Ace Hardware, known as “The Helpful Place,” does more than just help with home and garden needs; the chain is committed to helping sick and injured kids in the community. All 36 Ace Hardware locations in and around Baltimore raise funds one dollar at a time for Johns Hopkins Children’s Center through national Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals campaigns, like the “Ace Cares for Kids” icon campaign and Blue CMN Hospitals Bucket Weekend, as well as through local events like barbeques and golf tournaments.

 “Being helpful is the core value of Ace Hardware and we believe there’s nothing more helpful than supporting local kids and families,” says Ace Foundation Manager Chris Doucet. “We are proud and honored to partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in communities across the country to help raise much needed funds and awareness for these extraordinary hospitals.”

Since becoming a CMN Hospitals partner in 1991, Ace Hardware has raised more than $82 million for local CMN hospitals across the country, with more than $227,000 directly supporting Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. As a thank you for their commitment, local Ace Hardware employees regularly have the opportunity to visit Johns Hopkins Children’s Center to see firsthand where their money goes when they are asking customers to make a donation. Courtney Belew, marketing manager of “A Few Cool Hardware Stores” in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area, has joined Ace Hardware employees on these visits.

“Instead of just a faceless ask, employees really got to understand that the money does go to things that make the hospital more kid-friendly. There are toys and games that the kids wouldn’t have access to without our help,” says Belew. “You don’t think about what it would be like for a child to be in the hospital. When you get to see these things, it really is eye opening and makes us proud to be part of it all.”

In addition to receiving integral funds from Ace Hardware, patients and families at the Children’s Center received a special visit in May 2016 thanks to Ace’s partnership with Stanley Black & Decker. Johns Hopkins Children’s Center participated in Ace’s annual “Racing for Miracles Weekend,” which kicked off with a visit from Carl Edwards, the Stanley Racing Team and the #19 car—patients even witnessed a pit-stop demonstration with the team’s official pit crew. The #19 car also visited Ace Hardware locations throughout their spring 2016 campaign, helping to increase the stores’ engagement and commitment and ultimately resulting in Ace Hardware’s largest annual donation to the Children’s Center to date, a number they hope to top in 2017.

“Ace Hardware prides itself in being the local community hardware store, so it is important to us to help those families that do actually live in these communities. And our customers know we support the community,” says Belew. “We love supporting Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, and when customers get to see that what they’re donating stays right here, that’s what makes our partnership so unique and special.”

Ace Hardware’s representatives stress they are thrilled to continue their fundraising efforts this year. Save the date for Ace Hardware’s annual “Bucket Weekend” August 4-5, 2017. For a $5 donation, customers will receive a bucket and 20 percent off anything that fits in the bucket.