Bay FCU and Jacob's Heart Team Up to Send Children with Cancer to Camp
August 13, 2021
Capitola, CA –August 11, 2021 – Bay Federal Credit Union continues their investment in the community by supporting Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services through a special campaign. Bay Federal is teaming up with Jacob’s Heart to help send 60 families of children with cancer to a joyous camp weekend at the end of August.
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services exists to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in the challenges they face. Jacob’s Heart is hosting a camp fundraiser with a goal of $30,000 throughout the month of August. After a year of isolation, the organization looks forward to creating much-needed opportunities for connection between families facing the unimaginable.
Bay Federal Credit Union and Jacob’s Heart have a deep history. Carrie Birkhofer, President and CEO of Bay Federal, was close friends with a mom whose daughter, Maddy, was diagnosed with cancer at five months old. Ms. Birkhofer quickly noticed that being part of the Jacob’s Heart community of support and being connected to other families with kids who also had cancer made a huge difference to Maddy’s family.
When Maddy passed away at the age of two in 1998, Ms. Birkhofer knew Maddy’s memory would be forever cherished at Jacob’s Heart, and made a commitment for the Credit Union to support the organization in honor of Maddy. For more than two decades, Bay Federal has donated countless volunteer hours, supplies, and direct financial assistance to the organization.
“I am so inspired by the work that Jacob’s Heart does every day,” Ms. Birkhofer said. “We are honored to partner with such a wonderful organization that truly makes a real difference in the lives of the families that they work with.”
Those in the community can help send Jacob’s Heart children to camp by visiting any Bay Federal branch to make a donation through Saturday, August 21 or by visiting https://give.jacobsheart.org/campaign/camp-peer-to-peer/c342836.
Bay Federal is a full-service, not-for-profit, community development financial institution that serves over 80,000 members and 2,400 local businesses throughout Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties. With more than $1.5 billion in assets, Bay Federal Credit Union is the largest member-owned financial institution in Santa Cruz County, serving its members and the community since 1957. Bay Federal Credit Union has an award-winning employee volunteer program in which employees have given their own money and volunteer for numerous local schools, nonprofit organizations, and community events each year.
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services exists to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in the challenges they face. They provide family-centered care that addresses the emotional, practical and financial struggles for families of children and teens during treatment, families experiencing anticipatory grief and those who are bereaved. They envision a community where every child with a serious or life-threatening condition has a strong, supported and informed family empowered to fully participate in their care. They strive to inspire compassionate action within local communities to create a safety net of support for the unique needs of each child and family.