Marie Osmond And John Schneider Receive Samaritan Award On Behalf Of Children's Miracle Network

Children's Miracle Network
Thursday, 8 June 2000

Children's Miracle Network Has Raised More Than $1.8 Billion Since 1983

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 8, 2000--Marie Osmond and John Schneider, co-founders of Children's Miracle Network, will attend the second annual Service to America Summit, June 12 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The two will receive the Samaritan Award on behalf of Children's Miracle Network.

At age 13, Marie Osmond had a number one hit with Paper Roses, marking the first time in country music history that a female artist debuted with a #1 record. After a series of hits, she and her brother Donny Osmond hosted a variety show, The Donny & Marie Show. Since then, she has continued in her music and acting career, appearing on TV movies and Broadway. Currently the Osmonds have a syndicated daytime entertainment/talk show Donny & Marie, which began its second season in September 1999.

Schneider, known for his role as Bo Duke in the television series Dukes of Hazard, is now president of Family Adventure Films which distributes films, literature and music that Schneider personally reviews. Family Adventure Films aims to provide quality entertainment that families can enjoy. In addition, Schneider creates and produces many educational products and family features that are then distributed through the company. In addition, Schneider was a regular on the popular CBS hit, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

In 1983 Schneider and Osmond co-founded Children's Miracle Network, which currently represents a network of more than 170 hospitals for children. The charity has raised over $1.8 billion since its launch. With 100 percent of the funds staying in the communities in which they are raised, CMN-affiliated hospitals treat approximately 14 million children across North America each year. The hospitals associated with CMN treat children with all types of afflictions, including cancer, heart and muscular diseases, birth defects, cerebral palsy, AIDS, and accident victims. CMN hospitals pride themselves on treating the whole child, rendering services based on need, not on the ability to pay.

The 2000 broadcast was the 18th Children's Miracle Network telethon and was broadcast on 200 TV stations in the US, Canada and Mexico. With a variety of sports personalities and celebrities joining the 21-hour telecast, the telethon raised record funds, bringing in more than $208 million. CMN also raises funds through radiothons on 105 local radio stations. Broadcasting and Cable magazine is the presenting sponsor for the Samaritan Award.

The Service to America Summit, sponsored by NABEF and Bonneville International Corporation, is an annual program to recognize and encourage outstanding community service by broadcasters and their community partners. The Summit will comprise a daytime symposium, at which NAACP President/CEO Kweisi Mfume will give the opening remarks, and an evening awards banquet. Former President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter will be honored at the Summit for exceptional leadership in community service. Event details are available at www.nabef.org.

NABEF is dedicated to conducting long-range research and educational projects for the broadcast industry. It was founded in 1994 by the National Association of Broadcasters to generate greater public knowledge and understanding of the many issues related to free over-the-air-broadcasting.

For more information, or to contact Children's Miracle Network, see their website at: www.cmn.org