Fourth N.C. Children's Promise Celebration raises $463,836
CHAPEL HILL -- A preliminary accounting shows that the fourth N.C. Children's Promise Celebration raised $463,826, an increase of $133,879 or 29 percent over the previous year.
Nov. 18, 2005
Fourth N.C. Children's Promise Celebration raises $463,836
CHAPEL HILL -- A preliminary accounting shows that the fourth N.C. Children's Promise Celebration raised $463,836, an increase of $133,879 or 29 percent over the previous year.
That number could rise, considering that donations in the first three Children's Promise Celebrations continued to come in after the event officially ended.
"We are tremendously grateful to the thousands of people all across the state who opened their hearts and their wallets for the benefit of patients in the N.C. Children's Hospital," said Dr. Alan Stiles, physician-in-chief at the Children's Hospital and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
"We also must thank the Curtis Media Group, which once again devoted an enormous amount of time and effort to make this event a success, and Time Warner Cable and News 14 Carolina, which joined us for the first time this year as full media sponsors, and Kohl's Corp., the presenting sponsor for this year's celebration," Stiles said. "The funds raised during this event are used to help the N. C. Children's Hospital provide cutting-edge care to children from across the state who need care for serious and complex medical and surgical problems. This outpouring of support shows the value the people of our state place on the state's hospital for children."
"There isn't a day all year when we're more proud to be local, community broadcasters than today," said Phil Zachary, Executive Vice President and COO of Raleigh-based Curtis Media Group. "To see the immediate, generous response by thousands of our listeners to the Children's Promise appeal is both gratifying and, at the same time, humbling."
"We were very excited to participate in the N.C. Children's Promise to help increase this year's donations. We also hope the many stories generated by News 14 Carolina in advance of the event created a greater awareness of the many miracles that are performed everyday at the N.C. Children's Hospital," said Tom Adams, Division President, Time Warner Cable.
"Kohl's introduced the Kohl's Cares for Kids program to promote children's health and educational opportunities, and is committed to playing an active role in the communities we serve," said Lori Sansoucie, public relations manager for Kohl's Corporation. "The dollars raised through this year's N.C. Children's Promise Celebration will make a great impact on North Carolinians, and Kohl's is proud to partner with N.C. Children's Hospital in improving health care for children from all 100 counties in North Carolina."
Yesterday, several Curtis Media radio stations broadcast live from the lobby of the Children's Hospital from 5 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Also, News 14 Carolina anchors and meteorologists aired two live reports per hour from the Children's Hospital throughout the day as well as running a special series of stories five days leading up to the Celebration. The news series and six live shots also ran on News 14 Carolina in Charlotte.
On-site entertainment this year included appearances by musical performers Buddy Jewell, Blaine Larsen and Tift Merritt. And the Curtis stations auctioned many items autographed by celebrities, with the proceeds to benefit the Children's Hospital.
The first N.C. Children's Promise on Nov. 20, 2002, was the largest fund-raiser ever undertaken by UNC Hospitals up to that time and raised more than $200,000. The 2003 Children's Promise event reached more listeners and was bigger and better than the first, raising approximately $270,000, while the 2004 event raised approximately $330,000.
Media contact: Stephanie Crayton, (919) 966-2860 scrayton@unch.unc.edu
