Contact: Alicia Jakubcin
Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network
(407) 481-2774 (o)
(407) 832-5259 (c)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORTY ORLANDO WAL-MART'S
PLEDGE $40,000 FOR CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK
ORLANDO , FL – On Tuesday,
March 29, 2005 over 40 Wal-Mart, SAM'S CLUB and Neighborhood
Market stores – throughout six counties – will celebrate the
birthday of their founder, Sam Walton. During the “Birthday
Bash,” each store will set a goal to raise $1,000 for Children's
Miracle Network (CMN).
To reach their target, the stores
will involve customers and associates in the festivities.
They will create unique and individual fundraising activities
such as: selling CMN paper balloon icons at the registers,
having cookouts in the parking lots and holding contests between
associates. The stores will strive to meet the goal to honor
their leader‘s wishes, by continuing to demonstrate the community-friendly
standing Wal-Mart has always upheld.
Sam Walton originated the partnership
between Wal-Mart and Children's Miracle Network over 18 years
ago. He was intrigued by the organization and the fact that
each of his stores would be supporting children in their own
community. In a planning meeting early on with Children's
Miracle Network co-founder, Mick Shannon, Sam said: “Our associates
will amaze you!” Since then, Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB stores
have continued to raise money for Children's Miracle Network
– totaling 300 million dollars in the United States and Canada
.
In Greater Orlando - Orange , Osceola,
Brevard, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties - Wal-Mart
stores raised $215,000 in 2004 for Shands Children's Hospital
at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for
Children & Women. These two hospitals use CMN funds each
year to purchase life-saving equipment, patient education,
diversionary activities for the children, and to further research
in some of the countries greatest medical challenges. Without
the commitment to CMN from Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB, some of
the innovative and vital additions to these two hospitals
would not have been possible.
_______
Children's Miracle Network began in
1983 to help children by actively supporting better health
care for kids. Today, more than 170 hospitals throughout North
America , specializing in pediatrics, are affiliated with
Children's Miracle Network . Shands Children's Hospital at
the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
& Women share the funds raised through Greater Orlando
Children's Miracle Network. For more information about Greater
Orlando Children's Miracle Network, visit www.gocmn.org.
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Contact Greater Orlando Children's Miracle Network, 22 West Lake Beauty Drive, Suite 102 - Orlando, FL 32806. Phone: 407-481-2774.
 
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