Credit Unions Donate $400,000 to CMN Hospitals Via Cherry Blossom Run

Washington, D.C. - More than 16,000 runners, helped by more than 600 credit union volunteers, took to the streets of Washington, D.C. on a beautiful Sunday morning for this year’s Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk. Credit unions have sponsored the annual Spring tradition in the nation’s capital since 2002, which raises money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This year credit unions donated a record $400,000.

“We love to see credit unions from all across the country collaborate to raise awareness about credit unions on Capitol Hill and support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at the same time. We are honored to be part of such a wonderful example of the credit union difference,” said CUNA Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan.

CUNA is a sponsor of the race, along with Congressional FCU, United States Senate FCU, the National Association for Federally Insured Credit Unions and many others, including lead sponsors CUNA Mutual Group and PSCU.

“People helping people is a phrase we use a lot in the credit union industry, and it helps illustrate what sets credit unions apart from other financial institutions,” said Sean Zimmermann, president/CEO of Congressional FCU, Washington, D.C. “And it also helps to illustrate the great work that Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals do on a daily basis.”

Sunday’s race saw history made, as Stanley Kebenei of Colorado Springs, Colo. broke the record for fastest American time in the race with a time of 46:00. This broke Greg Meyer’s record of 46:13, which was set in 1983.

Kebenei’s feat garnered front page coverage Sunday on RunnersWorld.com.

Overall men’s winner Jemal Timer of Ethiopia crossed the finish line first for the second year in a row, improving on last year’s time by more than 30 seconds with a final time of 45:36.

Rosemary Winjiru of Kenya finished first among women, with a time of 50:42.

Sunday’s race also featured a “race within a race” as teams consisting of Congressional staffers competed with each other to earn the Congressional Cup. One hundred and sixty-nine members fo Congress served as Honorary Race Chairs, and 730 staffers on 67 teams took part in the race.

“Through this friendly non-partisan race within the ten-mile run, we are actually bringing runners from both the House and Senate together for a common goal, and that’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Ken Kramer, president/CEO of United States Senate FCU, Washington, D.C.

This year’s Congressional Cup winner was Bourne to Run, a team of Senate Intelligence Committee staffers that finished with a combined time of 3:33:17, slightly more than a second faster than the second-place finishers, from Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-Mass.) office.

Credit unions are the third largest donor in the history of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and the fifth largest on an annual basis. This partnership has resulted in more than $185 million donated through credit union efforts.