From Left to Right: Troy Yach, Honolulu Sam’s Club Manager, Stacey Acma Director of Kapi’olani Children’s Miracle Network, Todd Harbaugh, Executive Vice President of Operations for Sam’s Club, Mavis Nikaido, Chief Nurse Executive for Kapi’olani Medical Center, Dr. Konstantine Xoinis,
Co-Director Prenatal and Pediatrics Transport Team, Patrice Johnson, Director Corporate Partnerships for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Louie Santos, Hawaii Market Manager for Sam’s Club and Sean Mehranbod, Vice President/Regional General Manager for Sam’s Club.
By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– A labor of love came to fruition Wednesday in the name of helping our local keiki. Every year, Sam’s Clubs and Walmart stores across the country hold a six-week fundraising campaign supporting their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. This year, Sam’s Club, located on Ke’eaumoku Street in Honolulu, raised $36,146, the most raised by any club in the nation.
This accomplishment was rewarded Wednesday by the Sam’s Club Corporate Office in Bentonville, Ark. with an additional donation of $20,000 to bring the total raised to $56,146. The donated funds will be directed to support Kapi’olani’s Pediatric Transport Team, a highly skilled group of nurses and respiratory therapists who provide lifesaving care to newborns and critically ill children from across the state who need special care while being moved to Kapi’olani or the mainland for medical care.
Sam’s Club Manager Troy Yach explained that after ranking second in 2012, associates from the local Ke’eaumoku Street store took on the challenge in 2013 with full determination. “It was truly a labor of love, and last year we got so close to being first nationwide that we knew we could not let this opportunity get away,” Yach said. “Our biggest motivation was to raise that money for our local keiki and families who are in need of medical miracles.”
To raise money, the Honolulu club collected donations from members at its registers and in front of the club, but associates didn’t stop there. They also hosted bake sales and cook-outs, all in the name of helping those who need it the most.
Yach said that after an intense six weeks of in-club fundraising, receiving confirmation that the Honolulu store had ranked first nationwide was overwhelming to the 280 employees of the local club. “A lot of the associates had tears in their eyes when it was announced that we had reached our goal. We are a family at this Sam’s Club, and to reach this milestone means so much to us because the money will stay here.”
Kapi’olani CEO, Martha Smith said donations like the one from Sam’s Club are critical in order to help subsidize the costs of the program. “We’re the only neonatal/pediatric transport system in the state. The local community depends on Kapi’olani to provide this service and we are just so proud and thankful to Sam’s Club and all of their associates for their passion and amazing show of generosity.”
Smith said that in fiscal 2013, Kapi’olani safely transported more than 600 patients to O’ahu and the mainland. Most wouldn’t have survived without immediate medical attention. The team’s aircraft can fit a state-of-the-art incubator, complete with an on-board monitor to check a patient’s vital signs, a ventilator, and I.V. and syringe pumps to dispense medication.
Ranking as the top fundraising club nationwide in 2013 meant a lot to Sam’s Club associates like Denise Burr. “We were all elated! It meant the world to us because we knew the money was going to help our local keiki,” she explained. Burr’s story goes beyond belonging to the Sam’s Club family of associates, the 37-year-old was actually born at Kapi’olani Medical Center as a premature baby, and she feels that by helping this fundraising effort she has come full circle. “I am proof that you can be happy and fulfill every dream you ever wanted and I owe a large part of that to the loving care provided at Kapi’olani Medical Center.”
The club’s success was celebrated at an event Wednesday at the Sam’s Club store on Ke’eaumoku Street in Honolulu. Todd Harbaugh, Sam’s Club executive vice president of operations, and other corporate officials were on hand. Patrice Johnson, Director Corporate Partnerships for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital represented the Children’s Miracle Network national office. Chief Nurse Executive for Kapi’olani Medical Center, Mavis Nikaido was also in attendance.
About Kapi’olani Children’s Miracle Network
Kapi’olani Medical Center is Hawai’i’s only Children’s Miracle Network hospital. In this role, it is a partner with the national nonprofit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals organization that is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals. 100% of every dollar raised stays in Hawai’i to provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education for our keiki at Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children.
About Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children
Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children is well recognized as Hawai’i’s leader in the care of women, infants and children. With 207 beds and 66 bassinets, the nonprofit hospital is Hawai’i’s only maternity, newborn and pediatric specialty hospital. It is also a tertiary care, medical teaching and research facility. Specialty services for patients throughout Hawai’i and the Pacific Region include intensive care for infants and children, 24-hour emergency pediatric care, air transport, maternal fetal medicine, and high-risk perinatal care. More than 1,500 employees and more than 630 physicians provide specialty care at Kapi’olani Medical Center. The hospital is home to Kapi’olani Women’s Center and Women’s Cancer Center – the state’s only dedicated breast health and gynecological cancer centers. Kapi’olani offers numerous community programs and services, such as the Kapi’olani Child Protection Center and Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children is an affiliate of Hawai’i Pacific Health, the states largest health care provider. Learn more at: www.kapiolani.org.
About Philanthropy at Walmart and Sam’s Club
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Walmart has donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.