CHKD gets plenty of support from Suffolk
Published 9:52 pm Monday, July 2, 2012
Health care has been in the news a lot lately, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold as constitutional some controversial portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
But in other health care news, the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters has received generous donations lately from two businesses with locations in Suffolk.
Last month, Farm Fresh President Gaelo de la Fuente presented a check for $300,000 to the childhood cancer program at CHKD. The money was raised through the grocery store’s Round-Up campaign, which asked customers to round up their grocery bills to the nearest dollar and donate the change. In the past 12 years, Farm Fresh has donated an astounding $6.9 million to CHKD’s cancer program.
The two stores in Suffolk raised nearly $10,000 combined to contribute toward the campaign this year.
Also last month, the North Main Street Walmart store finished first in the nation after a companywide contest to raise the most money for children’s hospitals.
The store raised $83,580.23 through the help of customers who gave donations at the registers, bought food concessions and more.
Figuring in what the North Suffolk Walmart raised and adding the Farm Fresh totals, that’s more than $100,000 that Suffolk shoppers contributed, dime by dime.
It’s an impressive effort for just four retail outlets in Hampton Roads’ smallest city by population. But it speaks to the generosity of Suffolk residents and visitors, as well as CHKD’s reputation in the community.
Many people either have had children treated at CHKD, or know someone who has. Whether it’s a simple emergency room visit, an extended stay after a car accident, long-term cancer treatment or a caring pediatrician at a CHKD-affiliated office, nearly everyone in Hampton Roads has been affected by the state’s only free-standing, full-service pediatric hospital.
According to its website, the hospital is not-for-profit and knows that it will never be reimbursed for many of the services it provides, but still is dedicated to taking care of the children in the community.
For more information, visit www.chkd.org.