Considine receives the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Founder’s Award

04-08-2019 (Akron, Ohio )

Akron Children’s Chief Executive Officer Emeritus Bill Considine was awarded the 2019 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Founder’s Award at the CMN Children’s Hospitals Week Conference in Orlando in March.

CMN Hospitals highest award is presented each year to a recipient whose time, talents and contributions enable CMN to help as many kids as possible. It is named after CMN Hospitals Founders Marie Osmond, John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joseph Lake, who in 1983 together created what is known today as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by organizing a telethon that raised nearly $4.8 million for 22 children’s hospitals. Today, CMN Hospitals helps 10 million sick and injured kids treated at 170 member hospitals across North America and has raised more than $5 billion.

“Bill attended our very first meeting in Chicago,” said Mick Shannon. “As we started CMN Hospitals, there was a lot of skepticism about the concept and some initial reluctance to join. Bill quickly caught the vision of what we were trying to build and got behind us immediately.

“Bill’s support was incredibly helpful. He was a bridge maker for us,” Shannon added. “He talked to many children’s hospital CEOs and development officers on our behalf and helped bring credibility to the organization because of the recognized leader he was among children’s hospitals.”

Considine says his involvement with CMN Hospitals is a labor of love and provides a way to further assist the patient families at Akron Children’s. Considine served as the CMN Hospitals Board of Trustees Chairman from 1996-1998 and was a CMN Board Member from 1990-2007.

“I will always reflect fondly on that very first meeting where we discussed how we could collaborate and do something on a larger scale to enhance children's health care," said Considine. "During my 40 years as CEO of Akron Children's, my life has been touched and inspired on a daily basis by the children who come through these doors. It is an honor to be recognized by CMN Hospitals with this award.”

Editor's note: Photos of Bill Considine receiving the award are available upon request.