Walmart and Sam’s Club stores to raise money for Niswonger Children’s Hospital

Walmart and Sam’s Club stores are helping people in this region live better – by partnering with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to raise money for local hospitals, like Niswonger Children’s Hospital.

On Monday, June 10, the retailer kicked off its annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign, which runs until Sunday, July 7. As the regional affiliate of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Niswonger Children’s Hospital is the recipient of all local fundraising, retail partnerships and sponsorship support, which enables the children’s hospital to enhance the care it provides to local babies, children, teens and their families.

Money is raised primarily through a register campaign where customers and members contribute $1 or more when they check out. Associates also fundraise in other ways, including bake sales, in-store contests and events.

“Ballad Health is working to create a healthier region – starting with healthier babies and children – and money raised through the Walmart and Sam’s Club campaign will help make our vision, plans and goals for the future a reality,” said Lisa Carter, chief executive officer of Niswonger Children’s Hospital and Ballad Health’s vice president of pediatric services. “This campaign makes it possible for our children’s hospital to provide enhanced care and services, close to home.

“The children and teens we serve at Niswonger Children’s Hospital are our future. Thanks to the thousands of people in our region who support this campaign, whether they’re shoppers or store associates, they help us be the place that makes kites fly, that helps and heals the young people of our region – and, ultimately, that makes hope rise.”

Money raised at Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Walmart and Sam’s Club stores goes directly to benefit the sick and injured kids treated by Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Funds are used to pay for a variety of needs at the children’s hospital, including equipment, research, supplies and charitable care. Niswonger Children’s Hospital is also working on telemedicine links to reach the emergency departments of all 21 Ballad Health hospitals and pediatric clinics throughout the region and serves more than 200,000 children in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina.

Niswonger Children’s Hospital became the regional Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate in early 2018. Last year’s campaign – the first to benefit Niswonger Children’s Hospital – generated more than $200,000 for local children’s care. Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the United States and Canada collectively raised more than $63.3 million in 2018, with funds supporting charity care, equipment, research and health education and prevention at children’s hospitals across the country.

“Even though the partnership between Niswonger Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is relatively new, we’ve already been fortunate to collaborate with many philanthropic businesses and people who are passionate about improving children’s health,” said Jack Simpson, president of Ballad Health Foundation. “Ballad Health is grateful to everyone who steps forward to join us as we build a legacy of superior health in this region, and that legacy starts with our youngest patients and residents.”

Walmart and Sam’s Club joined the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising family in 1987, with Sam Walton himself being personally involved in the beginning of the relationship between the organizations. The fundraising campaign supports Walmart’s goal of giving back to local communities, and nationally, Walmart and Sam’s Club have surpassed the $1 billion fundraising mark for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the U.S. and Canada – the largest amount ever raised by a company for a nonprofit in North America.

“Walmart, Sam’s Club and Ballad Health are all leaders in our region’s economic development, and with that comes a calling and drive to make our communities better,” said Emily Bowman, a Walmart store manager based in Johnson City. “By coming together, we can make southern Appalachia an even greater place to live and grow up. We’re also continually humbled and amazed by the compassion and generosity our shoppers show during this campaign, as well as the store associates who go above and beyond to make it a success.”

Customers and members can also help spread the word about the campaign via social media using the hashtag #HelpKidsLiveBetter.