What is Credit Unions for Kids?
There are hundreds of ever-shifting stories at Primary Children's
Medical Center. Every child has one. Every parent has one.
Some of the children come because of cancer. Some because
of diabetes. Others need surgery. Perhaps an organ transplant.
For some, it's their first visit--and their last. For others,
it's their tenth visit, and they will return many times before
they walk out the doors for the last time.
Whatever the case, whatever the story, Credit Unions for
Kids exists because of the children and the desire to give
their stories happy endings. Each year, Utah's credit unions
find the time and means to donate over $75,000, countless
hours, and myriad useful items to the hospital. The League
sponsors some of the activities, but credit unions often carry
out projects on their own.
Credit Unions for Kids is a concerted effort made by credit
unions throughout the United States and Canada to raise money
for children's hospitals. The National Credit Union Foundation
sponsored this program in close association with Children's
Miracle Network (CMN), which raised $192 million in 1999.
Each year, all of the money raised by CMN goes directly to
children's hospitals to pay for patient care and to buy equipment.
Credit Unions for Kids' beginnings exist in the mid 1980s
in Texas, Iowa, Oregon, and Southwest Washington, where credit
unions performed independent projects for children. Not until
1997 did CUNA & Affiliates formally adopt Credit Unions
for Kids.
Below are various Credit Unions for Kids activities that
your credit union may want to participate in.
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Order a Fund Raising Guidebook
Getting involved with CUFK is easy. It doesn't require as
much time and effort as you think-and the results can be great.
For a guidebook about how you can get involved with the program,
contact Stephen Nelson at the League: 887-2335, (800) 662-8684,
stephen@ulcu.com.
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Strike and Crash Bowl-a-thon
On May 9, 2002, over 230 credit union employees gathered
at Olympus Hills Lanes in Holladay to bowl.
Some came in the long hours of the night-others in the wee
hours of the morning. Still others stole away from their desks
during the day to knock over a few pins. Whenever they came
during the 13-hour bowl-a-thon, they came because their bowling
benefited needy children at Primary Children's Medical Center.
At $300 per team of six, close to $6,000 was raised by the
bowl-a-thon. All of the money will go to the medical center.
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Volleyball Tournament
On August 10 the Utah Credit Union Family Involvement Council
sponsored its annual  volleyball
tournament to benefit Primary Children's Medical Center. The
event raised just over $6,000 for the hospital.
About 200 people attended the event and partook of yummy
sandwiches and doughnuts from Tasty's. Most of them also showed
off their stuff (i.e. hot spikes, heavy digs, and awesome
serves) in a volleyball tournament where experts and beginners
could have a great time.
Teams played four or five games before lunch, then the teams
with the best record advanced to a single-elimination playoff
series. In the end, the Stansbury Park branch of Tooele Federal
Credit Union pulled off the upset over last year's champions
from America First.
As always, teams waxed creative in choosing their names,
which included .net, Lucky Spikers, Sandbox Wisdom, Spiked
Punch, Jolly Volleys, Bump and Grinders, and Always the Bridesmaid
(CUP, which took second plaice several years in a row).
The tournament ended around 2:00 p.m.
Thanks to the following credit unions that sponsored teams:
- America First Credit Union
- Beehive Credit Union
- Credit Union One
- CUP Federal Credit Union
- Cyprus Credit Union
- Deseret First Credit Union
- Family First Credit Union
- Granite Credit Union
- Horizon Credit Union
- Jordan Credit Union
- Mountain America Credit Union
- Salt Lake City Credit Union
- Tooele Federal Credit Union
- University of Utah Credit Union
- Weber State Credit Union
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Legislative Dinner
On January 23, just two week before the 2002 Winter Olympics,
when thousands of athletic heroes would take to the spotlight
and garner the attention of worldwide media, other heroes
were quietly honored at a dinner and silent auction to benefit
Primary Children's Medical Center.
By the time the night was over, many had shed tears. Others
had fought tears back. All had recognized that heroes don't
have to be famous or athletic-or even old enough to walk or
talk.
Tenyson, nine years old, represented those heroes and embodied
the theme, "The Heroes Within." He spoke of his
battle with Burkett's lymphoma, which he was diagnosed with
at age eight. His words honored the uncommon valor of the
patients and staff of PCMC, as well as those who donate their
time, talents and money to support and comfort them.
More than 250 elected officials, business leaders and credit
union supporters gathered at the Little America Hotel for
the dinner. The League hosted the event. America First Credit
Union and Deseret First Credit Union were primary sponsors.
In the end, donations totaled more than $26,000.
"We are grateful for the generous support Utah credit
unions have shown Primary Children's Medical Center,"
said Sharon Goodrich, director of annual and corporate giving.
"In just the past three years, the hospital has received
well over $129,000 in contributions, as well as handmade quilts
and medical play dolls, all provided by Utah credit unions
and their members. That level of support is truly overwhelming."
Scott Earl, CEO of the Utah League of Credit Unions, feels
the PCMC Foundation's mission fits nicely with the philanthropic
aims of Utah credit unions. "They're helping the most
vulnerable people you can imagine-sick children. We want to
do whatever we can to help. Over $125,000 in three years is
a good start. I expect we'll build upon this success next
year."
This year's dinner was the third of its kind, and plans are
already in place to hold another next January.
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Other CUFK Activities
Annual Meeting
Each year, at the annual meeting, Credit Unions for Kidsâ
occupies a vendor booth in which backpacks, watches, and clothing
are sold. This year, the booth also sponsored a raffle for
a barrel-loading shotgun. Not only does the booth raise money
for PCMC, it also raises awareness of the program among credit
union employees and volunteers.
Skip a Payment
At least two credit unions--Jordan Credit Union and Healthcare
Credit Union--have an annual Skip-a-payment program to raise
money for the hospital. The programs allow members to skip
a loan payment in exchange for a donation to the hospital.
In general, the promotion costs the credit unions very little,
and provides significant goodwill with members. In addition,
this year the two programs raised almost $17,000 combined.
Impressive!
Blankets for Kids
Two credit unions have recently given blankets to PCMC. In
June 2001, Carbon Credit Union gave the hospital 200 blankets
and 20 stuffed animals. Moroni Feed Credit Union also gave
200 quilts and numerous medical-play dolls to the hospital
in January 2002. In both cases, the credit unions advertised
the drive for quilts to members, who answered the call with
and brought in blankets by the drove. The hospital has made
it a tradition for 75 years to give each child who stays at
the hospital a blanket.
Dolls for Pokes
The hospital can be a scary place for kids. They get poked
and prodded, and all kinds of specimens are taken from their
bodies. To help them cope with the trauma, and to understand
what will happen with them, hospital staff role-plays with
the kids using small, cloth dolls. They show the kids where
the pokes or scars will be, and even let them practice drawing
proverbial blood from the dolls.
Only, there aren't enough dolls for the patients. Not all
kids get them, and medical staff must distribute them with
care.
Carbon Credit Union heard about the problem, and decided
to take matters into their own hands.
"We set up sewing machines in our break room,"
said Rene Clark. "We got local fabric stores to donate
fabric and other materials, and we sewed and stuffed."
From February 1999 to March 1999, the employees of Carbon
Credit Union made 130 dolls, and in April visited PCMC to
present their service. Going to the hospital, "helped
us all realize how much we can help out," Renee said.
"It also helped us realize how lucky we are that our
children don't have to be there."
Renee found out about the need for dolls when she attended
a Chapter meeting in Salt Lake City (gathering of chapter
officers, what is it called?). Before then, they'd planned
on making blankets, but postponed those plans until summer
2000.
Other Credit Unions for Kids activities
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Credit Unions for Kids operates on a national level,
and there are several activities that all credit unions
can take advantage of:
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Starting this year, whenever a family arranges a vacation
through Get Away Today Vacations and a participating credit
union, five dollars will be donated to Credit Unions for
Kids. It costs the credit union and family nothing.
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Clarke American Checks sponsors Credit Unions for Kids.
For every order of Credit Unions for Kids checks placed,
Clarke donates two dollars. Again, it costs the credit
union nothing.
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In conjunction with Grammy Award winning producer Michael
Lloyd and 15 of America's best-loved artists, CMN has
produced a CD called Christmas Miracle. Credit unions
can sell this CD in their branches, giving all profits
to Credit Unions for Kids.
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