Tri-Cities CMN Telethon Raises $52,768; Total Donations $550,889

By From the Archives

Published: June 1, 2008

The TriCities’ generous donations helped make this year’s Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) telethon a great success.

News Channel 11 along with Tricities.com worked hand-in-hand with local partner Wellmont Health System to raise funds for the CMN.

The broadcast marathon rolled throughout the night on WJHL-TV from 6pm to midnight. More than 150 volunteers took pledges via phone and internet.

Telephone and online pledges grew through the night. News Channel 11 Anchor Josh Smith challenged the Tri-Cities to raise at least $50,000. That’s the cost of an Omni Giraffe infant bed. The telethon crew showed audiences the importance of these high-tech neonatal care stations on air.

The Johnson City Community Theater dared Smith to wear a curly brunette wig with highlights on-air during the telethon. The News Channel 11 anchor accepted the challenge, but only if the Tri-Cities accepted his dare to raise $50,000—enough to purchase at least one Omni Giraffe infant bed.

The Tri-Cities met the dare, and Smith wore the hair.

Tri-Cities residents pledged $52,748 via telephone and online to help regional medical centers.

Regional corporations contributed $498,141 to the CMN.

The total amount raised for Tri-Cities CMN medical centers is $550,889.

As an added bonus to drum up additional funds, WJHL Sports Director Kenny Hawkins performed an impromptu “Chicken Dance” to step-up donations.

-Miracle Children Volunteer With Telethon-

More than a dozen youngsters who have benefited from the CMN stepped-up to volunteer with the telethon.

Thirteen year old Makenzie Wilson worked the phones well into the night. Wilson is considered a “Miracle Child.” She was kicked in the head by a horse back in 1999. The then 4-year-old required six hours of brain surgery at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She had to wear a bicycle helmet for a year to protect her skull.

CMN, founded in 1983, is a non-profit alliance of 270 hospitals and health care systems which provide medical care for children.  Since its founding, CMN says it’s helped raise $2.7 billion in the United States and Canada, and all the donated money stays in the community where it originates.  This year, CMN is expanding into the United Kingdom.

Since 1987, 11,000 people in the Tri-Cities have donated $7 million dollars to Children’s Miracle Network, according to the Wellmont Foundation.

“That money really makes a difference every day in the lives of local kids,” said Brenna Gillispie, Children’s Miracle Network Director for the Wellmont Foundation.

- Children’s Miracle Network Celebrates 25 Years Of Hospital Support-

News Channel 11 helped the Children’s Miracle Network and local partner Wellmont Health System celebrate 25 years of support for hospitals and children’s health during a live telethon broadcast on WJHL-TV Saturday night.  That local broadcast celebration shared stories of children from the Tri-Cities who have been helped by CMN funds.

Local elected officials were on hand to present checks representing funds raised, as well as to lend their support to the on-air broadcast and Children’s Miracle Network cause. 

Bristol, Tennessee Mayor David Shumaker spoke with News Channel 11 anchor Sara Diamond early on in the evening and expressed his appreciation of CMN’s contributions to the health of local children, while Tennessee Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey challenged others to call in with pledges later in the telethon.  Ramsey was joined by Tennesssee

House of Representatives members Jon Lundburg and Jason Mumpower in presenting a $10,000 check to CMN locally.  The money represented community enhancement grant money each had designated be used by Wellmont hospitals in the Tri-Cities through

Children’s Miracle Network.  Wellmont operates Holston Valley Medical Center and Bristol Regional Medical Center as well as 12 other hospitals in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

News Channel 11 anchors Josh Smith, Selena Wiles and Sara Diamond shared information about how CMN donations are used locally during the 6-hour live broadcast and interviewed children helped through CMN locally during the show. 

CMN, founded in 1983, is a non-profit alliance of 270 hospitals and health care systems which provide medical care for children.  Since its founding, CMN says it’s helped raise $2.7 billion in the United States and Canada, and all the donated money stays in the community where it originates.  This year, CMN is expanding into the United Kingdom.

Since 1987, 11,000 people in the Tri-Cities have donated $7 million dollars to Children’s Miracle Network, according to the Wellmont Foundation.

“That money really makes a difference every day in the lives of local kids,” said Brenna Gillispie, Children’s Miracle Network Director for the Wellmont Foundation.