UPDATE: The final total is in. The Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon at Monument Health in Rapid City raised $106,350, passing our $105,000 goal. Thank you to everyone who made it happen.
From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. last Friday, Monument Health was home base for the Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon. Twelve hours of phones ringing, stories being told, and our community doing what it does best.
When the clock hit six, the board read $101,620. The late donations kept coming, and the final tally landed at $106,350, putting us $1,350 past our goal of $105,000.
The kids being cared for at Monument Health have a community that loves them.
Every Gift, Every Time
Shawn Powers from Monument Health stopped by during the Coca-Cola Power Hour, when every dollar was doubled up to $1,500 thanks to Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country. He said something worth holding onto.
“We often say every gift makes a difference. And it truly does. A small gift can make a lifetime of difference for these kids because we get thousands of them coming to us for care every year.”
Thousands of kids. Every year. Walking through the doors needing care.
Shawn also talked about the families in the toughest spots. “The ones that are here in the hospital in our ICUs, neonatal and pediatric ICUs, those kids need a lot of support in a lot of ways.”
The goal heading into the day was $105,000. We blew right past it.
Care That Stays Close to Home
One of the parents on the phone bank Friday was Anna Whetham. Eleven years ago, her daughter was born at 27 weeks after Anna developed severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Sixty days in the NICU followed. Today her daughter is eleven, running around like any other kid.
Anna came back to the radiothon to answer phones for the next family who’s about to walk through those doors.
The dollars raised Friday turn into incubators, monitors, specialists, and space, all of it right here in the Black Hills. As Shawn put it:
“We love having you on site, sharing all the great things that are happening in the hospital and how our community gets behind that and supports and makes a difference to ensure that the kids that need care can get it right here at home.”
Right here at home. That’s what this is about.
From All of Us, Thank You
To every business that wrote a check. Every listener who pledged $18 a month. Every kid who dropped change in a bucket. Every caller who picked up the phone in the final hour.
Thank you.
You made Friday what it was. You’re the reason that NICU keeps growing. You’re the reason families in Rapid City don’t have to drive hours away for the care their kids need.
$106,350. Goal crushed. See you next year.
