Since 1992, Publix stores have raised more than $42 million to support children treated at their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The grocery retailer has a long history of giving back through community service and charitable giving initiatives – a guiding principle established by its founder, the late George Jenkins.
This year, the “Publix Miracles” campaign will be held from June 3rd to June 14th. During this time, store associates will empower their customers to give at the register to support patients of local CMN partner hospitals, including Levine Children’s Hospital. In exchange, shoppers will receive miracle coupons offering savings from popular brands like SHEBA Brand, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal, Coca-Cola and Dasani, Mars Chocolate, Angel Soft, Pure Leaf, Lay’s and Listerine. The funds raised by 25 participating Charlotte-area stores will help local children like Sofia, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at just seven years old.
In 2015, Sofia began complaining of intermittent leg pain which would take months to diagnose. As her pain became more severe and she developed a fever, she was referred to Levine Children’s Hospital. It was here that she would receive extensive testing and a bone marrow biopsy which confirmed the worst – Sofia had cancer and would need to begin treatment immediately. Sofia spent most of 2016 fighting at Levine Children’s Hospital while other kids were living a normal childhood. Despite all of the setbacks and obstacles she faced, Sofia remained courageous and resilient throughout her treatment. In 2018, she ended her treatment at Levine Children’s Hospital with the ceremonial ringing of the bell. Today, she is healthy and thriving, in large thanks to her family and friends, her hospital care team, and her own tenacity.
Publix has supported children at Levine Children’s Hospital since opening its first Charlotte location in 2014. Since then, associates and customers have raised nearly $360,000 to benefit local kids like Sofia.