Just a few months after the Children’s Hospital of Georgia kicked off its 20th birthday celebration, hospital leaders received a nice surprise from the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals organization.

“We were notified that the Children’s Hospital of Georgia was selected as the beneficiary of CMN funds raised in the 19 Georgia counties in the Savannah market,” said Lee Ann Liska, CEO of Augusta University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Georgia. “We could not be more pleased by the generosity and timing of this ‘gift.’ This additional CMN funding will empower us to provide even more phenomenal care for children and families throughout Georgia and the Southeast.”

This means that Children’s Hospital of Georgia could receive an additional $700,000 per year through CMN programs and events in the Savannah market area. In addition, the Children’s Hospital of Georgia will benefit from the experience of Senior CMN Development Coordinator Kelly Claxton, who will continue her efforts in the Savannah area as an employee of Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

The catalyst for the change was the acquisition of Memorial Health in Savannah by Hospital Corporation of America, which includes Memorial Health’s Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital. Because HCA is a for-profit company, the Willett Children’s Hospital is no longer eligible to receive CMN funding.

The not-for-profit Children’s Hospital of Georgia has been a CMN Hospitals member since 1985, 13 years before moving into its current award-winning facility which was designed by kids, for kids.

“Our Children’s Hospital provides the highest level of pediatric and neonatal intensive care and has the region’s only children’s heart surgery program and various pediatric specialists and subspecialists,” Liska said. “We are celebrating 20 years of “Healing, Hope, and Miracles” this year, none of which would be possible without the substantial support of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals organization and all those who contribute.”

Children’s Hospital of Georgia is one of several hospitals who applied for the Savannah CMN market. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Medical University of South Carolina’s Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in Charleston also applied. St. Joseph’s/Candler chose to endorse Children’s Hospital of Georgia rather than submit an application.

After a comparative analysis of the four hospitals, Children’s Hospital of Georgia was chosen to receive CMN funding from the 19 Georgia counties in the Savannah market, while MUSC Shawn Jenkins will benefit from CMN funds in the three South Carolina counties near Savannah.

“With this additional funding and support, we are extremely excited at what the future holds for our hospital and those who come here for care,” Liska said. “This is an incredible victory for our patients and families at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.”