THE ACE HARDWARE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THIRD ANNUAL
ACE CARES FOR KIDS All-STAR
Marietta, Ga., child Parker Grelecki, named “All-Star” at special school assembly
OAK BROOK, Ill., Jan. 8, 2015 – Today, the Ace Hardware Foundation, along with representatives from Ace Hardware retail stores and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, gave local Atlanta child Parker Grelecki, the surprise of a lifetime. The Ace Hardware Foundation surprised 6-year-old Parker by announcing in front of dozens of classmates at Shallowford Falls Elementary in Marietta, Ga., that he has been named the third annual National Ace Cares for Kids All-Star.
As part of this prestigious recognition, Parker will become the national ambassador for the Ace Hardware Foundation, raising awareness of the excellent work that is done at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. In addition to serving as an ambassador for the Ace Foundation, Parker will become the face of the Ace Cares for Kids icon campaign, a national in-store fundraising initiative supported by Procter & Gamble, designed to raise funds at Ace Hardware stores for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The Grelecki family knows all too well the amazing care provided by their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. At 20 weeks into her pregnancy, Parker’s mother Crysie Grelecki found out that Parker would be born with an enlarged head and hydrocephalus, or excess fluid on the brain, which would cause him to be born with almost no brain matter. Since then, Parker has undergone a series of surgeries at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to drain excess fluid and reshape his skull to allow his brain to grow and develop appropriately.
“We already know that Parker will do a terrific job as this year’s Ace All-Star,” said Jimmy Alexander, president, Ace Hardware Foundation. “His story of overcoming adversity serves as a great reminder of all the wonderful work Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals accomplish every single day.”
Parker Grelecki was selected by the Ace Foundation following a nationwide endeavor that gave every Children’s Miracle Network Hospital an opportunity to nominate a deserving patient. As the third annual All-Star for the Ace Cares for Kids Program, Parker and his family will be treated to an all-expenses paid trip to attend the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ annual Celebration in Walt Disney World this November. Additionally, Parker will make special appearances and be treated to surprises from Ace throughout the year. “The Ace All-Star program provides the opportunity to share incredible patient stories, raising critical awareness and funds that help improve care for patients across the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals,” said Denise Barnes, Senior Development Officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Parker and his family have already touched the lives of so many of us at Children’s, and we can’t think of someone more deserving to be celebrated as an All-Star.”
As a proud supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Ace Hardware has been dedicated to raising funds for children’s hospitals all over the country, including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Over the past 23 years, the Ace Foundation has raised more than $63 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
# # #
About the Ace Hardware Foundation
As the official charitable division of Ace Hardware Corporation, the Ace Hardware Foundation helps enhance the vision of being the “Helpful Place” in local communities across the country and around the globe through charitable giving. The Ace Foundation provides support and philanthropic opportunities to its consumers, retail store owners, vendors and team members to give back to local communities through fundraising efforts for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
About Ace Hardware For more than 90 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the place with the helpful hardware folks in thousands of neighborhoods across America, providing customers with a more personal kind of helpful. In 2014, Ace ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores, Eight Years in a Row,” according to J.D. Power. With more than 4,900 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries currently operate 14 distribution centers in the U.S. and also have distribution capabilities in Shanghai, China; Panama City, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers’ stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com.
About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.
About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Our specialized care helps children get better faster and live healthier lives. Managing more than 850,000 patient visits annually at three hospitals and 24 neighborhood locations, Children’s is the largest healthcare provider for children in Georgia and one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the country by U.S.News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s has impacted the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information
LinkedIn
