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36th Annual Celebration Broadcast Raises More Than $1 Million!

Miracle Children and their stories of remarkable courage during life-threatening illnesses and injuries helped make the 36th annual Celebration Broadcast a tremendous success.

This year’s telethon was marked by a very special announcement. A true friend of James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital called to say that they would match, dollar for dollar every donation that was called in up to $100,000. This family, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a passion for children in eastern North Carolina and wants to ensure every child has the best chance possible to get better. They are so very grateful for all of the hard work, dedication and compassion that the team provides at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital. They also recognize this past year has been incredibly difficult for everyone and hoped to provide an extra incentive for people to open their hearts and donate.

Thanks to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ longtime television partner, WITN, which produces the fundraiser, this year’s Miracle Children were able to share their heartwarming stories of complex illnesses and traumatic injuries and the quality medical care they received from James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at Vidant Medical Center.

The theme of this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign has been “Change Kids’ Health, Change the Future” which shows how important donations are in helping shape a healthier tomorrow for patients served at Maynard Children’s Hospital.

Major contributors to the yearly event, held June 6 to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, featured contributions from long-time supporters from across eastern North Carolina including Speedway, Walmart/Sam’s Clubs, and Jersey Mike’s Subs.

“Caring individuals, community groups, businesses and others show how much they care about children by providing generous contributions to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In eastern North Carolina, this generosity enables the Maynard Children’s Hospital, located in Greenville and serving 29 counties, to see beyond obvious treatment and save more lives,” said Bill Mitchum, chair, Vidant Health Foundation Board of Trustees. “The care and high-quality treatment received here will continue into the future through this year’s amazing donors.”

The Celebration Broadcast featured guests and sponsors who have contributed during the past year, as well as callers who pledged their support.

Earlier this year, the Music for Miracles Radiothon on Inner Banks Media Stations raised $111,392 during the 24th year of their special event, bringing their total raised to more than $3.6 million. The Inner Banks Media radio stations include: 107.9 WNCT, 103.7 WTIB (Talk of the Town); Talk 96.3 WRHT; Groovin’ Oldies 94.1 and 97.9; and 94.3 The Game.

The largest donor to this year’s campaign came from a long-time corporate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Speedway, which raised $178,990 in their sixth year of partnership with Maynard Children’s Hospital.

Other major donors and their gifts included Walmart/Sam’s Clubs with $158,044, Jersey Mike’s Subs (eastern North Carolina stores) with $125,854; and Panda Express with $46,919.

Several local fundraising initiatives proved successful for this year’s campaign, including Extra Life with $17,593; ECU Dance Marathon with $13,013; and Dance Arts Theatre’s Nutcracker Ballet with $11,455.

Other campaign contributors were RE/MAX with $12,200; Ace Hardware with $12,025; The Electric Cooperatives of Eastern NC with $10,000; Log a Load for Kids with $10,000; Phi Mu Chapter of ECU with $9,593; Ollie’s with $6,826 and 264 Shoes and Apparel with $6,044. Pepsi/Minges Bottling Group; Eastern Radiologists, Inc.; and Harris, Creech, Ward and Blackerby, P.A. each contributed $5,000.

Additional gifts were from, Baynor with $4,000; Builder’s Discount Center in Emerald Isle with $3,000;  IHOP with $2,672; Grady White Boats with $2,500; Central Heating and Air Conditioning with $2,000; Care-O-World Enrichment Learning Center with $1,775; MSL Health Care Partners, Inc. with $1,500; Publix with $1,510; Miller & Friends Lemonade Stand with $1,400; Equipment Plus, Inc. and brothers, Arun and Ajay Ajmera each with $1,100. Aldridge and Southerland; Team Lighting; Ricci Law Firm; Stallings Plumbing, Heating and AC and Coldwell Bankers Coastal Rivers Realty each gave $1,000.

The local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising program is staffed and supported by the Vidant Health Foundation, the non-profit charitable corporation that serves as the custodian for all financial gifts and bequests to Vidant Health. The Vidant Health Foundation oversees allocation of all donated funds.