Children's Miracle Network Hospitals announced today a record $264,720,874 raised in 2011 to benefit its 170 premier member hospitals. This $30 million and 13 percent increase over 2010 represents two milestones for the North American children’s charity: highest dollar growth and most overall dollars raised since its founding in 1983.

These results mark the first step in an aggressive 10-year fundraising plan developed under the guidance of president and CEO John Lauck, who joined Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in January 2011. Recognizing the need and potential to increase fundraising, Lauck spent much of the past year assessing the member nonprofit hospitals’ needs to provide life-saving treatments, fund medical supplies and equipment, pay for charitable care and conduct critical research.

The strategic plan, which outlines tactics toward “Billion Dollar Thinking,” allows for deeper collaboration between staff and hospital fundraising directors, and accommodates a newly created, full-time innovation team that is solely dedicated to conceiving, developing and implementing new fundraising programs.

“What began as a televised fundraiser in a small studio has developed into a leading children’s charity benefitting millions of kids across North America. While celebrating strides made in 2011, there is so much more we can do for our local member hospitals and the children they treat,” said Lauck. “Our network is fired up to take our fundraising efforts to new heights, and help our hospitals provide the best care possible.”

Lauck also noted the top care its member hospitals provide, as U.S. News and World Report recently revealed that all 12 Best Children’s Hospitals named to the 2012-13 Honor Roll are Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Achieving the Billion Dollar Goal would essentially quadruple the amount of funds each member hospital currently receives annually. Lauck notes that the increase in funds could drastically change the care hospitals are able to provide, “One hospital director commented that the extra dollars would allow pediatric cancer patients to receive treatments from the comfort of their own homes,” said Lauck. “The impact this would have not only on the patient, but the entire family, would be dramatic. We can’t wait to see this in place.”