All-star Athletes, Entertainers And Corporate Sponsors Join Children s Miracle Network For Most Successful Televised Fund Raiser In History, Benefiting 170 Non-profit Children ‘s Hospitals

ORLANDO, FLA.--The single most successful fund raising event in televised history, CMN Champions took place this past weekend, raising an unprecedented $208,511,224 to help 14 million kids. Comedian Bill Cosby and top recording artists N Sync, Boyz II Men, SHeDAISY, Amy Grant, 98 Degrees, Britney Spears, Styx, LeAnn Rimes and many others entertained viewers for 21 hours in more than 100 million television households throughout North America.

Sunday’s programming included a golf shootout between NFL stars like Super Bowl XXXIV Champions Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams, and NFL MVP SteveYoung. Young, along with ABC and ESPN sports reporter Robin Roberts, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, and ESPN sports anchor Dan Patrick hosted the program.

Donations to Children s Miracle Network, founded by Marie Osmond and John Schneider, come from corporate sponsors and individuals. Fund raising activities are held throughout the year, culminating with the 21-hour entertainment program known as CMN Champions, which originates from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Viewers responded generously as they have for the past 17 years, helping CMN raise more money each year than the year before. In 2000, CMN received $208,511,224--exceeding last year ‘s record-breaking success by more than $16 million.

Wal-Mart and Sam s Clubs are tremendous examples of CMN s corporate sponsorship. During the year, their combined 1 million associates sponsored a variety of grassroots, localized fund raising activities, including bake sales, crazy hat contests and raffles. As a result of these efforts, a check was presented to CMN during the program for $30.75 million--the largest contribution to CMN from a single sponsor. As with the rest of the donations, 100 percent of the money goes to help children in the local area where the money was raised.

"Our 65 corporate sponsors have an incredible impact on CMN hospitals," said Mick Shannon, president and CEO of CMN. "Their enthusiastic support and fund raising efforts helped make it possible for these hospitals to care for more than 14 million children last year alone."

The non-profit hospitals associated with CMN care for all children with any affliction. These children ‘s hospitals depend on public support. CMN Champions make it possible for the community to donate necessary funding to maintain and upgrade the hospital s programs. The hallmark of CMN Champions is that 100 percent of locally generated funds stay in the community in which they were donated to benefit children at participating hospitals.