The Midwest and Great Lakes Divisions of Circle K convenience stores raised a total of $937,213 for children’s hospitals during its fundraising campaign April 8-30 in its 988 stores across 12 states. The amount raised exceeded Circle K’s 2009 total of $750,920 by almost 25 percent.

“Despite public sentiment and economic indicators that 2010 would be a difficult fundraising year, Circle K employees and customers rallied behind the children’s hospitals in their communities, raising close to $1 million for Children’s Miracle Network,” said Craig Sorensen, chief marketing officer, Children’s Miracle Network.

Circle K raised the funds by asking customers to purchase a $1 and $5 Miracle Balloon icon to support Children’s Miracle Network, a children’s charity that raises funds for more than 170 pediatric hospitals.

“The managers and their teams in the stores create a fun and energy filled three week campaign with our customers. This year we raised over $40,000 each day, more than $937,000 total, one dollar and one customer at a time,” said Mark Novak, director of human resources and training, Circle K Midwest and Great Lakes Divisions. “As we continue to grow, the strength in leveraging the passion, and energy so many of the Circle K associates put into the campaign yields better results that positively impact and improve the lives of children in our communities.”

Like all Children’s Miracle Network fundraisers, the funds raised from Circle K’s three-week campaign will help create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals each year.

Circle K has been a partner of Children’s Miracle Network since 2003, raising funds for children’s hospitals primarily through the icon fundraising campaign. To learn more about helping Children’s Miracle Network hospitals go to www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.