Great River Energy Bicycle Festival Donates to Pediatric Hospice
Festival makes record contribution to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of MinnesotaMinneapolis – January 8, 2008 - The Great River Energy Bicycle Festival announced that it had raised $30,000 for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in 2007, double its largest contribution to date. The Festival, which includes the Nature Valley Grand Prix professional bicycle race, has partnered with the Children’s Association – Minneapolis to support Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota since 2003, raising more than $90,000.
Funds from the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival are directed to the Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care Department at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, the only program of its kind in the state. Members of this department form an interdisciplinary team providing long-term, coordinated, holistic care for both the child and family. Their team includes the child’s physician, family, specially trained physicians, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, chaplains, and volunteers. They work together in the hospital or at home to relieve the suffering of the child and family.
“Children’s is sincerely grateful to the volunteers of the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival and its marquee event, the Nature Valley Grand Prix”, said Alan Goldbloom, M.D., CEO of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. “Donations such as this provide great support for families whose children are receiving services through our hospice and pain and palliative care programs."
“Supporting Children’s statewide mission through our sponsorship of the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival is an important part of our commitment to our communities”, said David Saggau, CEO of Great River Energy. “We’re particularly impressed by Children’s care for the entire family. As a member-owned cooperative, that’s a great fit with who we are.”
Serving as Minnesota’s children’s hospital since 1924, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is the seventh-largest pediatric health care organization in the United States, with 326 staffed beds at its two hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis. An independent, not-for-profit health care system, Children’s of Minnesota provides care through more than 13,000 inpatient visits and more than 200,000 emergency room and other outpatient visits every year. Children’s is the only Minnesota hospital system to provide comprehensive care exclusively to children, and in 2007 was ranked as one of the 30 top pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
About the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival and Nature Valley Grand PrixThe Great River Energy Bicycle Festival is a five-day celebration of cycling that takes place each June. Its featured event, the Nature Valley Grand Prix, is one of the top three professional stage races in the United States. Other Festival activities include the Wheaties Fan Zone, amateur racing, stunt riders live music, lifestyle expos and family activities. The 2008 Festival will take place June 11 – 15, visiting Saint Paul, Cannon Falls, Minneapolis, Mankato and Stillwater. More info at www.MinnBikeFestival.com
Great River Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative providing wholesale electric energy and related services to 28 distribution cooperatives serving nearly 1.5 million people in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Headquartered in Elk River, MN, Great River Energy is the second largest utility in Minnesota and the fifth largest utility of its type in the country. More info at www.greatriverenergy.com
Nature Valley, the brand that created the granola bar category in 1975, brings variety to healthy, active consumers looking for wholesome and great-tasting snacks. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Nature Valley is part of General Mills, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. More info at www.naturevalley.com
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