Ed and Sally Sullivan - Gundersen Health System

CMN Radiothon raised more than $40,500
for area kids and families
Children and families who have benefited from Children’s
Miracle Network ® (CMN) shared their stories and inspired people
throughout the Coulee
Region to call in and make a
pledge during Radiothon
2007 in October. The fifth
annual, three-day event
raised $40,580 for CMN.
“The stories we hear during
Radiothon are always very
powerful and this year was
no exception,” says Jean
Moe, CMN regional event
specialist. “We’re so grateful
to the wonderful families we
met who shared their stories
with listeners. They are the
ones who made the phones
ring and really conveyed
what CMN is all about. All
of these families agree you
never think you will need
CMN, but are very grateful
that we are there to help when they needed it the most.”
Hunter Howell of Westby met Miss Wisconsin, Christina Thompson, during
Radiothon 2007. CMN is the national platform for the Miss America
Organization. Christina spent several hours working on the phone bank. Hunter,
now 3 1/2-years-old, was very sick when he was born and spent two months in
the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Gundersen Lutheran. Hunter needs a
walker, which CMN helped his parents, Jennifer and Eric, purchase. They also
benefited from meal tokens and specialized equipment in the NICU when Hunter
was hospitalized.
The La Crosse Radio Group once again broadcasted the event
on its stations Eagle 102.7, Magic 105 and CC106.3. “The
La Crosse Radio Group’s support and passion for the event has
grown every year. We can’t thank them enough for their support,”
Jean says.
CMN welcomes Heather Gilles
We are pleased to introduce Heather Gilles to our Children’s
Miracle Network team. Heather’s role with CMN
will be primarily working with all the CMN national
accounts and assisting them with their fundraising
efforts.
While she is new to CMN, Heather has worked at
Gundersen Lutheran for about six years. Previously
she worked in Community & Preventive Care
Services (CPCS) at Gundersen Lutheran so she is
well versed in health, wellness and prevention. We
look forward to tapping Heather’s extensive event
planning and coordination experience. While with
CPCS, Heather was involved in a number of major events such
“Each year, I’m amazed by the outpouring of support from
everyone in the community. It’s always a great reminder of what
a wonderful community we live
in. We couldn’t continue to
support the families we heard
from during Radiothon, as well
as hundreds more each year,
without the community’s contributions.
Thank you to all of
you who have continued to support
this great effort,” Jean
adds.
CMN would also like to thank
the volunteers who gave their
time to answer phones and take
pledges; all the families for
bringing the reality of CMN to
listeners; Deb Brague from
Magic 105, Dave Kennedy from
Eagle 102.7, and Jacklyn Daniels
and John Stevenson from
CC106.3 for a job well done;
Pat Smith and the La Crosse
Radio Group for endless hours of support; and to Foresters and
all of the businesses who helped sponsor the event.
For more information about CMN, go to gundluth.org/cmn.
as the Shoe Crew Program, The Fall 15, Great River Walk and
Steppin’ Out in Pink. Her talents will be a valuable
asset to CMN and our roster of fundraising events.
Heather is excited to have the chance to work with
kids again. She worked with Shriners Hospitals for
Children - Twin Cities as an intern and then was
hired as the recreation therapist for the hospital.
Heather also worked at Winona Health as a recreational
therapist.
Originally from Winona, Minn., Heather now lives
in Onalaska with her husband Bill and their 3-yearold
son, Sean.
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Children’s miracle network