Gainesville residents can beat the heat with a cold treat during Miracle Treat Day, a charity event benefiting UF Health Shands Hospital.
Children’s Miracle Network hospitals and Dairy Queen have teamed up across the country to donate $1 or more from each Blizzard Treat sold today to support hospitalized children.
Seven local stores and 16 additional franchise locations across Florida will participate, according to the Miracle Treat Day website.
To promote attendance, the Archer Road location will host local Children’s Miracle Network ambassadors from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to Matt Romkey, the director for CMN at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.
Guests can meet the ambassadors, who are children who have been treated at the hospital.
“Our ambassadors are very thankful for the amazing care that they have received, and they willingly volunteer their time to spread the impact that it has had on their lives,” Romkey said.
Miss America titleholders, women who have placed in Miss Gainesville, Miss Teen Gainesville and other local competitions, will also attend the event, he said.
This is the 10th annual Miracle Treat Day, with about $35,000 raised at last year’s event for the children’s hospital, according to a press release.
“We are hoping to raise even more this year,” Romkey said. “We have a lot of operators who have stepped up and are donating everything except the cost of the Blizzard, and we are very appreciative of these franchises for contributing at such a high level.”
To see all participating locations, visit miracletreatday.com.
