The President & CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals visited the CMN hospital in southwest Georgia for the first time Tuesday.  John Lauck has served as CMN’s top executive since 2011.  CMN Hospitals has raised record-breaking funds each year under his direction.  Lauck toured Phoebe’s neonatal intensive care, pediatrics, and labor & delivery units.  He also met with hospital leaders and frontline staff and saw technology and equipment purchased with CMN Hospitals donor dollars.

“This is an amazing facility, and the people of southwest Georgia are lucky to be able to depend on Phoebe to offer tremendous care to the children of the region.  It’s also clear to me the people at Phoebe are the health system’s strongest asset.  There are some incredibly talented people who are part of this hospital, and it’s great to see the support they get from this community,” Lauck said.

Since it was founded in 1983, CMN Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion dollars to support the care of children in not-for-profit hospitals and to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.  “Many people don’t realize insurance doesn’t pay for everything.  There is a huge need to make sure every sick or injured child gets the care they need.  It is rewarding for me to visit our CMN hospitals and see how the generosity of local donors is paying off,” Lauck said.

Phoebe is one of 170 CMN hospitals throughout North America.  Since partnering with CMN in 1997, Phoebe has raised more than $5 million through CMN to help care for its youngest patients.  “What’s great about the CMN model is that all the money raised in our region stays right here in southwest Georgia to support our patients.  When folks in our area give to CMN, we want them to know they are helping their friends, neighbors or maybe even a member of their own family who could need care in our NICU, pediatrics unit or emergency room,” said Becca Miller, Phoebe CMN Coordinator.

While visiting Albany, Lauck also spent time with area families who have benefited from CMN donations through healthcare at Phoebe.  During a gathering at Merry Acres Event Center Tuesday afternoon, Lauck thanked CMN partners for their fundraising over the last year and helped kick off their upcoming efforts.  Partners in attendance who support families served by Phoebe through their contributions to CMN included representatives from southwest Georgia Walmart stores, Remax of Albany, Publix and Georgia Drug Card.