Making Miracles For Keiki
By Stacey Acma, director, Kapiolani Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is celebrating its 30-year anniversary. Since 1983, the organization has raised more than $4.7 billion – most of it $1 at a time – for 170 premier children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada. Most importantly, when a gift is made through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, 100 percent of every donation must stay in the community where it was raised, ensuring that every dollar is directed to the support of hospitalized local kids. That means care for Hawaii’s most critically ill keiki can be delivered close to home, where it is needed the most.
These donations have supported research and training, purchased specialized equipment, assisted with patient and family travel and paid for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.
Right now there’s a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital working to save the lives of children in our community. Our hospital is Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, which serves close to 70,000 families throughout the Pacific region annually. These are not just “patients.” They are a teenager preserving the hopes of a future while battling cancer, a young athlete suffering from a traumatic injury, and caregivers investing in the life of a premature infant whose weight is measured in grams rather than ounces. Our Children’s Miracle Network Hospital is dedicated to our most precious resource – the health and happiness of our keiki.
With the mission to increase funds and awareness for our local children’s hospital, we do not do it alone. Many successful national programs are executed with a local twist. For example, Hawaii’s Credit Unions for Kids, Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Ace Hardware and Marriott Hotels all have a hand in executing grassroots campaigns. Successful events are created from dedicated partners that engage employees, customers and members by telling local stories about local kids – the true miracles.
For more information, visit KapiolaniGift.org/KCMN.
