HCUA Members + Credit Unions for Kids = Win Win
Heartland Credit Union Association members have the chance to start the New Year off strong by putting plans in place to fundraise for your local children’s hospital through the Credit Unions for Kids program.
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals in the United States and Canada which treat 10 million children a year. 8 partnered hospitals are in Kansas and Missouri:
- KU Medical Center in Kansas City
- MU Children’s Hospital in Columbia-Jefferson City
- Freeman Health in Joplin
- Cox Health in Springfield
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis
- Stormont Vail Health in Topeka
- Ascension Via Christi in Wichita-Hutchinson
One of CMN Hospitals premier fundraising programs is Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids). This program has united the credit union industry since 1996 as a cooperative platform that has raised over $150 million! Credit unions are one of CMN Hospitals top five fundraising partners.
The $150m+ that credit unions have raised have funded critical things like advanced equipment, innovative research, and passionate care. Kids like Marquis ‘MJ’ Williams, who was treated at KU Medical Center, have relied on support from credit unions:
<- MJ Williams
MJ and Russell share a very special bond. They are brothers, best friends, and both have a rare genetic disorder called thrombocytopenia with absent radius (TAR) syndrome, characterized by the absence of the radius bone in each forearm.
When they first discovered MJ’s diagnosis, the news was devastating. But over time, his parents knew that they were chosen to be MJ’s parents and were determined to give him a life full of opportunities despite his limitations. As for MJ, he meets obstacles head-on, starting when he was an infant. MJ learned quickly how to hold his bottle with his feet and would roll to move around the room because crawling wasn’t an option. When MJ’s parents discovered they were pregnant again, they were anxious. But when they found out their second baby also had TAR syndrome, they realized the positives. The boys could learn from each other, depend on one another, and support one another.
Today both boys are seen regularly at KU Medical Center Pediatrics to make sure they stay healthy. MJ is an active six-year-old who loves first grade. He has a smile that can light up a room, and whenever a challenge comes his way – whether it is learning to ride a skateboard or play video games like his friends – MJ finds a way. Every day, he shows his friends, family, and strangers that your physical limitations do not define the quality of your life.
Because funding from CMN Hospitals touches every aspect of pediatrics on the KU Medical Center campus, MJ and his family immediately noticed a difference in the care they received. Knowing that CMN Hospitals is here to help with charitable care and other medically necessary equipment is true comfort.
Joining thousands of credit unions across the country and participating in Credit Unions for Kids is easy!
- Reach out to your local hospital representative, you can find contact information for your ‘hospital market’ by clicking these links: Missouri and Kansas.
- Visit www.cu4kids.org to learn more about the program and sign up for the newsletter.
- Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, and consider joining the closed Facebook page called ‘Credit Unions for Kids Miracle Makers’ where credit unions folks across the country join to share ideas.
- Plan your fundraising initiative. CU4Kids does not require a particular way to raise funds, you can be as creative as you wish! Whether it’s planning an event like a bowl-a-thon or golf tournament, inviting your members to donate, having fun employee giving programs, or more. Www.cu4kids.org will provide fundraising ideas but here are some exciting new initiatives:
- Give on the Go- online and mobile banking fundraising and the future of credit unions engaging their members to make a difference. Any credit union that is a client of Q2 or Alkami currently have access to this tool.
- Online Fundraising pages – create your own online fundraising page to capture donations on an easy, free, and customizable site.
- For a quick version that anyone can create, click here.
- For an advanced version (like Florence the Fundraising Flamingo’s page), reach out to your hospital contact. Campaign must be able to raise $5,000+ for this.
Credit Unions for Kids looks forward to helping you plan your next fundraising program that makes a real impact on your community, while building affinity with your members and employees.