INNISFAIL – There is one day of the year at Mark Kemball’s business that always has special meaning.
It’s also one the entire staff proudly supports.
On Oct. 28 Kemball’s Innisfail Dairy Queen joined in for the 19th annual national Miracle Treat Day.
The net proceeds from every Blizzard Treat purchased at participating DQ stores, including Innisfail, are being donated to Calgary’s Alberta Children's Hospital, one of 12 Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals across Canada.
Since the partnership began 37 years ago in 1984, Dairy Queen has become a top contributor to Children’s Miracle Network, with more than $44 million raised to date in Canada.
“I’ve had staff members that have used the hospital. I’ve had staff members whose kids have used the hospital. For me to take my sales today and donate that to the hospital there is not a hesitation about doing that,” said Kemball, who has owned the Innisfail Dairy Queen outlet on Innisfail’s Main Street since 1989.
“That has been the most successful thing we have ever done. We donate a lot of money to the hospital. Most years we will donate anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to the hospital,” added Kemball, noting Edmonton’s Stollery Children's Hospital and Calgary's Alberta Children’s Hospital are world class facilities.
“There are so many stories that bring you to tears about how they have helped families.”
Kemball said Dairy Queen has “always been about families” and the annual national Miracle Treat Day is the one cause everyone can get behind. For Kemball, a great many of his more than 30 staff members are young people.
“I often say, ‘I have raised a lot of kids in this town.’ Our brand has always been about kids and family,” said Kemball. “We have always supported youth, sponsoring everything from baseball to hockey. All those youth sports have always been important to me. This is no different.”
Kemball added the cause is especially about supporting families at a time when they most need it.
“I would hate for us to have these hospitals go away,” he said. “The work they do with kids is absolutely amazing.”
