UPDATE: Owner says Gray Dairy Queen raised $250,000 for Macon children’s hospital
Blizzard purchases help fund pediatric equipment and care at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon
UPDATE: The Dairy Queen in Gray raised $250,000 during Thursday’s Miracle Treat Day, owner Justin Kelly announced on Facebook Thursday night.
In a Facebook Live just after 10 p.m., Kelly said the total was $245,000, but added in an update after the Facebook Live that another business donation bumped the total to $250,000.
Kelly said the total included walk-up donations, business pledges, checks, the restaurant’s daily sales, online contributions and Blizzard presales.
Those contributions brought the total to $241,802.02 before Harley Auto Sales donated enough to round it up to $245,000, Kelly said.
The store more than doubled its $100,000 goal and surpassed the $180,000 it raised last year. The money will benefit Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon.
ORIGINAL STORY:
GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dairy Queen locations across Middle Georgia are once again serving up sweet treats for a meaningful cause during Miracle Treat Day.
The annual event brings the community together to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, with proceeds from Blizzard Treat sales going directly to help local children receiving medical care.
At participating locations in Middle Georgia, including Dairy Queen in Gray, the goal is to make a major impact in just one day. This year, organizers are aiming to raise $100,000 to benefit patients at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon.
Last year, the Dairy Queen location in Gray raised $180,000.
Brigid Rolfes, Director of Pediatric ICU, Pediatric ER, and School House Health Nurse Program at Atrium Health Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, says the donations directly impact patient care.
“This money helps support all of our departments with specialized equipment. A couple of things I’m using it for right now is we’re purchasing a new ultrasound for our ER, we are in the process of getting new bili lights for our infants, we are also getting a new glidescope, which is specialized equipment that is needed for our emergency department.”
Participating in Miracle Treat Day is simple. Customers can visit any participating Dairy Queen location and purchase a Blizzard Treat, knowing their purchase is helping children in need.
With every order, the community is not only enjoying a favorite dessert, but also making a direct impact on the lives of local patients and their families.
