Top 10 of 2024!
As we close out 2024, we reflect on the many incredible moments, campaigns and events that took place in support of University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. We are exceedingly grateful to all our partners, sponsors, dancers, extra lifers and donors who helped make an impact on patients and families. While there were SO many amazing moments throughout 2024, here are our top 10 favorites!
10. Radiothons! Call for kids radiothon, KHAK radiothon and Y105
This year was exceptional for our Radiothon program! Not only did we continue the remarkable traditions of Call for Kids and KHAK Radiothon, but we were able to bring back the Dubuque area radiothon with our friends at Y105! Hearing families share their stories, answering donor calls, and seeing the community rally around our hospital brings so much joy!
9. Media Day with our CMN Champions
Media Day is a special day for our team where we get to gather our 5 Champions and their families who have been selected to represent our hospital for the year! The day started with our kiddos showing off their smiles and best poses for photo shoots and ended with crafts and pizza! This day definitely fills our cups!
8. Club Car Wash Wash-a-thon
New this year our friends at the Iowa City Club Car Wash did an ALL-day wash-a-thon as part of their May Customer Ask Campaign. As if that wasn’t cool enough, they invited our Champion families to be a part of it, making for some of the best photo ops and an all-around fun day!
7. Team Iowa Retreat
We are extremely fortunate to have a wonderful community of Dance Marathoners, known as Team Iowa, made up of high school and collegiate Dance Marathon programs from across the state. In September, we were able to gather student leaders from these programs to brainstorm, celebrate and learn from each other to make the 2025 Dance Marathon season the best one yet!
6. Champion Kendyl Driscoll holding a Lemonade stand and SXS ride raising a total 41,550.00
Kendyl is 14 years old and serves as one of our 2024 Children Miracle Network Champion kids. Kendyl’s belief in the cause and her willingness to make a difference inspires everyone around her to make a difference. It is through the collective efforts of compassionate individuals like Kendyl that we can create positive change and provide much-needed resources to the children and families relying on the services at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. This is Kendyl’s 3rd year fundraising, and it all started with a little lemonade stand. She knew she wanted to give back to the hospital and to the kids who aren’t as fortunate as her to be able to come home after every checkup. Kendyl, and her family have had 3 side x side rides, and 3 big lemonade stands. Kendyl’s 2024 lemonade stand raised $6,500 and the SxS ride raised over $35,000. Because of Kendyl’s dedication and commitment Kendyl has a named inpatient room located on Level 10 Walmart & Sam’s Club.
5. Dance Marathon Season
Every year from February through April in the Dance Marathon world is known as our “Big Event Season”. During this time, our collegiate and high school Dance Marathon programs host their marathons, which is anywhere from 4 to 24 hours long, and includes many activities, family stories, fundraising, and so much more. At the end of the event, there is a Big Reveal where the grand total the program has fundraised for the year is show in an elaborate and fun way, and a celebration of their achievements ensues. This year, our collective Team Iowa Dance Marathon programs, consisting of 14 colleges and dozens of high schools, raised nearly $2.2 million for UIHC Stead Family Children’s Hospital! Thank you to all the students who give so much throughout the school year to help local kids and families treated at our hospital!
4. Miracle Treat Day
Always one of our favorite days of the year, Miracle Treat Day with our friends at Dairy Queen! On Miracle Treat Day a portion of every Blizzard sold at participating locations comes back to our hospital! Extra special this year was that we were able to serve Blizzards in the hospital lobby for patients, families and our hardworking hospital staff! Champion Drew made the day extra fun by coming to help!
3. Walmart Campaign and extras
This has been a momentous year of working with our amazing partners at Walmart! We have set a lofty goal, and they are charging forward to meet it. But not only have they raised funds, they have supported our hospital through grants, volunteering, employee giving, critical in-kind donations and more! One special story is that when our Chaplaincy clothing closet was in dire need – Walmart stepped up to fill it! We have loved seeing this partnership continue to grow!
2. Celebrating with everyone at All Partner Rally
All Partner Rally is always at the top of our list of events we love! It is our opportunity to gather all our extraordinary partners and thank them for their outstanding support. It’s a day of celebration, mission moments, and fun and something we look forward to each year! Without our partners, none of the work we do would be possible! Together, we are changing kids’ health and changing the future.
1. Extra Life Charity Challenge: College Football 25
At the top of our list this year is our first ever Extra Life Charity Challenge: College Football 25 presented by South Slope and Rival Warz. What started as an idea by our Associate Director, Tyler Adams, came to fruition with an in-person gaming tournament IN Kinnick Stadium playing EA Sports’ College Football 25! Seeing this event come to life was nothing short of amazing! We are so grateful to the sponsors, donors, players, and colleagues that helped make this vision a reality, raising over $61,000 for UIHC Stead Family Children’s Hospital!
As a team, we cannot thank all those who have supported University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital enough. Every day, we get to see the good in the world because of the support of those we have the privilege of working with. From all of us on the Children’s Miracle Network team – thank you for your partnership. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and we cannot wait to work with you in the New Year!
