Credit union foundation helps raise over $200K for Children's Hospital

Minnesota credit unions continue to demonstrate their strong commitment to the state and local communities through their fundraising and support of Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare, raising more than $200,000 in 2012 for the hospital and its clinics statewide. During a visit at the hospital recently, representatives from Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids (MnCU4Kids) and the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation recognized these extraordinary efforts with a check for $204,494.09 representing the total raised last year that will directly benefit Gillette Childrens and its patients. "I am thrilled that we continue to see an increase in support for Credit Unions for Kids fundraising, even when times are tough," said MnCU4Kids Co-Chair Marlo Hirl. "Many of our participating credit unions tour Gillette Childrens hospital on an annual basis and have seen first-hand the local need for the state-of-the-art care that the kids at Gillette receive." Minnesota Credit Unions for Kids, a committee of the Foundation, is part of a collaboration of credit unions, chapters, leagues and business partners engaged in fundraising activities that benefit Childrens Miracle Network-affiliated hospitals. Throughout 2012, the volunteer MnCU4Kids committee coordinated a variety of fundraisers that engaged credit unions and members in all corners of Minnesota. Fundraisers included a golf tournament, Bowl-O-Rama, Chain of Hearts and a Minnesota HoldEm Poker Tournament. Individual credit unions also coordinated their own fundraisers that consist of cookouts, candy sales and casual days. "Our Credit Unions for Kids committee, and our credit unions that participate in and conduct these fundraisers, are proud to be able to support Gillette Childrens and the good work that they do every day to help families in Minnesota," said MnCU4Kids Co-Chair Dave Engler. To help surpass the fundraising $200,000 milestone, MnCU4Kids also received support from several local and national companies that work with credit unions, most notably CO-OP Financial Services. "It is truly a group effort that involves credit union employees, their members, and committed organizations that demonstrates the people helping people philosophy of credit unions," said Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Chairman Pat Brekken. Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare is an independent, not-for-profit hospital located in St. Paul, with outreach clinics in Duluth, Burnsville, Maple Grove, Minnetonka. All money raised through the MnCU4Kids program supports Gillette, helping kids with disabilities and chronic conditions. Credit Unions for Kids is a national program, which is endorsed by nearly all 50 state credit union leagues.