Sometimes, a corporate partner’s local leader supports more than one children’s hospital, which can make it challenging to manage relationships across multiple locations.  

To help address this need, CMN created the Program Director (PD) Liaison Program to provide additional coordination and support for shared corporate partnerships. PD Liaisons help ensure consistent engagement, streamlined communication and aligned strategies across hospitals helping to strengthen relationships at every level. 

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the PD Liaison Program has proven to be a strong best practice in action. Thomas “TJ” Johnson , Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, has seen firsthand the value the model brings to complex, multi-hospital partnerships. He endorses the PD Liaison approach as an effective way to drive clarity, collaboration and stronger results, and he is proud of the success his team has achieved through its implementation. 

A great example of the program in action comes from Clare Scheller, Senior Corporate Gift Officer, who works alongside TJ.  As a dedicated PD Liaison for several CMN partners, Clare goes beyond simply sharing information — she actively listens to and builds trust with district and regional contacts. 

In one instance, a Market Leader at Speedway shared that while their stores fundraise year-round, donation barcodes were only available during dedicated sales periods. Because Clare had this field relationship through the PD Liaison, she was able to receive the feedback and share it with CMN. That feedback led to a larger conversation about how to support Speedway year-round in-store fundraising and a decision for barcode scan sheets to be posted throughout the year, better aligning tools with their fundraising efforts. 

While we now know that 7-Eleven decided to expand year-round, in-store fundraising to all store banners in 2026, the example still reflects the value of relationship-driven communication. Clare’s proactive listening and thoughtful follow-up ensured local feedback was heard and addressed – strengthening the relationship, supporting fundraising in a tangible way and helping make big change for all kids!