Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has leveraged corporate relationships to raise $5 billion for 170 member children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada since 1983. Tapping the passion of consumers, CMN Hospitals works with corporate partners such as WalMart, Costco, Dairy Queen, Rite Aid and Food Lion to raise millions for children’s hospitals, often $1 at a time.
CMN Hospitals signed its first corporate partner in 1983 with Marriott, creating the longest standing partnership to date with donations exceeding $80 million.
In 1986, after being told “no” over and over by other business owners, Eleanor Lancey, a hospital employee, convinced O’Rourke’s Diner in Middletown, CT to sell paper balloons bearing the hospital’s name in exchange for donations. Thirty years later, Miracle Balloons account for $88 million each year and are found at retailers such as WalMart, Costco and Dairy Queen. Today, CMN Hospitals keeps its point of sale programs strong by keeping all donations local, embracing technology, careful retailer customization and training as well as strong quality control.
Fast forward to 2008 and Jeromy Adams, a radio DJ and video game blogger working on a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Radiothon in Houston, meets and is inspired by game-loving leukemia patient Victoria Enmon. In an effort to honor her after she lost her cancer battle, Jeromy realizes gamers want to support kids like Tori and the Extra Life program is born. Embracing a culture of innovation, CMN Hospitals hired Jeromy to run the program full time and since its inception, Extra Life has grown over 1,900% and in 2013 the program raised $4 million.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a fascinating case of a large, legacy nonprofit that has reinvigorated its corporate alliance program by embracing innovation. We’re honored to bestow the 2014 Golden Cause Marketing Halo Award for nonprofits upon this deserving organization.