"If it's important for me to give to kids today, why shouldn't it be after I'm gone?"
– Dawn Gregg, longtime donor and volunteer through Children's Miracle Network

Longtime donor and Ace Hardware business owner, Dawn Gregg, has a passion for helping others. During her very first tour of Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital back in 2015, Dawn solidified her desire to get involved.

"Just seeing the kids - especially the ones hooked up to an IV or in oncology sitting in a dark room was emotional," said Dawn. "There are a lot of things you can choose in life. You don't have a choice to have your kid be sick. I just wanted to give back and do something for kids."

Since that first tour, Dawn has raised millions of dollars for the hospital, in partnership with her Ace customers and Children's Miracle Network. Through Providence Inland Northwest Foundation, Children's Miracle Network partners with area businesses to raise donations for the children's hospital. Shoppers can "round up" by adding a gift to their total at the register. Through her three Ace locations, Dawn raises tens of thousands of dollars every year.

By inspiring customer donations and through her own generosity, Dawn has made an incredible difference. She's provided gifts for the holidays, dressed as a superhero to visit patient rooms and dropped off hygiene items for families facing unexpected medical emergencies. The Providence Mission to serve all, including those who are most vulnerable, is top of mind for Dawn.

She knows she's not the only one who shares a passion for the kids. To support caregivers, Dawn often chooses days to fill Ace buckets full of chocolates, pretzels and other comfort items to give away. "For most people who work there, it's not just about the job, it's centered around the Mission," said Dawn.

To ensure that Mission continues for generations to come, Dawn has also planned a legacy gift, leaving part of her estate to Providence.

"As you go through life and you accumulate income, it just makes you stop and think about what happens when you're gone," said Dawn. "Did you make a difference in this life? You can earn a lot of money and do a lot of stuff with it, but did you make a difference? Did you change someone else's world?"

One of the first big purchase Ace donations helped fund for the hospital was an artificial heart for the pediatric cardiac surgery team. This $2,500 device allowed the surgeons to practice on a realistic model of a child's heart before operating on a real patient. Later projects became much larger, including remodels of general pediatrics and the pediatric intensive care unit.

"The amount of money we raise is dumbfounding. Getting to do these big projects, that's a legacy in itself. They will last for years and have hundreds of kids treated there," said Dawn.

It is her hope that with a legacy gift, Dawn's important work will continue beyond her lifetime.

"I just hope people look back and say, 'she came from a painful childhood, made something of herself and gave back to help others'," she said.