Credit Unions Donate $100K to Children's Miracle Network

ROYAL OAK MI� Kathleen Grobbel described a situation where a young boy came in to Beaumont Childrens Hospital and needed to have an intravenous line inserted. She said he had been at another medical facility where nurses had difficulty inserting the IV, leading to the youngsters meltdown. Grobbels play therapy team, known as Child Life Services specialists, played a game with the boy while nurses were able to insert the IV. The procedure was completed without any trouble. "Its really nice when you can have an outcome like that," said Grobbel, who refers to herself as the hospitals fun doctor. The program is one of many made possible by funding from the Credit Unions for Kids campaign. Last week, Michigan credit unions made a $100,000 donation to Childrens Miracle Network, celebrating the donation at Beaumont Children's Hospital. The money was raised through the silent and live auctions at MCUL & Affiliates Annual Convention and Exposition and other fundraisers. Ken Ross, executive vice president and COO of the league, said CMN is a perfect fundraising project for credit unions. "Credit unions and Childrens Miracle Network really have parallel missions," Ross said. "We are really set up to meet the communitys needs. "This money will help local families in their time of greatest need." The check presentation took place in the Childrens Garden, a place within the hospital where children can enjoy a respite from their medical treatment. The garden is a "no-poke" zone so children know it is a place where they can relax. Officials from MCUL & Affiliates, along with representatives of Alliance Catholic CU and Credit Union ONE visited Beaumont, one of four CMN hospitals in Michigan, and toured the facility. The other Michigan CMN hospitals are Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids, Hurley Childrens Hospital in Flint and Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. While the presentation was made at Beaumont, all of Michigans CMN hospitals benefit from the donations.