Join Us for the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Kohl’s Check Presentation

Join Us for the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Kohl's Check Presentation 

MACON, GA (Monday, Dec. 6, 2011) – Please join us this evening for an annual holiday tradition at The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) as we light The Children's Tree. Five-year-old Riley Baron, our 2011 Miracle Child who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia, will light the tree in honor of all of the children at The Children's Hospital.

Festivities begin at the intersection of Pine and New streets at 6 p.m. when Central Georgia Health System/MCCG COO Joe Lavelle will welcome guests and introduce the musical entertainment – Howard High School Ensemble. Representatives from Kohl's department store, through the Kohl's Cares® cause merchandise program, will present a check to The Children's Hospital for $59,776. Dr. Frank Bowyer from The Children's Hospital and MCCG Chief Nursing Officer Judy Paull will then briefly speak before Riley lights The Children's Tree.

Since 2006, the Kohl's Cares® program has generously gifted $205,554 to The Children's Hospital. This has enabled the establishment and growth of the Kohl's Cares For Kids® Safety Zone program, which promotes childhood safety awareness and education, as the leading cause of death for children under the age of 14 is accidental injury.

Kohl's will also graciously provide giveaways to children who attend the tree lighting ceremony, including information about safety awareness. Through the Kohl's Cares® cause merchandise program, Kohl's sells $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children's health and education programs nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one. Kohl's has raised more than $150 million dollars through this program.

Should weather interfere, the ceremony will be moved to the lobby of the Albert Luce, Jr. Heart Institute.