Meredith’s Miracles raised more than $117,000 during the 17th Annual Cookies with Characters event last weekend. It also set records for the organization’s most profitable year.
Nearly 3,000 people attended each of The Cookies with Characters shows at the Covington Arena this past weekend. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Meredith’s Miracles was created in 2005 in honor of Meredith McGlamory, a local child who died against cancer when she was just five years old.
“It is so important for our foundation to to fund so much in one event. A lot of effort involved in this annual event. It’s so great that our entire community comes together to assist with this fundraising event.” the Meredith’s Miracles executive director/Cookies With Characters coordinator Kiley Spears stated.
As per Spears, Meredith’s Miracles funded medical visits for families in 911 that totaled $157,341 for the calendar year 2022.
“We have seen an increase of 56 percent in medical visits since 2021, thanks in part to each of you. Every cent spent on Cookies with Characters will help us take a child or family members on medically needed travel. Since the beginning, Meredith’s Miracles has funded $1,095,490.20,” she said.
Spears said that the attendance for the three shows was just less than 3,000.
“This year our sponsorships have definitely contributed to a significant increase in our number. I’d like to extend an especially big thank you for Jeremie Shaffer. She is awe-inspiring and the one who was the head of our committee on sponsorship. The community has supported our event for over 17 years, whether by donating, sponsoring as a character or just enjoying our events.”
The year 2022 was the first time Meredith’s Miracles funded 911 medical visits for families through money raised through this annual fundraiser. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Cookies with Characters is the largest fundraising event for Meredith’s Miracles which is an 501(c)(3) non-profit that specializes in helping families across the 27 Alabama counties to pay for travel costs for medical emergency situations. “We are here to raise awareness to the issues of childhood medical conditions and also to help families who have costs that are not medical when a child requires medical assistance.”
Cookies with Characters helps Meredith’s Miracles to set up the majority of its funds each year. The rest of the money comes from grants and local thrift shops.
“There is no way that we could have the event without the students, volunteers, and our volunteers. Students put an enormous amount of effort into the event. The performance reflects the dedication they’ve done. To learn more about the organization’s volunteer program, visit our website at meredithsmiracles.org,” she added.
Spears said that anyone interested in sponsoring are encouraged to visit the site to learn more. “Our slideshow of sponsors is shown the page of our facebook page , ‘Cookies with Characters. Contact us to be an official sponsor. We love our sponsors.”
Meredith’s Miracles is located at 408 S. Three Notch St. in Andalusia. For more information visit meredithsmiracles.org, call Spears at 334-427-5321, or access Meredith’s Miracles and Cookies with Characters on Facebook.
The article Record-setting Year Cookies with Characters helps raise more than $107,000 to support Meredith’s Miracles was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
