Big Lots Raises $3.6 Million for Children’s Hospital

December 14, 2016  by Larry Thomas in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

The six-week campaign offered customers and associates the opportunity to donate in-store and online to support the hospital, which is based in Columbus, but cares for patients from all 50 states and 41 countries.

Funds raised will help benefit state-of-the-art facilities, research and available lifesaving treatments.

The campaign also included shopping sprees for hospital “patient champions” representing Big Lots in seven markets across the country, including California, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.

Patient champions are children who are being treated or have been treated at Nationwide Children's, and this year's Big Lots patient champions had an opportunity to shop at their local Big Lots store for gifts to send back to patients at the hospital.

Earlier this year, Big Lots, which also is based in Columbus, and the Big Lots Foundation announced a $50 million grant to the hospital that will support construction of the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion.

The 250,000-square-foot pavilion on the hospital's main campus will foster collaboration among Nationwide Children's research teams, as well as community partner agencies to help care for children and teens with mental illness and behavioral health conditions.

"On behalf of Big Lots, I want to express sincere thanks to our customers and associates for making a tremendous difference in the lives of the many patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital through their kind donations," said David Campisi Big Lots CEO and resident. "Our patient champions continue to inspire the Big Lots community, and we are so thrilled to have exceeded our goal of $3 million for this year's Give Big for Kids program.”