Tracy Madden-McMahon, Reporting From Home

Tracy Madden-McMahon built her career on telling stories as an anchor and reporter. Her ability to convey the news clearly and build rapport with the audience made her a well-established television personality.
A Wheaton, Ill., native, she spent 18 years in the television news business, earning awards and recognition along the way. Madden-McMahon started at KDUH in Scottsbluff, Neb., in 1993. She worked at KHGI in Kearney, Neb., for two years before joining WOWT in 1996.
A results-driven, accomplished anchor in a good market, Madden-McMahon decided that she had reached the pinnacle of the news business, her “dream job” in that field. “It’s a wonderful job. Very interesting and challenging in lots of different ways.”
As much as she enjoyed the anchor position, at 40 and as the mother of young children, Madden-McMahon started to reassess her priorities in life. She and her husband, Sean, an executive with the Steier Group, have twin boys age 8, and a flame-haired daughter, 4.
“Once the boys got into school, I became the mom who missed family things and trick-or-treating. I think as women, we often look for balance. Harmony is what I was looking for. I was always looking to duck out. In news, you just can’t do that.” She added, “I was feeling torn. I wasn’t living my priorities.”
Madden-McMahon reached out to a mentor, a course of action she recommends to others who find themselves in a similar situation. “Find someone you trust, someone who has your best interests at heart,” she said. It was Cyndy Peacock, President and CEO of the Methodist Hospital Foundation. “We had been friends for years. I took the plunge and called her. I told her that I had been struggling with trying to find the harmony in my life.”
Madden-McMahon said the conversation helped her focus. “She was so generous with her time. We had lunch and after our conversation, I came to the realization that if I did work that mattered, and if I worked with great people, all the rest would fall into place—if I could get those two things right, I would fall into the right position.”
Following a resignation and a reorganization, a post came open at the Methodist Hospital Foundation. Peacock later contacted Madden-McMahon and said “I think I have the job for you.”
Peacock announced the former anchor’s appointment to the Director of Development post in June. Of Madden-McMahon, Peacock said, “Tracy brings to Methodist Hospital Foundation a wealth of experience in building relationships through public outreach and communications.” Peacock added, “I believe her skills will complement our current Foundation team and will position us well for future endeavors.”
As a development executive, Madden-McMahon said being able to tell a compelling story is key. She said, “First and foremost, donors want to understand the impact of what they are able to do. This is a very important facet of my job.”
The Methodist Hospital Foundation raises funds not only for bricks and mortar, but also for everyday expenses such as medication. A recent example is a request that came from a mother in hospice for a $25 book for a developmentally disabled daughter to understand the concept of death. Although this is a low financial investment, it is a major gift to the family. “It doesn’t make it any less important,” said Madden-McMahon. “We all have the ability to make a difference, every gift is a major gift,” she said.
Madden-McMahon has her own personal story to tell about Methodist Hospital. “It’s very emotional for me…,”she says. “I was 24 weeks pregnant with twins, taking care of myself and exercising. I went in and they said, ‘You are in labor, we need to admit you today.’ We went up to the hospital. I was prescribed six weeks of bed rest, and four of those weeks inpatient at Methodist.”
Madden-McMahon said with a tear in her eye, “The doctors and nurses and the staff are a huge reason that we have two healthy boys today. They were born at 30 weeks, still early but they are okay because of the care I received. It is a labor of love to work here and an honor to represent Methodist. I experienced it.”
She added, “I feel blessed to have found what I am meant to do at the place I am meant to do it. It is a perfect fit.”