Children’s National Dedicates Costco Wholesale Atrium in Recognition of 30-Year Partnership

On Thursday, May 17, Children’s National officially dedicated its main atrium as the Costco Wholesale Atrium in recognition of Costco’s longtime support for children in the Washington region. In a ceremony that featured Kurt Newman, MD, President and CEO of Children’s National and Joe Portera, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Eastern and Canadian divisions of Costco Wholesale, the hospital unveiled signage honoring Costco Wholesale as one of its most generous corporate partners.

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Costco Manager and grateful grandparent Varsylvia James; Anthony Fontana, Vice President, Costco Wholesale New York Region and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Board of Governors; Joe Portera, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Costco Wholesale Eastern and Canadian divisions; Chase, grandson of Varsylvia James and former Children’s National patient; Kurt Newman, MD, President and CEO, Children's National; DeAnn Marshall, President, Children's Hospital Foundation; Toni Verstandig, Chair, Children's Hospital Foundation Board; Kathy Gorman, MSN, RN, FAAN, Executive Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Operating Officer, Children's National; Mike Williams, Chairman of the Board, Children's National. (Photo: Business Wire)

“We are thrilled to be able to honor Costco Wholesale in this special way,” said Dr. Newman. “We’re celebrating not just the company’s generosity and leadership, but also the thousands of children who are healthier today because of their support. There is no better place to recognize the depth and impact of Costco’s commitment to children’s health than in the main atrium—the heart of our hospital.”

Located centrally in the hospital’s main campus, the Costco Wholesale Atrium sees hundreds of visitors daily, including patient admissions, family and friends of patients, and volunteers. It is home to the Seacrest Studios at Children’s National – a state-of-the-art, multimedia studio that helps children heal through music, entertainment, and creative expression – and regularly hosts special performances and visits, including the First Lady’s annual holiday visit.

Since 1987, Costco has raised $25.8 million for Children’s National. In 2017, the company committed an additional $25 million to support the hospital, bringing its lifetime giving to more than $50 million. Costco was awarded Children’s National’s Corporate Honoree Award at the 2018 Children’s Ball in April.

“Supporting Children’s National has been a labor of love for our executives, employees, and members,” said Mr. Portera, who is also a member of the Corporate Advisory Council at Children’s National. “Throughout our 30-year partnership, many of our employees and members have had personal experiences at Children’s National. Our commitment honors these families and the many more who one day may need these services.”

Nationally, Costco Wholesale has been a partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since 1988 and has raised more than $240 million for pediatric hospitals. In Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Costco has supported Children’s National in numerous ways. During the company’s May is for Miracles register fundraising campaign, a paper balloon is displayed in honor of each customer who makes a donation. In 2017, the 18 warehouses and one depot located across the D.C. region raised nearly $900,000 for Children’s National. Costco also holds a regional golf tournament, which raises more than $1 million annually, and has been the exclusive sponsor of water and snacks for the Children’s National Race for Every Child since 2014.

About Children’s National Health System

Children’s National Health System, based in Washington, D.C., has been serving the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National is #1 for babies and ranked in every specialty evaluated by U.S. News & World Report including placement in the top 10 for: Cancer (#7), Neurology and Neurosurgery (#9), Orthopaedics (#9) and Nephrology (#10). Children’s National has been designated two times as a Magnet® hospital, a designation given to hospitals that demonstrate the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is one of the nation’s top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. Children’s National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Costco Wholesale

Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing its members the best possible prices on quality, brand-name merchandise. With hundreds of locations worldwide, Costco provides a wide selection of merchandise, plus the convenience of specialty departments and exclusive member services, all designed to make the shopping experience a pleasurable one. Costco Wholesale's charitable giving supports programs focusing on children, education, and health and human service. For more information, visit www.costco.com.

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