Walmart and Sam’s Club Raise Funds for Kapi‘olani Med Center

Taylor is Hawai‘i’s Children’s Miracle Network Champion Child. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members recently wrapped up a six-week campaign to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country.

Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Hawai‘i’s only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, partnered with nine Walmart stores and two Sam’s Clubs in Hawai‘i to raise $163,175. The funds will go toward Kapi‘olani’s Pediatric Transport Team, a highly skilled group of nurses and respiratory therapists who provide lifesaving medical care to newborns and critically ill children needing special care while being moved to Kapi‘olani from across O‘ahu, the Neighbor Islands, and to the Mainland.

Nationally, through donations accepted at cash registers and in-store fundraising activities, Walmart raised more than $40.2 million for the 170 hospitals that make up Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and helps CMNH provide patient visits for more than 10 million kids each year.

Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Hawai‘i’s only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, partnered with nine Walmart stores and two Sam’s Clubs in Hawai‘i to raise $163,175. Courtesy photo.

“We’re so pleased to be able to support Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children and their valuable programs each year,” said Steven Reed, Hawai‘i market manager for Walmart. “Our store associates enjoy coming up with creative fundraising activities and the outpouring of support from our customers is truly inspiring.”

This year’s campaign is the most recent in annual fundraising by the retailers, as Walmart and Sam’s Club have collected more than $750 million since partnering with the charity in 1987. Walmart and Sam’s Club funds impact each of the 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which treat one in 10 children across North America. Hospitals utilize the funds based on the area of greatest need—typically for purchasing lifesaving equipment, supporting top therapy programs and providing charitable care.

Kapi‘olani CEO Martha Smith said donations like the one from Walmart and Sam’s Club are critical in order to help subsidize the costs of the Pediatric Transport program.

“We’re the only neonatal and pediatric transport system in the state,” said Smith. “The local community depends on us to provide this service, and we are so proud and thankful to Walmart and Sam’s Club and all of their associates for their passion and amazing show of generosity.”

Smith said that in fiscal year 2015, Kapi‘olani safely transported more than 675 patients across O‘ahu, from the Neighbor Islands and to the Mainland. This gift helps the team to continue to provide specialty care at Kapi‘olani, using an “ICU on wheels,” specially outfitted equipment for neonatal and pediatric care. This includes a state-of-the-art incubator, pediatric stretcher set ups, an on-board monitor to check a patient’s vital signs, a ventilator, an I.V. and special I.V. syringe pumps to dispense medication.

The retailer’s six-week campaign ran from May 1 to June 14, 2015. Walmart and Sam’s Club 2015 fundraising efforts will continue throughout the year at participating locations through various in-store activities.

For more information on Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, go online.