SAN ANTONIO, Valero Energy Corp.'s 12th annual Children's Miracle Network (CMN) fundraising campaign recently took off in its nearly 1,000 U.S. retail locations. Customers can contribute to the Miracle Balloon campaign by donating to Children's Miracle Network at any of the company's Valero and Diamond Shamrock Corner Stores now through November 6.
With every $1 or $5 donation to CMN, customers can add their name to a paper Miracle Balloon, which will then be displayed in the store during the campaign. The Miracle Balloon is the well-known symbol of [image-nocss] CMN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals throughout North America.
Through last year's Miracle Balloon campaign, Valero raised more than $884,000 for 38 children's hospitals located in nine of the states where Valero has retail operations. In the past 11 years, Valero's retail employees have raised more than $5.4 million for CMN.
As a whole, the convenience store industry surpassed all previous totals and raised a record $6.5 million for CMN in 2005, the organization said in a separate press release.
The convenience store industry has been a dedicated and successful partner of Children's Miracle Network for almost 20 years, said Jim Hall, the group's president and CEO. Both retailers and suppliers have continued to support children's hospitals throughout the United States in a variety of ways, and their dedication has never wavered despite changes in their industry.
More than 5,000 retail locations and hundreds of suppliers partner with CMN to raise funds for 170 children's hospital throughout North America. Funds are raised in a variety of ways, but the most common fund raising program is selling Miracle Balloons. The paper balloon icon is the single most recognizable symbol of CMN and has generated more than $250 million for children's hospitals so far.
Convenience store fund raising in 2005 was the best ever, but 2006 totals are on track to eclipse even that mark, said Hall. Children's Miracle Network couldn't help millions of hospitalized children without the support of dedicated sponsors like those in the convenience store industry. They are truly an example of compassionate corporate citizens.
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