Dairy Queen® loves kids. Whether its little league teams celebrating at our restaurants after games, children enjoying dinner with their parents, or teenagers visiting for cool treats at the end of a date, "Dairy Queen" and kids go hand in hand. And, if these cherished youngsters ever became sick or injured, we want to help assure they have the best medical care available.

That's why the "Dairy Queen" system has been a proud national sponsor of Children's Miracle Network (CMN) since 1984. During the past 18 years, "Dairy Queen" operators throughout the United States and Canada have raised more than $44 million for CMN. From collecting customers' pocket change, to selling paper Miracle Treats and holding special events, our support enables us to give something back to the communities in which we do business.

Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization dedicated to generating funds and awareness programs to benefit kids treated at 170 children's hospitals throughout North America. CMN raises funds through innovative cause-marketing promotions and other programs developed to meet the business objectives of its sponsors. CMN also boasts the largest national television fund raiser in North America, produced in Walt Disney World and aired the weekend following the U.S. Memorial Day holiday. CMN's hallmark is that 100 percent of locally generated donations stay in the community to benefit kids treated at the local CMN hospital.

CMN hospitals represent the premier pediatric healthcare facilities in their respective communities, treating children of all afflictions, including cancer, birth defects, accidents and muscular and cardiovascular diseases. These facilities, which provide care based on filling the needs of families rather than on their ability to pay, treat more than 17 million kids each year.

In St. Louis, Mo. and the surrounding area, Dairy Queen operators and employees make raising money for kids seem like a piece of cake. For the past nine years the region has maintained the highest per-store fund raising average in the entire Dairy Queen system. For territory operator Sam Temperato, the key to their success lies in their voluntary Children's Miracle Network committee, which meets monthly to share ideas and coordinate area fund raising events such as golf tournaments, auctions and "Las Vegas miracle nights."

"The main reason the stores in our area are so motivated," explained Temperato, "is that they know what Children's Miracle Network activities are taking place and it's easy for them to tie in." Temperato encourages other Dairy Queen operators to join forces to enhance their fund raising efforts as well.

"Dairy Queen" and CMN are a perfect fit.