Ace Hardware donates $10M to Lurie Children's Hospital
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Friday announced a $10 million gift from The Ace Hardware Foundation, the official charitable division of Ace Hardware Corp. based in Oak Brook.
The gift is one of the largest corporate donations in the hospital's history. It will help foster Lurie Children's campaign for every child, which aims to accelerate research and support innovative programs at the hospital and in local communities, officials said.
"As one of Lurie Children's most prominent and enduring corporate partners, Ace Hardware has played an important role in advancing our vision of a healthier future for every child and we're proud to continue our work together," said Patrick M. Magoon, President and CEO of Lurie Children's. "This generous gift will have an immeasurable impact on our institution and the children and families we serve."
Ace Hardware is committed to support the noble efforts of Lurie Children's hospital, and the pledge of $10 million over a five-year period will help fund projects in patient care, research and advocacy. In addition, the gift will help support Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorder by funding critical research and specialized fellowship positions in hematology, oncology, neuro-oncology and stem cell transplant. In recognition of this gift, Lurie Children's will dedicate a newly-developed space on the 17th floor as the Ace Hardware Inpatient Unit at the Lurie Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Ace Hardware is one of Lurie Children's largest and longest standing corporate partners - having raised millions of dollars for Chicago's kids since the beginning of its partnership with the hospital in 1991. Ace Hardware has also been the hospital's largest corporate partner for the past two years, raising just over $1.7 million in 2016 and 2017 for a total of over $3.4 million. In addition, Ace Hardware has been a national partner for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals for the last 27 years, raising over $93 million during that time. In 2017 alone, Ace raised $11 million for CMN Hospitals across the country.
"Our mission to be the 'Helpful Place' means much more to us than merely serving customers, it means making a commitment to help support children and families in our local Ace communities," said Kane Calamari, President of the Ace Hardware Foundation. "Together with our Chicago area retailers, customers, vendors and corporate employees, Ace Hardware is pledging its support for Lurie Children's campaign for every child and we hope others in the Chicago business community will join us."
The Lurie Children's campaign for every child campaign will raise at least $500 million by 2023 - the second largest campaign in the history of Lurie Children's, a nonprofit hospital - and aims to engage the community to help fulfill three promises to every child: the promise of a cure, centered around research; the promise of a safer space centered around improving child health in the community; and the promise of a healthier future focused on providing more leading edge care.