Contact: Alice Warchol at (757) 668-9049 or email Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org.
NORFOLK, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters is proud to announce Matt Bean of Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen was named 2025 Local Corporate Person of the Year – a national award presented by Children’s Miracle Network.
This distinguished recognition celebrates corporate leaders who go above and beyond to support children’s hospitals through fundraising, advocacy, and meaningful partnerships. Under Bean’s leadership as director of marketing and public relations, Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen has continued to demonstrate a deep commitment to helping children and families at CHKD, raising $510,544 in 2025 alone.
In 2020, Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen made a $1.25 million commitment to CHKD’s Mental Health Program. After seeing strong community engagement and fundraising success, the organization increased its commitment to $5 million in 2022. Through year‑round support via Dairy Queen’s Round Up campaign and signature events such as Miracle Treat Day, Free Cone Day, and Miracle Balloon campaigns, Bean and his team of local Dairy Queen stores have raised nearly $2.5 million toward the commitment through 2025.
“Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters can't think of a more deserving recipient of CMN's Local Corporate Person of the Year award than Matt Bean,” said Bryant Thomas, vice president of advancement at CHKD. “We are grateful to Matt and the entire Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen team for their steadfast commitment to raising critical funds for CHKD. Their dedication continues to help us strengthen and expand the mental health care we provide to children and families across our region.”
Bean said he’s honored to be recognized but his team and Dairy Queen fans deserve all the credit. “Supporting Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters is something we care deeply about, and we’re thankful to be part of a community that continues to show up in such a meaningful way for local children and families,” Bean said.
As a member of Children’s Miracle Network, CHKD partners with local businesses and organizations like DQ to raise critical funds for medical care, lifesaving equipment, research and training, and special programs that help children heal and thrive. Fundraising efforts of CMN partners throughout Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina directly support CHKD, ensuring the care children need remains close to home. Since Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen and CHKD’s partnership through Children’s Miracle Network began more than 35 years ago, DQ’s fundraising efforts have contributed more than $3.5 million for local children and families at CHKD.
“Corporate champions like Matt play an important role in ensuring we can provide compassionate and family-centered programs unique to children’s hospitals,” said Kate Ryan, program director for CMN partnerships at CHKD. “Their commitment doesn’t just raise funds – it creates hope for families and helps build a brighter future for children in our community.”
CHKD extends its gratitude to Bean, the Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen team, and the countless community members who continue to make miracles happen for children every day.
Pictured: Matt Bean with Aimee Daily, CMN president and CEO, and Frances Fu, CMN chief operating and financial officer, at CMN’s Elevate conference in April.