For the past 18 years, the Plymouth Dairy Queen has ranked first statewide for fundraising for Riley Hospital for Children through a partnership with Children’s Miracle Network. Suzi Heminger, owner of the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill in Plymouth, is enthusiastic about the restaurant’s continuing work with Riley through fundraising efforts like “Miracle Treat Day.”
Selling a total of 556 Blizzards during this year’s “Miracle Treat Day,” the Plymouth restaurant raised $1,333.52 for Riley.
Heminger’s most rewarding experience is when “a customer comes through and shares a story about how their niece or nephew or grandchild was helped through Riley,” she said.
Though pleased with their 18-year streak as the number one contributor among Indiana Dairy Queens, Heminger and her employees do not jealously guard their title.
“We would love to see that happen because we love to know other Dairy Queens are working as hard for Riley’s as we are,” Heminger said.
They continue to set goals for themselves each year as far as fund raising is concerned. In 2007 they  raised $14,607.22 for Riley. This contributed to the more than $229,000 Dairy Queens worldwide raised for the hospital. This year, Heminger and staff hope to break the $15,000 mark.
Between January and July of this year, they had already raised $9,060.
While they do not glamorize their fundraising efforts, they do make sure their customers have plenty of opportunities to donate. Just inside the door sits a giant machine full of gizmos and coin-sorting contraptions, especially appealing to young donors. There is also a coin box on the counter.
Customers can also “feed’” change to a wooden dinosaur bank and watch it roll down its throat. Again, this would probably appeal to younger donors.
For customers eating on the go, the drive-thru also has a donation box.
But the ideas do not stop there. Space on their large sign outside can be rented for 24 hours for $24. According to Heminger, other Dairy Queen restaurants, including one in Columbia City, have inquired into the sign rental idea. Approximately 35 gallons of pop tabs also await delivery to Riley.
Overall, Heminger said, the Plymouth community has been very supportive of the Dairy Queen’s efforts to support Riley.
“There have been a lot of people positively influenced in this community by Riley,” she said.
More information about Miracle Treat Day is available at www.miracletreatday.com .
About Riley Hospital
Riley Children’s Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children, Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. Established in 1924, Riley Children’s Hospital is Indiana’s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children. They serve more than 191,000 families annually and children from all 92 Indiana counties, across the nation and throughout the world.
More information is available at www.RileyKids.org .
About Children’s Miracle Network
The Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals nationwide. Each year the 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals provide medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of children overcome diseases and injuries.
More information is available at: www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org .