For 30 years now, local Ace Hardware stores across the Permian Basin have partnered up with Medical Center Health System to raise money for the annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Holiday Round-Up For Kids Campaign.
The annual fundraiser returns this year, with the campaign having begun Friday and ending on Dec. 24.
During the month-long fundraiser, Money is raised through a register campaign where customers can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar when they checkout.
“Customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar or they can donate more if they wish,” Children’s Miracle Network Program Director Haley Howey said.
100 percent of funds raised at the Ace Hardware stores go directly to benefit the sick and injured kids treated at Medical Center Health System.
Funds are used to pay for equipment, research, supplies, charitable care and a variety of other needs the NICU and Pediatric Units have.
“Those (funds) go to everything from equipment to help care for the kids and babies and provide care for the families like hotel stays, gas, even buying them supplies,” Howey said. “All of the funds that people donate at Ace Hardware stays local to help kids here.”
In the Permian Basin, Ace Hardware employees and customers have raised more than $260,000 for Medical Center Health System since 1991.
On a national level, Ace Hardware has raised more than $130 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in the United States and Canada.
Howey is hopeful that they can raise even more in 2021 with this year’s goal of $80,000.
“We’ve been slowly increasing that over the years,” Howey said. “It’s been steady growth with this campaign. Now more than ever, customers are finding out that it’s an easy way to give and it’s convenient. It adds up pretty quickly. Those little pennies add up more quickly than you realize. Every little bit helps. But even if you can’t give more than a few cents, it still adds up to make a big difference for these kids.”
Part of the reason for the fundraiser’s success has been in part to the increasing awareness and social media which has made it easier to get the word out every year.
“I think there’s been more of an awareness of what Round-Up actually is,” Howey said. “I think it’s become more mainstream giving so I think we’re seeing more of a trend that way. But it’s more convenient for people to give through these retailers. … it’s convenient and easy and when you’re already shopping at Ace Hardware, why not just round up your purchase to the nearest dollar.”
