healthcare
across the Yakima Valley. Save the date: we look FORE-ward to seeing you
on the green again next year on Friday, September 15.
On October 7, Central Washington University students danced
their way to $4,025. The students joined a movement of more
than 200,000 student dancers across the country by hosting the
university’s first Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon.
The 127 participants danced for five hours to promote the
message that they were dancing #ForTheKids who can’t.
Thank you to the sponsors of the event: Roy Farms, Pizza Colin, Coca-Cola
Bottling of Yakima, and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Yakima.