Local Walmart and Sam’s Club stores raise more than $180,000 for Niswonger Children’s Hospital

Walmart and Sam’s Club stores are helping Niswonger Children’s Hospital make miracles – one dollar at a time.

During the annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign, which ran from June 10 to July 7, local stores raised more than $180,000 for the children’s hospital, primarily through customers and members who donated $1 or more when they checked out. Associates also fundraised in other ways, including bake sales, in-store contests and events.

“Since Niswonger Children’s Hospital became our region’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate, we’ve been fortunate to collaborate with philanthropic businesses and people who are passionate about improving local children’s health,” said Lisa Carter, chief executive officer of Niswonger Children’s Hospital and Ballad Health’s vice president of pediatric services. “Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, as well as supporters of this campaign, are making it possible for our children’s hospital to provide enhanced care and services, close to home.”

Twenty-five regional Walmart and Sam’s Club locations – including supercenters, warehouses, neighborhood markets and transportation centers – participated in the campaign. Their successful fundraising earned a No. 1 ranking in small markets for Walmart’s southeast region, and the stores in Kingsport and Norton, Virginia, were listed in the top 30 for fundraising, out of 5,677 participating stores nationwide.

“The Walmart fundraising campaign exemplifies a really powerful idea – that almost everyone has the power to do something, like donate their pocket change, to create a better future,” said Jack Simpson, president of Ballad Health Foundation. “Generous Walmart and Sam’s Club shoppers, as well as the dedicated store associates who made this campaign possible, make the Appalachian Highlands an even greater place to live and grow up.

“Ballad Health is grateful to everyone who steps forward to join us as we build a legacy of superior health in this region, and that legacy starts with our youngest patients and residents.”

For 32 years, Walmart and Sam's Club associates have been helping families in their communities live better by raising funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised $1 billion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and almost $6 million in this region.  

“Money raised at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores has completely revolutionized children’s healthcare, and we’re reaping the benefits of that at Niswonger Children’s Hospital,” Simpson said.

As the regional affiliate of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Niswonger Children’s Hospital is the recipient of all local fundraising, retail partnerships and sponsorship support, which means money raised at Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Walmart and Sam’s Club stores during the campaign directly benefits sick and injured kids treated by Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Funds are used to pay for a variety of needs at the children’s hospital, including equipment, research, supplies and charitable care.

Niswonger Children’s Hospital serves more than 200,000 children in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina.

“The children and teens we serve at Niswonger Children’s Hospital are our future. Thanks to our relationship with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and corporate partners like Walmart – as well as the thousands of people who contribute individually – we can be the place that makes kites fly, helps and heals the young people of our region and, ultimately, makes hope rise,” Carter said.

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 use the funds based on what they need most — typically providing lifesaving equipment and research, supporting top therapy programs and providing charitable care.

Donations to Niswonger Children’s Hospital can also be made at any time by visiting www.balladhealth.org/foundation or calling 423-302-3131. More information about Niswonger Children’s Hospital can be found at www.balladhealth.org/children.