Walmart raises money for children’s hospital

Walmart raises money for children’s hospital
By Andy Hallman
Published:
Monday, June 21, 2010 2:59 PM CDT
The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital will soon receive a donation of more than $11,000. That was the amount of money raised by Walmart’s Washington branch in its “Six week miracle campaign” which concluded Saturday. The money will go toward the pediatric dialysis unit in the Children’s Hospital.

Walmart office associate Holly ElFenniche said the donations will go toward creating the first children’s dialysis unit in the state of Iowa. She said that no such unit exists in Iowa specifically for children.

The bulk of the money Walmart raised came from its customers, who were asked if they would like to make a $1 donation to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. For every $25 that a cashier raises from his or her customers, a group of co-workers gather around to perform the “chicken dance.”

“Our store manager [Dennis Purcell] has also done the ‘Pee Wee Herman dance,’” said ElFenniche.

“The prior record for a whole year was $7,200,” said Johnathan Ford, Walmart assistant manager. “We’ve done more in the past six weeks than what used to be raised in a year.”

Ford said that Walmart supports the Children’s Miracle Network all year long, but that it makes its big push in the late spring. He said it is important that the hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network know that there will be enough money for the kids who need it.

“Even though the hospital may have its health care prices going through the roof, at least there will be money there to provide for that kid,” said Ford.

ElFenniche said she was very happy to have raised so much money for the Children’s Hospital.

“We’re extremely pleased our customers came through time and again,” she said.

ElFenniche mentioned that one Walmart employee in particular, Beulah Mohler, raised $1,500 herself.

The Children’s Hospital has touched the lives of many local families. Among them is the Waters family from Ainsworth. Jenna Waters is the 5-year-old daughter of Christina and Jared Waters, and was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer in January 2009. Jenna began receiving chemotherapy for the cancer almost immediately from the Children’s Hospital. Jenna went to the Children’s Hospital on a monthly basis for one year, and spent three days in the hospital every time she went.

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