Royal CU Foundation Helps Raise Over $27,000 for Local ARts Charities

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The RCU Foundation announced that local arts charities will receive over $27,000 following the 2021 virtual Rock the Riverfront featuring the Charity Classic. The performing arts were hard-hit by COVID-19, with estimated losses of 1.4 million jobs and $42.5 billion in sales.

The proceeds are being donated to three partner charities: Heyde Center for the Arts in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild in Eau Claire, and Northern Star Theatre Company in Rice Lake. Registered participants received one free vote at the time of registration; additional votes were available to be purchased online at $2 each. The Heyde Center for the Arts earned 48% of the votes and will be awarded a $15,000 donation, Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild earned 38% of the votes and will receive $7,500, and Northern Star Theatre Company will receive $5,000 after earning 14% of the vote.

The RCU Foundation’s Rock the Riverfront featuring the Charity Classic included a 10K, 2 mile, and half mile youth walk/run, chalk your walk and coloring contests, and the increasingly popular Classic Rock Hunt and Youth Rock Hunt.

The following participants submitted the best times and will receive a hand-made custom glass award plate, gift certificate, and award charm: 10K Male: Mickey Noone, 55 of Eau Claire; 10K Female: Andrea Cronk, 24 of River Falls; 2 Mile Male: Noah Sylvester, 13 of Eau Claire; 2 Mile Female: Kimberly Blaine, 38 of Eau Claire; Half Mile Male: Ethan Miller, 8 of Eau Claire; Half Mile Female: Amelia Rohlik, 10 of Eau Claire. To qualify for awards, participants completed the official race course and submitted their results using the RaceJoy App. All race results can be found online.

More than 500 people took part in the virtual run/walk and related activities. Thank you to all who helped make the event a success, including our generous sponsors.

Save the date for the 2022 Rock the Riverfront featuring the Charity Classic run/walk in Phoenix Park on Saturday, June 25. More information is available at www.rcu.org/Race.

The RCU Foundation (Foundation) was established in 2012 to support organizations and initiatives in communities where Royal Credit Union operates in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.  The Foundation focuses on large-scale, capital projects that help build community and create the spaces where people come together. Focus areas include education, health, and the arts. The Foundation hosts the annual Rock the Riverfront-Charity Classic event in Eau Claire. Currently, it has awarded more than $6 million in grants. Contact foundation@rcu.org for more information.

Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 230,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. Realtors in the state of Wisconsin or Minnesota are also eligible to join the credit union. Visit rcu.org or call Royal Credit Union at 800-341-9911 for more information.