Ace Hardware: Helping the Kids Next Door

For Ace Hardware, “the helpful place” is far more than a company motto, as is clear when you understand the company’s 25-year partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN). The national hardware chain prides itself on giving back to the communities where employees live and work. Here at Children’s National, we’ve had the good fortune of feeling that community commitment firsthand.

Since 1991, Ace Hardware has raised more than $64 million for CMN hospitals across the country. Last year along, Ace Hardware stores in the greater Washington area raised more than $40,000 for local children. Which is why after the first week of fundraising in 2016, it is no surprise to already see two local Ace Hardware stores among the top 10 in the country for fundraising. (Special thanks to Sneade’s Ace Hardware in Lusby and Owings, Md.)

At Ace Hardware, stores across the region opt in to participate in fundraising campaigns, and the Ace Foundation has created several turnkey ways for associates and retailers to encourage donations throughout the year. Some of our favorites include:

• “Round Up” – A new program beginning this month, the “Round Up” campaign utilizes Ace’s existing PIN pad technology to ask customers at the point of sale if they would like to round up their purchase and donate the additional change to Children’s National. Upon donation, the printed receipt also says, “Thank you for donating to Children’s National,” further underscoring the relationship. The month-long campaign is supported by in-store signage, and will be repeated from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas.
• Bucket Promotion – On July 23 and 24, Ace Hardware will launch their biggest and most unique fundraising campaign yet -- the Bucket Promotion. For one weekend every year, Ace sells five-gallon baby-blue paint buckets with the logos of CMN and Ace Hardware printed on the side. Each bucket costs five dollars – which gets donated directly to CMN – and customers get the bucket and 20 percent off anything they can fit in it. Keep your eye out for the national TV commercials airing from July 18 to 24.
• Ace Cares for Kids Icon Campaign – From Sept. 19 to Oct. 3, Ace Hardware PIN pads will prompt customers to purchase a paper miracle balloons for a $1, $3, $5, or “other” donation. Like several other CMN campaigns, cashiers also ask their customers if they would like to buy a balloon in support of Children’s National.
• World’s Finest Chocolate – Throughout the year, Ace stores sell “World’s Finest Chocolate” chocolate bars for a dollar. For each bar sold, 48 cents goes to Children’s National, or $28.80 for a box of 60.

The next time you visit your local Ace Hardware store, be sure to thank them for putting their money where the miracles are: in the communities where they live and work.

Read about other CMN partner fundraising campaign.