Two dozen team members from Chicago-based Becker's Healthcare nearly doubled the company's 2016 pledge to Lurie Children's Hospital this year by raising $100,000 for the pediatric hospital's patients and families. This marks the largest charitable gift from the company to date.
This is the seventh year Becker's Healthcare has participated in Chicago Dance Marathon, an 8-hour event with dancing, entertainment and storytelling from patients and families. The annual event has raised more than $2 million for the hospital since its 2010 inception.
In 2016, Becker's Healthcare raised $55,000 for the cause.
Funds go toward a variety of causes and items, including hospital classroom supplies, small lab supplies, comfort items for premature infants, toys and pleasant distractions for children receiving treatment, and transportation expenses for patient families in need of assistance to and from the hospital.
"Lurie Children's is tremendously grateful and humbled by our partnership with Becker's Healthcare," says Morgan Shea, Director of Children's Miracle Network Hospital with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation. "Becker's has been a partner of Lurie Children's for over seven years. By meeting their 2017 goal, their overall support exceeds $200,000! The passion, dedication and commitment of Becker's Healthcare to support their local community and kids is obvious, and it starts at the top with their President and CEO Jessica Cole. We are proud of the work that we have accomplished together and the impact that it will make for generations of kids in our community and beyond."
This year, Becker's team members collected funds in several ways, including a company giveback tied to a portion of sales made in the month of January, individual outreach to family and friends, a chili cook-off, holiday cookie exchange, Super Bowl squares, ping-pong tournament and street fundraising in downtown Chicago.
"I am extremely proud of how committed this team is to community involvement and making a difference in our own backyard," says Jessica Cole, president and CEO. "It's energizing to push the envelope with our charity work — this is a team that works to give more each year than they did the last."
"Becker's Healthcare is so thrilled to make this kind of contribution to Lurie Children's," says Publisher Scott Becker. "It is the company's largest charitable gift ever, and we are thrilled. We as a company are inspired by the wonderful leadership and the efforts of everyone on our team to help make this contribution happen. Lurie Children's Hospital is a great source of pride for the city, and its care is legendary. We thank God for both our team at Becker's and for Lurie Children's Hospital."
Of the $100,000 gift, $90,000 is a company contribution directly from Becker’s Healthcare.