Giant/Martin’s Raises $650K for CMN Hospitals

Customers and associates helped Giant Foods Stores and its sister Martin’s banner donate $656,349 to Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), thanks to its annual Candles for Kids in-store campaign. The sum represents a 4 percent increase raised to support the alliance of premier local hospitals for children.

“For 20 years, we have been proud to partner with our customers, associates and vendors to raise more than $41 million for local CMN Hospitals,” said Tom Lenkevich, president of the Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant/Martin’s, a banner of Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize that operates nearly 200 grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. “Combined with our CMN paper balloon campaign, our generous customers and associates donated more than $1.2 million at the checkout this year to support CMN in providing healthier futures for children in our local communities.”

As one of the top 10 fundraisers in the country for CMN, Giant/Martin’s associates also regularly volunteer at hospital events, including radio and television telethons, in addition to the annual in-store campaigns during the summer and at the holidays.

"Through Giant/Martin’s dedication and generosity to the cause, their employees and customers are saving kids' lives,” said John Lauck, president and CEO of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Lauck thanked all involved "for making a tremendous impact on kids this holiday season by funding vital treatments, research, equipment and charity care each year."

The following CMN Hospitals in Giant/Martin’s communities benefited from its Candles for Kids campaign: Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital; The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; The Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger; Children’s National Medical Center; University of Virginia Children's Hospital; Pittsburgh Children's Hospital; Johns Hopkins Children’s Center; and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.