Guest Commentary | Nickels, dimes and quarters provide $500K of support for pediatric care
Michael Wynn
We all know the phrase “every penny counts,” but how often do we apply it to our lives?
In today’s economy, some people are pinching pennies and others are tossing them into fountains, but since Sunshine Ace Hardware declared Children’s Miracle Network as its primary charitable partner in 2019, generous customers have been tossing their spare change into Miracle donation buckets.
Despite our region’s strong economy, local families still face financial uncertainty and when medical emergencies arise, pinching pennies to make ends meet isn’t always enough. Children’s Miracle Network ensures that sick and injured children in our community get the care they need and deserve. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network help fund critical life-saving treatments, health care services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment and child life services.
Every year, Sunshine Ace Hardware stores host a series of fundraising initiatives to benefit pediatric care through Children’s Miracle Network. And those initiatives are approaching a significant milestone. At last check, the cumulative fundraising total over the past six years had reached $488,052. It’s incredible to think that we’re about to cross the half-million-dollar mark.
For the holiday season, all Sunshine Ace Hardware stores are participating in a Holiday Round Up. Now until Dec. 24, customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar to support Children’s Miracle Network’s mission and ease the medically related financial burden of local families.
Donations made at Sunshine Ace Hardware stores in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties support Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers. Donations at Sunshine Ace Hardware in Pinellas County and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County support Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. Both hospitals are members of the Children’s Miracle Network, which helps support families with sick or injured children focus on healing.
When you choose to shop at Sunshine Ace Hardware and round up or toss loose change into the Miracle bucket, your purchase funds a greater purpose. Join us in turning your pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters into a miracle – not just this holiday season, but all year round.
Michael Wynn, a Naples native, is president of Sunshine Ace Hardware and an advocate for small businesses and charitable causes in Southwest Florida.