In Full Flower: Credit Unions Raise Money for Children's Miracle Network

by Ron Daly 

I like to focus on the good news these days - as it's fairly scant - so I wanted to highlight an event that's happening this weekend here in DC. While the Cherry Blossoms are at peak and stunning to see, that’s not the big news. 

For about ten years now, Credit Unions for Kids and the Children's Miracle Network have been the beneficiaries of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. The run is designed to be a fast-paced tour of the blossom-filled District for the runners and, over the years, has earned millions for the Children's Miracle Network. In 2008 alone, $1,016,000 was raised to help treat childhood diseases.  

Ever since the beginning, I've stood with the Northwest Federal CU employee team (as a spouse the past nine years) as they manned the Memorial Bridge in rain, snow, sleet and wind. It figures the first year I miss the Sunday race, it's going to be sunny and 60+. The NWFCU job: to cheer on the runners and act as human traffic cones on the yellow line that separates them as they cross the bridge make the circle and come back the other way. Sounds easy, till you get to the part of the race where there are thousands of runners going in each direction with only the NWFCU volunteers stopping them from slamming into each other! And did I mention the bridge is over the Potomac River, with no shelter from the wind, rain and sleet? 

From miracleday.org:  

The Children's Miracle Network is an affiliation of children's hospitals throughout the country. Each year these non-profit hospitals provide state-of-the-art care, cutting edge research and preventataive health educations, and treat children for every disease and injury imaginable. The network hospitals impact the lives of more children than any other children's organization in the world. These hospitals are committed to providing the best care for children when they need it.

And:  

Credit Unions for Kids is the umbrella brand through which credit unions and affiliated organizations support children’s hospitals within the Children's Miracle Network. All credit union donations, whether raised from the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run or other activities conducted by individual credit unions and affiliated organizations, are totaled through the Credit Unions for Kids recognition program. Credit Unions for Kids is among the top four contributors to Children’s Miracle Network nationwide, with over $8.5 million donated in 2007 alone! 

Links to learn more: 

The CU Cherry Blossom Run's website 

Children's Miracle Network :: Credit Unions for Kids  

CherryBlossom.org - For more news and details about this year's race   

To all that have been a part or participating, keep up the great work and you make us proud to be in the credit union industry. For those that haven't been a part of this year long event, you need to check it out and see the positives of credit unions. 

GO RUNNERS, GO!

Comments

[Valerie Passwaiter]

Neither wind nor rain stops those of us involved in the CREDIT UNION CHERRY BLOSSOM TEN MILE RUN from waking up at the crack of dawn for the sake of the 17 million kids served by Children's Miracle Network-affiliated hospitals each year. We do it for the cause...we do it for the kids!