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CAMP HILL, Pa. — The Rite Aid Foundation announced today that it’s awarding $2.3 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the nation through a special KidCents Grant Program. The grants will enable local children’s hospitals to advance initiatives focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children in the communities Rite Aid serves.
“Rite Aid and The Rite Aid Foundation have been passionate supporters of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for 25 years. Through our annual in-store Miracle Balloon Campaign and other special events, we’ve raised more than $92 million for local children’s hospitals,” said Tracy Henderson, director of The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives. “We are excited to expand the reach of our partnership and help local children’s hospitals make an even greater difference in their communities
KidCents Grants awarded to children’s hospitals in targeted communities range from $49,124 to $300,000 and support existing programs or initiatives focused on children’s health and wellbeing.
Specific Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and programs receiving funding include:
Penn State Children’s Hospital
Hershey, Pa.
The program provides scholarships for children with special medical needs to attend one of 11 medical camps. These camps give kids the chance to experience everything from swimming to rock climbing in an environment that’s medically safe. Kids build self-esteem, learn new skills and meet new friends who face similar challenges. The camps also provide respite time for caregivers. In some cases, this is the only week of the year when they are not on call 24/7.
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle, Wash.
Science education outreach programs help address gaps in science education for students from low-resource schools. The programs are focused on stimulating an interest in science in elementary school students, as well as providing training and developing job skills in science and healthcare for high school students through experiential learning activities and field trips.
Akron Children’s Hospital
Akron, Ohio
A Safe Sleep Campaign, conducted in partnership with multiple community partners, provides Safe Sleep Kits to at-risk families in Summit, Portage and Stark counties. All families receiving Safe Sleep Kits will participate in an educational session, which includes an overview of recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Ohio Department of Health ABCs of Safe Sleep education, and a presentation of safe crib set-up and tear-down. Participants are also required to demonstrate proper crib assembly.
“We want to thank The Rite Aid Foundation for this incredible gift to fund medical camps for Penn State Children’s Hospital patients. With this donation, we will be able to send more than 250 kids to 11 camps next summer. These specialized camps provide kids a week without limits,” said Deborah Berini, president of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Whether kids have a ventilator, battle a heart condition, or deal with a behavioral challenge, these campers have the chance to swim, rock climb and meet new friends who are just like them in an environment that is medically safe. Rite Aid’s increased support of camps is such a meaningful way to celebrate the company’s 25-year partnership with Penn State Children’s Hospital. Thank you for giving kids the gift of growing up!”
Rite Aid has been supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for a quarter of a century. Every year, Rite Aid associates from across the country come together to raise money through the annual Miracle Balloon Campaign. In 2018, the campaign raised $4.5 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to help administer life-saving care, purchase medical equipment and provide critical funds to more than 90 hospitals located in Rite Aid communities.
