BOBBY ALEXANDER
For the sake of the children
Costco employees, members and could you not want to help the kids?”
suppliers helped raise more than Costco employees also had plenty of fun
$8.3 million during the recent with fund-raising. Many painted their faces
Children’s Miracle Network and donned big red noses and floppy shoes to
(CMN) fund-raising campaign. help raise money.
The money goes to children’s hospitals in In Auburn Hills, Michigan, for instance,
local communities. As usual, the primary fund- Stephanie Brown brought in more than
raiser was selling $1 paper balloons in the $1,000 for CMN by spending a couple of Fast cash (top): The Las Vegas Costco
warehouses, with sales totaling almost $5.4 weekends dressed up as Snaps the Clown. raised more than $13,000 this year for
million. Bud Degele, a cashier at Missoula, She was so popular with children and their Children’s Miracle Network. The warehouse
CHRISTIE McCORMICK
Montana, sold nearly 2,500 by himself. parents that some members invited her to per- hosted a business show featuring local
“He’s very persistent,” says Wayne form at birthday parties. merchants. None made a flashier impression
Rhoades, a front end manager at the Missoula CMN is an international nonprofit orga- than the Mario Andretti Racing School,
warehouse. “We held a contest that awarded nization dedicated to raising funds and which brought a real race car.
the person who sold the most balloons the awareness for 170 children’s hospitals Penny pincher (above): Joyce Wooldridge, a
opportunity to write their own work schedule throughout North America. Each year these Costco employee in Medford, Oregon, took
for two weeks. But Bud’s been an employee nonprofit hospitals attend to more than 17 “A penny saved is a penny earned” to
for so long, he already has a great schedule, million children. CMN hospitals treat all chil- another level for her CMN contribution.
so he didn’t even have to change his. He did dren regardless of the family’s financial situ- Joyce spent the past five years collecting
it for all the right reasons.” ation or their ability to pay for services. lost pennies from the warehouse floor. Her
“I have a whole lot of love for the kids,” Costco has donated more than $54 mil- haul added up to $11—not to mention a
says Bud. “I’m still a kid at heart, and how lion to CMN since 1988.—Mark E. Stroder lifetime worth of good luck!
Saving your sight
Ithought my attention to healthy living ation is a factor in the development of various
was above average—regular exercise, eye diseases,” says Dr. Kevin Hirano, an inde-attention to diet, no smoking, only light pendent optometrist at the Costco Optical
alcohol consumption and disciplined Center in Issaquah, Washington. “UV radiation
use of my sunscreen, seat belt and bike hel- is damaging, and the more light you’re exposed
met. Have I missed anything? to, the higher the likelihood that you will devel-Apparently I have, and it’s related to the op cataracts or macular degeneration.”
sunscreen category. I am guilty of not protect- For many, sunglasses will provide the
ing my eyes from the same ultraviolet (UV) necessary protection. But people who wear
radiation that I routinely protect my skin from. glasses will find a distinct advantage at Costco
The message about UV rays and skin cancer Optical Centers, where all the lenses sold come
was loud and clear, but the message about eye standard with UV protection.
protection and the likely link of UV radiation One popular option eliminates the need
to cataracts and macular degeneration is just for separate sunglasses: photochromic lenses Transitions Lenses offer 100 percent UV
starting to pick up volume. from Transitions. According to Dr. Hirano, protection in style.
TRANSITIONS
Cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the most patients don’t necessarily know the cally adjust from clear to dark depending on
eye, blocking the passage of light, is the lead- term “photochromic,” but they do accurately the amount of UV radiation present. They are
ing cause of correctable vision loss in the describe the feature. “They ask for a lens that available for all types of prescriptions, from
United States, with 29 percent of those changes in sunlight,” he says. single-vision to progressives, and are compat-between ages 65 and 74 afflicted. Macular Transitions Lenses are lightweight plastic ible with all frame styles.
degeneration involves a gradual loss of cen- lenses and are ideal for all-around use. Whatever the eyewear selection, full UV
tral vision and is the leading cause of blind- Special photochromic dyes in the plastic protection is a signifigant added value. As Dr.
ness in the elderly population. cause the lenses to darken when exposed to Hirano points out, “Why take chances with
“The evidence is compelling that UV radi- UV rays from sunlight. The lenses automati- less? It’s just not worth it.”—David Wight
