‘Taking care of our community is as important as taking care of our guests’: Steadfast support from Marriott fuels life-changing patient care 

Before Marriott International Inc. was a global hotel chain, they were a root beer stand with just nine seats.  

Founders J. Willard and Alice Sheets Marriott grew their small shop into a restaurant, then a franchise, and ultimately, one of the largest hotel chains worldwide.  

Every year, Marriott honors their roots by giving out root beer floats and inviting guests and staff to make a donation. For more than three decades, donations from participating Marriott properties in more than 50 zip codes across Dallas and Collin counties have supported Children’s HealthSM.   

From donating a quarter from every water bottle purchased to inviting guests to add a donation to their restaurant tab, Marriott’s giving through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has supported Children’s Health in countless ways, raising nearly $2 million dollars for the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas.    

“We invest in what’s most important to us, and for many associates, that’s their children. Many of our associates' families have benefitted from care at children’s hospitals locally and nationally,” said Robbie Tawil, General Manager of Dallas Marriott Uptown, one of the locations that supports Children’s Health. “Our fundraising efforts are constant because the need is constant.” 

In its more than 30 years of giving, Marriott’s generosity has been a flexible funding resource, supporting innovative research efforts that have led to life-saving discoveries and funding enhancements to our Dallas hospital that provide high-quality patient care for our rapidly growing pediatric population.   

“We trust that Children’s Health knows where the need is greatest. We’re here to help them and rally our troops to provide support,” said Tawil, who also serves as President of the DFW Marriott Business Council.  

“We will never waiver. We will never rest. For 97 years, we’ve built a mission and culture where we believe taking care of our community is as important as taking care of our guests,” Tawil said.  

A message from a Marriott regular: Thanks for helping my favorite kiddos! 

Woof! With great joy and a big dog smile, I’d like to say thank you to my friends at the Dallas Uptown Marriott for supporting Children’s Health. As a therapy dog, my job is to help children at the hospital feel better. After work, I often go to the Marriott with my mom and dad for dinner. It's right by our house, and we spent a bunch of time there when our pipes froze last winter.  

I was so excited when I learned that my friends at Marriott fundraise to help my kiddos at Children’s Health. Your support helps them feel better, smile bigger, and get to spend more time doing what kids love to do — like playing fetch with their dog!!! 

With gratitude and tail waggles, 

Espen Le Vieux 
Therapy Dog, Children’s Health