Give-A-Thon for Phoenix Children’s Hospital raises $1.7 million

PHOENIX — Arizona, you’re champions. Champions of hope.

The 10th annual Give-A-Thon for Phoenix Children’s Hospital raised a record $1,728,142 during a 19-hour radio simulcast on KTAR News 92.3 FM and 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

More than $1.7 million raised for Give-A-Thon for @FriendsofPCH.

Thank you, Arizona. #ChampionsOfHope. pic.twitter.com/WvgsGBDBlG

— KTAR News (@KTAR923) August 17, 2018

The Give-A-Thon for PCH also maintained its position as the top children’s hospital fundraiser in the country. Since 2009, the event has raised more than $12.8 million.

“Every year, the community simply floors us with their generosity during Give-A-Thon,” said Steve Schnall, Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation’s senior vice president and chief development officer.

“None of this would be possible without the extraordinary efforts of our friends at KTAR News and Arizona’s Sports Station. Thanks to them, we can continue to provide the absolute best in pediatric care.”

Setting aside prime time KTAR News and Arizona Sports programming schedules for nearly two days, the Give-A-Thon for Phoenix Children’s Hospital featured emotional, heart-breaking stories about the children and families whose lives are forever changed by the care they receive at the hospital.

“For our Give-A-Thon, to once again be the largest fundraiser in the country for a children’s hospital is incredibly humbling,” said Scott Sutherland, Vice President and Market Manager of Bonneville Phoenix, which operates KTAR News 92.3, 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and ESPN Phoenix.

“It is a testament to the amazing people of Phoenix Children’s Hospital and our generous listeners. And we’re so grateful for the support of our amazing Give-A-Thon sponsors, all of whom embrace the PCH mission and inspire their employees, customers and business partners to also contribute to the campaign.”

Give-A-Thon sponsors raised record amounts this year. They include presenting sponsor Valley Hyundai Dealers, Wells Fargo, Carl’s Jr., The UPS Store, ACE Hardware, Trane and Whipple AC and Heating.

KTAR News and Arizona Sports would also like to thank their team partners: Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns.

We’re finding out how much money was raised during Give-A-Thon for @friendsofpch! #ChampionsOfHope https://t.co/srFIIgyG7p

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) August 17, 2018

Funds raised during Give-A-Thon benefit the hospital’s Hope Fund, which helps the hospital fund research, new clinical programs, technology upgrades, and child- and family-friendly services as well the recruitment of world-renowned physicians to ensure that every child who needs care in the community receives it.

The name and theme of the event, Give-A-Thon and Champions of Hope, were top trending hashtags on Twitter during the entire event.

Follow @Tyler_Bassett