Press
Credit Unions Kids at Heart Raises $128,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital
BOSTON, MA (June 20, 2013) On Saturday, April 13, 2013, members of the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Boston Marathon Team and their families presented a check for $128,000 to Boston Children’s Hospital at the CU Kids at Heart Pre-Marathon Party at Towne Stove & Spirits in Boston. The funds were raised collectively by the credit union community to sponsor the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Boston Marathon team, and are earmarked for pediatric cardiac research.
Established in 1996, the Credit Unions Kids at Heart program is a group of credit unions that collectively raise funds to provide programs and services to children and families receiving treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as for other organizations that work for the benefit of children. Since inception, Credit Unions Kids at Heart has contributed more than $3.9 million to Boston Children’s Hospital.
Following the tragic events that took place during the 2013 Boston Marathon, Credit Unions Kids at Heart announced that all members of its team and cheering section were safe and sound. The Credit Unions Kids at Heart families, runners, and sponsors look ahead to 2014 with the hope that they can honor the victims and their families by rallying together to do even more for Boston Children’s Hospital. Jane Melchionda, president and CEO of EasCorp and founder of Credit Unions Kids at Heart, said, “As we find closure to the events that took place during the Boston Marathon, we look forward to all that we can do for Boston Children’s Hospital in the future. We expect to surpass $4 million in contributions to the Hospital before the end of 2013.”
The cornerstone of the Credit Unions Kids at Heart program is the Boston Marathon team. Each year, runners sponsored by credit unions are paired with a patient partner child who is receiving care at Boston Children’s Hospital. These incredible children, who overcome their own challenges every day, inspire the runners to train throughout the Boston Marathon season. The children are equally inspired by the runners who train hard in the months leading up to the race. Runners and patient partners often build lifelong relationships that extend beyond the Marathon season.
The 2013 Credit Unions Kids at Heart Boston Marathon team included nine runners— Austin Braithwait, Sue Sonia, and mother/daughter duo Kris and Kayla Biagiotti, represented by the Credit Unions Kids at Heart group; Nicole Bedard, sponsored by Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union; Tim Burch, sponsored by NASA Federal Credit Union; Kerri Comolli and Igor Ivno, both sponsored by Digital Federal Credit Union; Jay Johnson, sponsored by Callahan & Associates, Inc.; and Ray Phillips, sponsored by Hanscom Federal Credit Union.
About Credit Unions Kids at Heart
Credit Unions Kids at Heart is a favorite public service activity for the credit union community, and one of the largest credit union collaborative fundraising programs in the nation. Jane Melchionda, president and CEO of Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union (EasCorp) of Burlington, Massachusetts, founded Credit Unions Kids at Heart in 1996 with a small group of Massachusetts credit unions. Since that time, the program has expanded nationally to include dozens of credit union sponsors. The cornerstone of the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Program is the Boston Marathon running team. Each year, runners sponsored by credit unions are paired with a patient partner child who is receiving care at Boston Children’s Hospital. The annual Marathon event, combined with other fundraising activities, has enabled Credit Unions Kids at Heart to contribute more than $3.9 million to Boston Children’s Hospital since the program’s inception. In addition, Credit Unions Kids at Heart sponsors the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, with funds raised earmarked for pediatric brain cancer research at Boston Children’s Hospital.