Golisano Children’s Hospital Partners with Walmart and Sam’s Club to Help Change Kids’ Health in Southwest Florida

The fundraising campaign runs from June 13 – July 10

(Fort Myers, Fla. – June 10, 2022) --- At only two years old, Owen Hart was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

His mother, Amy Burge, knew something was wrong with her son when she noticed several bruises on him that wouldn’t heal. She took Owen to the doctor and learned her toddler had cancer. Thankfully, the pediatric oncology team at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida had every resource available to treat Owen close to home.

“I don’t know what I would have done without the team at Golisano,” said Burge. “The oncology staff quickly became my support system, my community and my family. I really do not know what I would have done, or what I would continue to do without them. They are truly special human beings.”

As a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partner, Golisano Children’s Hospital receives support from its affiliated fundraising campaigns, like the upcoming Walmart and Sam’s Club campaign, to help kids just like Owen.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a community that really comes together to support the patients we serve at Golisano Children’s Hospital, which is the region’s only children’s hospital,” said Chris Simoneau, Lee Health’s chief development, marketing and communications officer. “Their generosity allows us to provide specialized, high-quality care to the children in our region.”

On June 13, Southwest Florida Walmart and Sam’s Club associates will kick off their fundraising campaign benefitting Golisano Children’s Hospital. It gives customers and members different options to donate at the register or online. The fundraising campaign runs through July 10.

Since 1983, Walmart has raised more than $5 billion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Last year through this campaign, more than $160,000 was raised locally for Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Funds raised through campaigns like this one benefit the children’s hospital in many ways. Since the opening of the standalone 7-story facility five years ago, philanthropy has enabled Golisano Children’s Hospital to grow exponentially and add crucial services, including a pediatric neurosurgery program in collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital; a specialized pediatric ophthalmology clinic, SWFL Children’s Charities Eye Institute of Golisano Children’s Hospital, which is the largest pediatric ophthalmology office between Tampa and Miami; the expansion of behavioral health services for children; and many other key programs and services.

Golisano Children’s Hospital is one of only nine centers in the state to offer complete pediatric cancer care and many programs are funded through donations and community support. The hospital’s hematology and oncology clinic has an average of 500 visits per month, and survival rates for pediatric oncology patients are higher at Golisano Children’s Hospital than the national average.

There are many ways to donate to Golisano Children’s Hospital through the Walmart and Sam’s Club campaign. Customers and members in Southwest Florida can donate any dollar amount at the register, or simply round-up their purchase to the next dollar and donate the change in-store or while shopping online. You can also donate at www.SunshineAndMiracles.org.