CU4Kids Coin Drive Raises Thousands for CMN Hospitals

Credit unions around the country continued their commitment to Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in recent weeks through the Credit Unions for Kids’ (CU4Kids) Change a Child’s Life coin collection campaign and other methods. Through various campaigns and events with local communities and businesses, tens of thousands of dollars will go to help CMN Hospitals treat 17 million children each year.

Rogue CU, Medford, Ore., challenged its 17 branches to come up with creative ways to raise funds through the coin drive, resulting in thousands of dollars in donations through various activities.

Rogue’s Central Point Branch raised $4,044.95 through engagement efforts such as themed costume days. Branch manager Kacie Harmon teamed up with a local restaurant to spend the evening delivering pizzas in a sumo wrestler suit, contributing all tips to CU4Kids.

The South Medford Branch raised $2,224.53 by reaching out to more than 30 local businesses to request raffle item donations and coordinate baskets. The branch also initiated Rogue’s first food truck collaboration--the food truck visited the branch and donated 20% of its proceeds to CU4Kids.

Elsewhere in Oregon, Unitus Community CU, Portland, Ore., where CU4Kids originated 31 years ago, sponsored the Rose Festival Court during the festival’s 8-week mentorship program. Women from the credit union mentored the parade’s Rose Princesses, helping make fleece blankets for patients at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Vizio Financial, a corporate credit union, challenged its members to fundraise, and 8 credit unions participated in the coin drive in April. Wheatland FCU, Lancaster, Pa., won the competition, raising $515.11 (8 cents per member) for its local CMN Hospital, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

In addition to the change collected by the participating credit unions, Vizo Financial raised funds internally through the Change a Child’s Life coin collection campaign. Vizo Financial will continue to raise money in the coin collection campaign through May 31.

In all, Vizio and member credit union efforts, raised $1,653.96 for various CMN Hospitals in the month of April.

Two other corporate credit unions, Mid-Atlantic Corporate FCU and First Carolina Corporate CU, also held a competition among member credit unions, with 14 participating. The competing credit unions, as well as both corporates, raised a grand total of $5,628.42 for various CMN Hospitals.

Outside of the coin drive, leagues and credit unions around the country raised funds in other ways:

• The Northwest Credit Union Association’s annual auction raised $320,330.04, and NWCUA credit unions host fundraisers throughout the year, including for the Kentucky Derby;
• The Ohio Credit Union League and Ohio credit unions sold 18,960 chocolate bars and held a silent auction that combined to raise $22,480 for CMN Hospitals;
• Credit unions from the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and Affiliates’ Palm Beach Chapter hosted their first bowl-a-thon in April, raising more than $1,500; and
• The Hawaii Credit Union League’s “5 in 5” initiative, which aimed to raise $500,000 in 5 years for CMN Hospitals, raised $536,444 in less than 4 years, and presented the check in April at the league convention.

See related story about how credit unions are going to give back to CMN Hospitals city of Las Vegas during this year's America's Credit Union Conference.