Walmart and Sam’s Club kick off fundraising campaign for Riley Hospital

Now through July 7, local Walmart and Sam’s Club stores are once again joining forces to raise money for Riley Hospital for Children during the annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign.

Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers, and members have raised over $23 million for Riley Hospital since 1987. Last year, Walmart and Sam’s Club passed the $1 billion fundraising mark for CMN Hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. This is the largest amount raised for a nonprofit.

“We are grateful for the continuous support and generosity of Walmart and Sam’s Club. They are committed to supporting the vital role Riley Hospital for Children plays in providing hope for sick and injured children,” said Jim Austin, Chief Marketing and Corporations Partnerships Officer for Riley Children’s Foundation.

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

The 2018 campaign raised $1,309,106 for Riley Hospital. This year’s register campaign runs until July 7. Customers and members can conveniently donate $1 or more when they check out at any Indiana Walmart or Sam’s Club stores.

Money raised at most Indiana Walmart and Sam’s Club stores goes directly to benefit the sick and injured kids treated at Riley Hospital. Funds are used to pay for equipment, research, supplies, charitable care, and a variety of other needs the hospital has.

Walmart and Sam’s Club joined the CMN Hospitals fundraising family in 1987 with Sam Walton himself being personally involved in the beginning of the relationship between the organizations. The fundraising campaigns supports Walmart’s goal of giving back to local communities.

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

About Riley Children’s Foundation

Riley Children’s Foundation is the fundraising arm of Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health and the founding organization that opened Riley Hospital in 1924. Today Riley Hospital is recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation and is the only comprehensive children’s research hospital in the state of Indiana. Be the Hope NOW: The Campaign for Kids aims to raise $175 million by June 2020 to transform Riley Hospital through three high-priority programs: Pediatric Research and Patient Care, Maternity and Newborn Health and Family Support Programs. Riley Children’s Foundation also funds Camp Riley and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home and Billie Lou Wood Visitor Center. For more information, visit BeTheHopeNOW.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RileyKids.

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at: CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

About Walmart in Indiana

In Indiana we serve customers at 130 retail units and online through Walmart Grocery Pickup, Walmart.com and Jet.com. We are proud to employ 39,055 associates in Indiana.  Walmart supports local businesses, spending $2 billion with Hoosier suppliers in FYE17, which supported 58,680 supplier jobs.  Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are active in Indiana communities where we live and work and invest in communities through local grants, customer engagement and associate volunteer efforts. In FYE17, we contributed more than $32.3 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Indiana and our local associates volunteered more than 53,000 hours with local causes. Learn more at the Walmart Today blog, and our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram channels.