CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORKMiracle Tree Project PutsWal-Mart and Sam’s Clubover the $1 Million MarkThis light icon is an exampleof the Miracle Tree icons soldby Sam’s Club #8266 in memoryof Brandon Camden. Asassociates sold the lights, theydecorated their tree with theicons. The club raised morethan $1,000, bringing its2007 total to more than$25,000.Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club associatesall over <strong>Arkansas</strong> and parts ofTexas and Louisiana raised money for<strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> with theMiracle Tree project from December1-24.Associates sold paper tree lighticons for $1 or more to customers andco-workers Each store’s goal was tosell a paper light for every real light ontheir in-store Miracle Tree. When allthe paper lights were sold for each tree,the tree was lit.“The Miracle Tree project was atremendous success for Wal-Mart andSam’s Club year-end Children’s MiracleNetwork fundraising efforts,” saysJennifer Selig, the Children’s MiracleNetwork director at the ACHFoundation. “Because of the associates’dedication and the support of the customers,Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club raisedmore than $1,061,000 for <strong>Arkansas</strong>Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong> in 2007.”The family of Brandon Camden poses in front of theMiracle Tree at Sam’s Club #8266 in North LittleRock. Brandon passed away in November after a longbattle with cancer. Brandon’s step-mother is an associateat the Sam’s Club in North Little Rock, and all of thatclub’s December Children’s Miracle Network fundraisingefforts were in memory of Brandon.Log A Load for Kids Event is Biggest EverThe Central <strong>Arkansas</strong> Log A Load chapter held its annual event inlate October. The event, which raised $140,000, was the largest Log ALoad event in <strong>Arkansas</strong>. The highlight was the auction of 10 loads oflogs, which brought in more than $40,000.“We are very fortunate that we have the support of the landownerswho donate their timber to help the kids,” says Bobby Taylor, a longstandingmember of the Central <strong>Arkansas</strong> chapter. “Their supportplays a big part in our continued success in fundraising for ACH.”Log A Load is a national giving program that brings together loggersand other people involved in forestry products businesses to raisefunds for local children’s hospitals associated with Children’s MiracleNetwork.In 2007, Log A Load completed their funding of a $1 million pledgeto support the imaging/MRI program at ACH.Loads of logs, the signature auction item at Log ALoad for Kids events, are lined up for inspection bybidders outside the Sheridan Community Center.20
CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORKCMN:Event Round-UpAce Hardware Corporation in Maumelle held its bi-annual sale inOctober and raised $8,761. The sale featured discontinued merchandiseavailable for Ace employees to purchase. The proceeds from thesale brought the Ace fundraising total for 2007 to $22,217.In January, <strong>Arkansas</strong> Federal Credit Union leaders presenteda $90,000 check to <strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong>.From left: John Bel, president of the ACH Foundation;Melissa Pickens, community development coordinator forthe ACH Foundation; Larry Biernacki, AFCU presidentand CEO; Gloriane Kabat, director of Child Life at ACH;and Jerry E. Spratt, AFCU board chairman. Photo byLarry PenningtonChild Life DepartmentBenefits From DonationIn January, Credit Unions for Kids Day was held on the ACHcampus. In 2007, Credit Union for Kids members raised more than$122,000 for the Child Life and Education department at ACH.Gloriane Kabat, director of Child Life and Education, spoke aboutthe donation and how it will impact the lives of patients. At the event,awards were given to the top-fundraising credit unions and attendeesheard from the parent of an ACH patient.One-year-old BradonBradley, who spent severalmonths in the ACHneonatal intensive careunit after birth, grabbedthe microphone from hisfather, Donny, during apresentation at CreditUnions for Kids Day.Donny Bradley wasspeaking about his family’sexperiences at ACH.<strong>Arkansas</strong> Federal Credit Union (AFCU) recently donated$90,000 to the Child Life and Education department at<strong>Arkansas</strong> Children’s <strong>Hospital</strong>. AFCU members and employeesraised $45,000 of the funds in various ways, includingpayroll deductions, a golf tournament, a two-week longsilent auction and several other events. AFCU’s board ofdirectors voted to match the amount raised by employeesand members, bringing the total to $90,000.The Child Life and Education department at ACHaddresses the emotional, social, educational and recreationalneeds of hospitalized children. Members of the Child Lifestaff use developmentally appropriate activities to minimizestress and anxiety for patients.AFCU supports the hospital through Credit Unions forKids, a Children’s Miracle Network program. Since 1998,<strong>Arkansas</strong> Federal has contributed more than $340,000 toACH.Great Plains Coca-Cola recently presented a check for $9,350 onbehalf of Wal-Mart to benefit ACH through Children’s MiracleNetwork. The money was raised through a Wal-Mart and Coca-Colapromotion. Many Wal-Mart locations in northwest <strong>Arkansas</strong> participated,including stores #144, #359 and #2745 in Fayetteville; #5260,#001 and #3479 in Rogers; #100 and #2741 in Bentonville; #054and #2742 in Springdale; #004 in Siloam Springs; and #373 inHuntsville.Phi Mu - Epsilon Lambda members attended Phi Mu Day atACH in November. Fundraising ideas and ACH patient stories wereshared, along with a learning session and detailed tour of the ACHPULSE (Pediatric Understanding and Learning through SimulationEducation) Center.RE/MAX of Conway held its 4th annual For the Children Tour ofHomes in December. The event featured tours of homes in theConway area, all decked out for the holidays. The event raised $1,000.21