The Memorial and Charity

Since its inception in 1975, The Memorial Tournament has focused on fundraising for Nationwide Children’s Hospital. When the Columbus-based insurance giant signed on last year as presenting sponsor of the Memorial, that focus sharpened. The Memorial has raised more than $8.35 million for the hospital over the years, with a goal of reaching $14 million by 2014, a hospital foundation official says.

A great deal of work is done by volunteers, who forgo pay in lieu of a donation to the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Care Unit. Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation receives and administers all hospital contributions.

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43017 that about half of the bears go to the hospital, where new patients “get this huggy little bear. That’s what I’m about,” she says.

Indeed, the donated bears arrive at the hospital in one shipment, usually just after the tournament. “It’s a big week around here when the bears arrive,” says Shafer, explaining that most are distributed to kids in the emergency room or to outpatients to cheer them during their brief stay.

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at laurand@pubgroupltd.com.

2011 Donations to nationwide Children’s Hospital:

Bears sales: $90,000+

Concert: $120,000+

Luncheon: $260,000+

Other*: 380,000+

Total: $850,000

*Portion of concession proceeds; patron will-call proceeds; volunteer hours; yellow shirt pin sales (2011 only)