Love's Shows Love for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

JOPLIN, Mo. – Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores makes miracles happen during the annual in-store fundraiser benefitting the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Freeman Health System. To help local children with medical needs, the annual Miracle Balloon Campaign takes place through September 30 at Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. Participating locations include Joplin, Missouri; Neosho, Missouri; and Miami, Oklahoma.

The purchase of a $1, $5 or $20 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Miracle Balloon icon at the register will directly help Freeman Health System fund life-saving equipment, charity care and direct family assistance including transportation costs, medication and equipment. 

The campaign doesn’t stop at the register – Love’s employees also organize other fundraising events, such as bake sales, yard sales, barbecues, concerts and wrestling matches. Customers also can support Freeman Health System by purchasing a Love’s and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals coffee mug or teacup. 

“We are so grateful for Love’s outstanding commitment to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Heather Lesmeister, Freeman Assistant Director of Development and External Relations and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program Director. “For 18 years, they have flooded our hospital with miracles. With amazing support from their customers and employees, we look forward to seeing more made this year.” 

The stakes are set high – last year’s Miracle Balloon Campaign raised more than $1.85 million nationally. In total, Love’s Travel Stops donated $2.5 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals during 2014. Love’s hopes to top these already impressive numbers with this year’s miracle-making.

Visit loves.com for Love’s locations and to learn how supporters can spread the love. 

The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program at Freeman provides assistance to children from birth to 21 years of age in a 14-county area in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. All money raised stays local, helping children and their families with medical needs, such as prescriptions, medical equipment and associated transportation expenses. The program also provides financial support for pediatric equipment, medical supplies, educational materials and more to Freeman pediatricians and maternal-child units, such as Freeman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Birthing Center and Pediatrics Unit.

About Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
Founded in 1964 by Tom Love, Love’s Travel Stops is headquartered in Oklahoma City and remains entirely family-owned and operated. The company operates more than 300 locations and 175 truck tire care centers in 39 states. To learn more, go to loves.com, Facebook (facebook.com/lovestravelstops), or follow @LovesTravelStop on Twitter.

Freeman Health System – Celebrating 90 Years of Service
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2014, Freeman earned 90 individual awards for medical excellence and safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman #1 Hospital in Southwest Missouri in 2014-15, and The Leapfrog Group gave Freeman the highest grade possible in the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo. #FreemanTurns90