LAREDO, TEXAS (Feb. 1, 2018) - Walmart and Sam’s Club associates are helping “put the money where the miracles are” again this year with a combined fundraising effort raising over $521,000 for The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation following the annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign. The fundraising efforts are part of a broader national effort that raised more than $35 million in support of the 170 member hospitals across the country.
“There is a great sense of community when our associates and our customers can rally around a cause we all believe in like supporting CMN Hospitals,” said Walmart Market Manager George Herrera. “We always say that every dollar counts, and we are so grateful for our customers and members who donate to help children live better. Their passion for helping kids served by The Children’s Hospital has never wavered, and it inspires us to go bigger and do more every year.”
The Walmart store on San Bernardo Avenue in Laredo raised over $117,000 and is the top fundraising store in the nation for the third consecutive year. This generous gift will advance the mission of The Children’s Hospital to bring an unprecedented level of pediatric heath care to San Antonio and its entire service area, including Laredo. Associates engaged in various fundraising events over the seven-week campaign in addition to the in-store register donations.
“Walmart and Sam’s Club associates’ support for children treated at our partner hospitals has always been rooted in an authentic desire to help kids in need,” said John Lauck, president and CEO, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Their passion is amplified millions of times over by customers and members who believe in our mission to give kids a chance at a better life. Their incredible response to the store- and club-level fundraising efforts are inspiring and impactful.”
“The funds collected at Walmart and Sam’s Clubs stores will help fund medical care, research, and education at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio,” said John E. Bel, president of The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. “With the help of our generous community, we are improving lives of children treated at our hospital, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay. We are truly grateful for their continued support.”
Walmart and Sam’s Club have supported Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for 30 years. Funds raised impact each of the 170 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which treat 10 million kids annually across North America. Hospitals utilize the funds based on what they need most - including lifesaving equipment and research, top therapy programs, charitable care and more.
Fundraising efforts have evolved over the last 30 years. While donations at the registers drive most of the fundraising at stores and clubs during the campaign, associates also get creative by hosting fundraising events. Walmart and Sam’s Club associate efforts and generosity were acknowledged this morning at a community check presentation at the San Bernardo Walmart.
Associates were awarded a traveling trophy to honor the store’s status at the top fundraising store in the nation.


About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. The company’s legal name will become Walmart Inc., effective on Feb. 1, 2018, to reflect its growing status as an omni-channel retailer. Each week, over 260 million customers and members visit our more than 11,600 stores under nearly 60 banners in 28 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2017 revenue of $485.9 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart.
About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
About The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation was founded in 1955 to support The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is the first free-standing hospital in San Antonio solely dedicated to the care of children. Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is owned by CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System. Founded in 1869 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston and San Antonio, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a Catholic, faith-based, nonprofit health and wellness ministry dedicated to extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and providing the highest quality medical care and services available. As one of the top health care organizations in South-Central Texas, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa has five hospital campuses, with campuses located in downtown San Antonio, the South Texas Medical Center, in New Braunfels, in Westover Hills, and a short-stay surgical hospital in Alamo Heights. For additional information on The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation, visit www.childrenshospitalsafoundation.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chosafoundation, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/csrfoundations.
Media Contact:
Bernadette Lewis, KGBTexas Communications on behalf of Walmart, (917) 501-6784, bernadettel@kgbtexas.com