Donor Spotlight: Hailey and Riley Gojkovich
December 27, 2022
For the past eight years, Hailey and Riley Gojkovich have been making a special impact in the lives of children at MercyOne Children’s Hospital.
In 2015, Hailey, a 10-year-old at the time, invited her friends over for a birthday party and asked them to bring a toy or craft for a child in the hospital instead of a gift. This act of generosity was a surprise to her parents. She was inspired to giving back through stories she heard during radiothons for the Children’s Miracle Network where her father volunteered. She donated the toys she collected to MercyOne Children’s Hospital.
The next year, Hailey wanted to do more. She was a big fan of Cake Boss and wanted to try decorating cakes, cupcakes and cookies. She recruited her sister Riley and some more friends and started planning their first bake sale in 2016.
For every bake sale since then, Hailey, Riley and their friends planned menus, baked and sold items and took the proceeds to buy new toys for children in the hospital. Cumulatively, they have raised more than $10,000 to help kids at MercyOne Children’s Hospital and Blank Children’s Hospital.
MercyOne Children’s Hospital Child Life Specialists used these toys for therapeutic play during a patient’s preparation and recovery. These donations also help children cope with being in the hospital, allowing them to have a positive hospital experience.
The toys the Gojkovichs provide are an extension of the care MercyOne Children’s Hospital provides. They help add an extra layer of support to the fragile, young patients and their families, who are happy to see their children’s faces light up as they play with their toys and crafts.
In 2022, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) of Central Iowa recognized Hailey and Riley and were awarded the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award. MercyOne Children’s Hospital and Blank Children’s Hospital sent in nomination letters, highlighting the girls’ generosity.
“Success in life does not come from what we have, but what we give,” said Joan Bindel, MercyOne Des Moines Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy. “The Gojkovich family demonstrates how supporting our children when they have a desire to help someone else, can make our world a better place.”
“The impact that Hailey, Riley and their friends have demonstrated spreads joy across our community in so many ways.”
Philanthropy has made a lasting impact in Hailey’s life. She will be attending the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business in Fall 2023 and will also be pursuing a certificate in non-profit leadership and philanthropy. We wish Hailey the best on her new adventure.
For more information on how you can support MercyOne Children’s Hospital, please contact Director of Development and Events, Megan Mildenberger at 515-643-8038 or MMildenberger@mercydesmoines.org.
