Sunshine Ace Hardware has chosen Children’s Miracle Network as its “primary charity partner” and has begun developing a year-round fundraising campaign to support the nonprofit organization.

Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace, made the declaration Thursday during a Lee Health event announcing that Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida has joined Children’s Miracle Network. Donations will support research and training, purchase equipment and pay for uncompensated care at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Wynn said three factors led to Sunshine Ace elevating its support for Children’s Miracle Network: the organization aligns with Sunshine Ace’s core values, fundraising dollars will remain in Southwest Florida to help local children and the nonprofit will have a meaningful impact for families through Golisano Children’s Hospital.

“One of our core values is caring for your neighbor,” Wynn said. “They certainly live this value each and every day, caring for families during what is arguably one of the most difficult times their family might face.”

Sunshine Ace is known as the helpful place, and Wynn said that value is reflected throughout the hospital as physicians, nurses and medical staff are incredibly helpful and supportive for patients and their families.

Sunshine Ace stores are among 22 Ace locations in Southwest Florida that will be supporting Golisano Children’s Hospital through Lee Health’s new partnership with Children’s Miracle Network.

As a corporation, Ace Hardware became a Children’s Miracle Network partner in 1991 and has helped raise more than $100 million through creative fundraising efforts of the Ace Hardware Foundation and generous contributions of retailers, customers, vendors and team members. Annual donations are expected to surpass $15 million in 2019, Wynn said.

Children’s Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to children across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care.

“Countless community leaders worked diligently to bring this partnership together,” said Chris Simoneau, chief foundation and development officer for Lee Health. “It’s their support that made this possible, and ensures that Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals donations made at Sunshine Ace Hardware and other Southwest Florida retailers and through partner campaigns and events will remain in our community to support children’s medical services.”

In addition to its support of Children’s Miracle Network, Sunshine Ace also has supported Leadership Collier, 4H, Junior Deputies, Rotary and Kiwanis youth charities in conjunction with Farm City BBQ at Sunshine Ace’s Big Green EGGfest, as well as the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Brooke’s Animal Legacy Rescue, Gene Doyle Memorial Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, Rotary, Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Susan G. Komen, YMCA and other charitable causes. Sunshine Ace also created the Wynn Family Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief Fund in 2017 and supported the Care for Collier Fund and SWFL Cares Fund to help those impacted by water quality issues in 2018.