We are proud to announce we welcomed Lily Baker (age 10) from Yakima, WA into the Ace family as the organization’s tenth Ace All-Star. The Ace Hardware Foundation surprised Lily and her family with a star-studded red-carpet event for her premiere as the 2023 Ace All-Star complete with "paparazzi" from the local high school where Lily is their CMN Champion. The event was held at the Children’s Village, which helps children with special health and developmental needs, and included Ace retailers, Lily’s longtime therapists as well as the Baker’s closest friends and family.

As Ace’s tenth All-Star, Lily will join Ellie, Aiden, Parker, Kasey, Roxie, Duke, Kapono, Desmond, Avery and Nile, serving as national ambassador for the Ace Foundation; raising awareness for the excellent work that is done at local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals across the country. Through the support of Ace’s vendor partner Duracell, the Ace All-Star program enables Ace stores to raise funds for their local CMN Hospital using Lily’s story of persistence as inspiration.

Lily was born in 2012. Her mother Kelly gave birth three weeks early to the most beautiful baby she had ever seen. Lily looked just like their son Riley, and Kelly was overjoyed! Later that night, a nurse said that Lily was having problems and that she was going to take her down to the NICU for just a bit. A few hours later, her doctor gave the news that Lily had Down syndrome.

"I’m raising a gentle, PERFECT little girl who just happened to have 3 copies of her 21st chromosome," said Kelly. "She loves animals of all kinds, playing outside with her friends, swinging, and saying, "BY MYSELF MOMMY!!!"" Some say Lily is different, Kelly would have to agree… she IS different. But so is everyone else. She just has a diagnosis for it. And Kelly learned that from the Children’s Village at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital.

"We are honored to welcome Lily into the Ace All-Star family," said Kane Calamari, President of the Ace Hardware Foundation. "Lily and her family will join Ace in raising awareness for CMN Hospitals and generating essential funding for other children facing illness. Her story of fortitude, determination and optimism is one that we know will inspire our Ace community and beyond." Lily was selected by the Ace Foundation following a nationwide campaign that gave every Children’s Miracle Network Hospital an opportunity to nominate a deserving patient. As the tenth Ace All-Star, a $10,000 donation from Duracell will be made to MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital in Lily’s honor. Throughout the year, Lily will make special appearances and will be treated to exciting surprises from Ace Hardware.