(Joplin, MO) – Sure, there are well over 20,000 possible custom Dairy Queen Blizzard® combinations a child can dream up, but faced with a dizzying array of syrups, toppings, and mix-ins, Children’s Miracle Network at Freeman Health System’s 2026 Champion Zakiyah Crow kept it simple: Vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookie bits, crushed M&M candy, and a scoop of cotton candy-flavored sprinkles.
The nine-year-old watched as Joplin Dairy Queen General Manager Debbie Schacht created the icy treat. Before handing the Blizzard over to Crow, she did the traditional “flip”—turning the cold concoction upside down, ensuring it tastes the same whether it’s served upside down or right side up. Crow’s eyes grew large when she saw that happen. While holding it herself, Crow repeated the flip, smiling when nothing spilled. Moments later, she took her first big bite.
“It’s really good,” Crow said.
It’s an annual tradition for Freeman CMN champions to choose and consume their very own Blizzard at the DQ location at 2015 E. 32nd Street.
“You just never know what our kiddos will put in their [Blizzards],” said Laura Gullett, Children’s Miracle Network program coordinator at Freeman Health System. “Sometimes they are simple, just some chocolate and sprinkles. Other times it’s ‘the works.’ We’ve had kiddos choose all sizes, all flavors, and it’s just super fun to watch them create these special treats.”
The fun event acts as a preview to this Thursday’s Miracle Treat Day, when $1 from every Dairy Queen Blizzard® purchase is donated to Children’s Miracle Network at Freeman Health System.
“We use these funds to help our local kiddos like Zakiyah with gas cards, medications, travel to specialty appointments, helping them with equipment that insurance doesn’t cover, and we also have our Miracle Service dog program,” Gullett said.
Dairy Queen has been a local CMN partner since 2004, and during that time, participating area DQ stores have raised nearly $178,000. Last year, they donated $16,850.
“Every Miracle Treat Day is a crazy day. We sell a lot of Blizzards,” Schacht said. On average, between 300 to 500 Blizzards are annually sold on the last Thursday of July each year. “Our staff really enjoys getting involved and we get to feel like we’re a part of the community.”
Freeman is one of 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals found nationwide. One hundred percent of all profits raised benefits local children and families in need receiving assistance for those with medical needs such as prescriptions, medical equipment and specialty care. Overall, CMN provides assistance to children from birth to 21 years of age in a 14-county area in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. CMN helps furnish and maintain Freeman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, provides funding for local community organizations’ pediatric needs, as well as pediatric emergency equipment for area agencies.
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center — the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services — as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Reference:
Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator
Freeman Health System
417.434.3458
KSMcclintock@freemanhealth.com
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