Publix Super Markets customers and associates in Chattanooga and Cleveland heeded the call to “put their money where the miracles are” by showing immense support and raising money on behalf of sick and injured children treated at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.
The three-week fundraiser raised $25,788 locally for the new children’s hospital and resulted in a campaign life record of more than $4.6 million for 24 Southeast regional hospitals to fund life-saving equipment, programs and research. This year’s total resulted in more than $39 million raised nation-wide since the beginning of the partnership between Publix and Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals.
“We are so appreciative of the nine years of partnership we have had with Publix since the Hurricane Creek store opened in 2007,” said Rebecca Brinkley, director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. “Our Publix associates have once again raised the bar for our community by increasing donations made to the Children’s Hospital by an incredible 95% compared to last year’s fundraising campaign.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Publix associates and customers rallying to help their local CMNHospital through the purchase of $1, $3, and $5 “Miracle Balloons” at the register. Funds raised by local Publix locations will go directly to the Believe Campaign to build phase one of Erlanger’s new children’s hospital.
“We are honored to have the longtime support of Publix associates, customers and vendors, and especially appreciative of this year’s efforts to increase overall campaign fundraising by 16 percent,” said John Lauck, president CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “It’s inspiring to see the impact a community can have on local kids when given the opportunity to donate at the register.”
“Our associates have truly made the difference for the past 25 years,” said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. “Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve our stellar campaign results. And with the passion of our associates comes the generosity of our customers. We’ve always said, we have the best customers in the industry. And each year, they rise to the occasion to support our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.”