Comer Children's Hospital partners with Mariano's to GIVE MORE

Comer Children's Hospital partners with Mariano's to GIVE MORE

Hospital's first "Raise at the Register" throughout September supports children's research and programming

September 1, 2016

The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital is partnering with Mariano's, one of four grocery banners of Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co., to launch the month-long GIVE MORE fundraising campaign for lifesaving pediatric medical care and research. As part of the partnership, Mariano's shoppers can make add-on donations to their purchases in increments of $1, $5 or $10 to support Comer Children's.

The money raised by the GIVE MORE campaign will help treat patients like William Sterling. The 11-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy, suffered from severe epileptic seizures. His seizures started when he was three months old and eventually became constant. Unable to get help from anti-seizure medications, Comer Children's pediatric neurologist Chalongchai Phitsanuwong, MD, admitted William to the hospital in January 2015 and started him on a ketogenic diet. Comer Children's is one of only three hospitals in Illinois prescribing this medically supervised high-fat, moderate-protein and low-carbohydrate diet to young patients. After just six weeks on the novel regime, William's seizures disappeared completely.

"Our partnership with Mariano's is focused on giving more children like William, and their families, a more normal childhood, with more days at school, more playdates and more birthdays," said John Cunningham, MD, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. "With the Mariano's team and their customers' support, we are able to bring greater awareness to the work we are doing and support a healthier future for our children."

The "Raise at the Register" begins Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 30. Donations will support a variety of patient programming at the Hyde Park children's hospital, which is known for its long track record of providing comprehensive, innovative medical care to children.

"What makes Comer Children's Hospital exceptional is the extraordinary personalized care that is given to each and every patient and their family," said Bob Mariano, President and CEO of Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc., the parent company of Mariano's. "We share this commitment to the community and are proud to support the incredible work of these dedicated medical experts."

Donations can be made at all of Mariano's 38 locations throughout Chicagoland. To find a Mariano's location near you, visit Marianos.com/storelocator.

About Comer Children's Hospital

Comer Children's Hospital, which is part of the University of Chicago Medicine, is home to the only Level 1 pediatric trauma center on the city's South Side. It includes a 30-bed pediatric intensive care unit, one of the state's busiest neonatal intensive units and an array of general, specialty and subspecialty care for children of all ages. The hospital admits about 5,000 patients and accommodates nearly 37,000 outpatient clinics visits annually, offering everything from general care to groundbreaking treatments for the most complex medical conditions.

About Mariano's

Mariano's, the Midwest's most exciting food destination, is one of four grocery banners of Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR).  Mariano's, founded in 2010, is an integral part of the communities it serves. With 38 locations across the Chicagoland area, Mariano's places a premium on the customer experience, offering a highly differentiated food shopping experience combined with exceptional customer service. Mariano's incorporates Chicagoland's distinctive neighborhood culture into its signature grocery merchandising allowing customers to enjoy a truly unique foodie experience.