Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Kohl's Cares® grants $29,000 to Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen
October 23, 2012
Erica Houskeeper
Marketing and Communications
802-847-5164
BURLINGTON, VT — Kohl’s will be presenting a check for more than $29,000 to representatives from the Kohl’s Kids Bike Smart Program overseen by Vermont’s Children’s Hospital on Oct. 30 at the University Mall.
Through the Kohl’s Cares® program, Kohl’s Department Store at the University Mall in South Burlington has donated nearly $171,000 to Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care since 2004. The annual grants are used to support pediatric injury prevention programs.
The event will take place at University Mall’s Halloween celebration from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the check presentation will be at the center court stage at 5:45 p.m. Kohl’s Kids Bike Smart (KKBS) representatives will be handing out information about their programs, as well as safe biking and helmet use. There will be giveaways and bike helmets available while supplies last. Bring your child’s helmet for a safety check and fitting.
In partnership with Local Motion of Burlington, KKBS is a bike skills training program that teaches kids how to ride bikes safely with the goal of keeping them active and injury free.
"Teaching children about bike safety and helmet use is an integral part of our injury prevention programs," said Lewis First, MD, chief of pediatrics at Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen. "Thanks to Kohl’s generous support, we are able to reach thousands of children in our community and teach them the importance of practicing safety each and every day."
During the school year, KKBS loans its trailer full of bikes, equipment and supplies – free of charge – to Vermont schools interested in conducting bike skill trainings for students in grades K-8. In addition to the trailer, the loaner program provides teachers with a detailed curriculum guide, training and technical support, and access to low-cost helmets for kids.
In the summer, KKBS works with municipal parks and recreation departments to incorporate bike skills into summer camps, providing all needed equipment and supplies plus trainers and counselor training.
Kohl's commitment to Vermont Children’s Hospital is made possible through the Kohl's Cares cause merchandise program. Through this initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s health and education programs nationwide, including hospital partnerships such as this one. Kohl's has raised more than $180 million dollars through this merchandise program. In addition to the merchandise program, Kohl's Cares® features the Kohl's Cares® Scholarship Program, which last year recognized more than 2,100 young volunteers with a total of $410,000 in scholarships and prizes. Through Kohl’s Associates in Action volunteer program, more than 500,000 associates have donated more than 1.6 million hours of their time since 2001 and Kohl’s has donated more than $47 million to youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Kohl’s also offers fundraising gift cards for schools and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares.
About Fletcher Allen
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with our partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont’s academic medical center. Fletcher Allen, along with Central Vermont Medical Center, are members of Fletcher Allen Partners, established to develop a more coordinated system of care throughout the region. Fletcher Allen’s mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves by integrating patient care, education and research in a caring environment. Fletcher Allen also serves as a regional referral center -- providing advanced care to approximately one million people in Vermont and northern New York -- and as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information, visit www.FletcherAllen.org.
About Kohl’s Department Stores
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,146 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $208 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com, or join the discussion on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kohls or Twitter http://twitter.com/Kohls.
