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The Ace Hardware Foundation named 4-year-old Nile Kron of Iowa City, Iowa, as it’s ninth Ace Cares for Kids All-Star with a surprise event that included the Ace Hardware Foundation, Ace retailers, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and Coach Ferentz of the University of Iowa. Nile will serve as the national ambassador for the Ace Foundation, raising awareness of the work done at local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals across the country.
“We are excited to welcome Nile into the Ace All-Star family,” says Kane Calamari, president of the Ace Hardware Foundation. “Nile and his family will join Ace in raising awareness for CMN Hospitals and generating essential funding for other children facing illness. His story of bravery, perseverance and hope is one that we know will inspire our Ace community and beyond.”
Since Nile was born, he has been a patient at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, scoliosis, an absent right ear, Coloboma of his left eye and a tethered cord, and he had his first of many surgeries in October 2017.
“He lights up any room that he is in and is positive despite the challenges he experiences on a day-to-day basis,” says Brittany, Nile’s mom. “Even though Nile is only four years old, he is always determined to succeed. He has worn everything from a mouthpiece, to back braces, to foot braces.”
The Ace Foundation picked Nile as the Ace Cares for Kids All-Star following a nationwide campaign that gave every Children’s Miracle Network Hospital an opportunity to nominate a deserving patient. Over the past 30 years, the Ace Foundation has raised more than $160 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
