Stephanie Hall
Stephanie Hall joined Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation in St. Petersburg, Florida, more than 35-years ago after starting her career in broadcast production. Stephanie previously worked at a local TV station in nearby Tampa, which would air the annual All Children’s telethon. She always admired All Children’s but never expected to work in fundraising.
“When my position at the station was eliminated, the hospital’s vice president, who oversaw the telethon, reached out about an opportunity on his team,” Stephanie says. “What I thought would be short-term quickly turned into a deeply fulfilling career. I learned the world of Children’s Miracle Network fundraising and was able to combine my broadcast background with a decades-long-running telethon and 10-year-running radiothon.”
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals was founded in 1983 and has a network of 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada. All Children’s was among the first children’s hospitals to join CMN. Donations through CMN support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all to save and improve the lives of children. Dozens of organizations throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast — including Dairy Queen, which displays CMN’s signature yellow balloon at store registers — partner with CMN to support All Children’s.
In Stephanie’s current role, she says no two days are the same. Her team is responsible for CMN campaigns and events, where they educate, communicate, motivate, and appreciate their CMN partners.
What does your job involve that others might not realize?
Those unfamiliar with our CMN program are sometimes under the impression that the corporations we work with write checks for their donations. In reality, our CMN team works with more than 40 corporate partners representing close to 1,200 locations in our 11-county market area. We work with each of these locations to raise donations through cause campaigns at their cash registers and through their fundraising events.
What attracted you to Johns Hopkins?
I was drawn to All Children’s because of its mission and the compassionate care of its team. I witnessed that care firsthand when my sister experienced the heartbreaking loss of her first child, my nephew, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The love and compassion she and her husband received at All Children’s left a lasting impression that I still carry with me today.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m proud of my resilience. During my 36 years at All Children’s, so much has changed. The nonprofit sector has seen a significant rise in organizations competing for limited philanthropic dollars. There have been challenges outside of our control like economic conditions and natural disasters.
Whenever I’ve felt discouraged, something happens to remind me why I’m here: At a campaign kickoff, a family shares their child’s lifesaving experience; a physician describes groundbreaking research during a tour; or I see the joy on a cashier’s face when learning their store is the number one fundraising location for their company. These moments give me goosebumps. They ground me, refuel my purpose, and remind me this is where I want to be.
What do you enjoy when you are not working?
My boyfriend and I love going on staycations. It’s a less stressful alternative to long vacations and a great way to decompress after a busy week. We enjoy discovering new places, trying out different restaurants, and making the most out of Florida’s west coast.