Great Harvest teams with Children's Hospital to raise funds
Tue, 09/06/2005
For the first time, Great Harvest Bread Co. is teaming up with Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center for a month long fundraising effort to benefit the hospital's uncompensated care fund. The Raising Dough for Children's' promotion kicks off this month.
For the entire month of September, "Miracle Bears for Children's," can be purchased for $1 at all nine Western Washington Great Harvest locations, including the Ballard site on Market Street. All proceeds from the paper shaped bears will go to benefit Children's Hospital.
Children, teenagers and parents alike, are invited to pick up a free coloring sheet as part of the Kid's Color for Children's promotion. All finished sheets will be turned over to the Children's Hospital and displayed in their children's playroom. Kids also will receive a free cookie for turning in their colored sheets at any of the participating Great Harvest locations.
"The coloring contest allows young customer s to participate in the promotion along with their parents," said Eve Kopp, associate director for Children's Hospital. "We're hoping this activity will teach young people the art of giving."
The month's focal event will be held on September 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., when 100 percent of Great Harvest sales, including profits from sandwiches, soups and other breads will be donated to benefit the uncompensated care fund at Children's' Hospital. The funds help uninsured families pay for medical expenses.
"This fund allows the hospital to provide world-class health care to Pacific Northwest patients who need it, regardless of their ability to pay," said Kopp. "It is only through the generosity of our community that we are able to carry out this nearly100-year tradition."
Bread-y Bears, shaped like bears and baked especially for this event, are made entirely out of honey-wheat bread with the exception of raisins for the eyes. They are being sold for $15 a loaf also to benefit the hospital.
Lori Randall, a spokesperson for Great Harvest, said they hope to make this an annual event for years to come and want to continue the affiliation with Children's Hospital.
Through these promotions, the goal is to raise at least $50,000 for Children's' Hospital from all nine stores, she said.
"Children's would be thrilled to be Great Harvest Bread Company's charity of choice on an annual basis," said Kopp. "It's a wonderful partnership and their staff and company have been extremely supportive of our hospital for many years."
Great Harvest has been involved with many other hospital fundraisers in the past, but this is the first time 100 percent of profits will go to Children's, she added.
"Their owners and staff have been a joy to work with through this promotion," Kopp said. "Opening their doors on a day typically closed to the general public, with all proceeds benefiting the hospital is extremely generous."
Prior to the main event on September 18, the Seattle Times will have the coloring sheets as inserts in their Wednesday, August 7 food section of each paper that circulates in a zip code where a Great Harvest bakery is located. The coloring sheets can also be picked up at any Great Harvest bakery.
To order Bready-Bears you can call any Great Harvest Bread Co. or visit www.greatharvest.com. Orders must be picked up on September 18.