BURLINGTON, MA (April 21, 2016) — The Credit Unions Kids at Heart Team (CU K@H) presented a $400,000 donation to Boston Children’s Hospital on April 16, two days previous to the 120th running of the Boston Marathon. Nineteen CU K@H Team members competed in the race as part of this year’s fundraising effort. The Team’s donation represents the third installment in a four year pledge to Boston Children’s Hospital to fund pediatric brain research projects including the search for treatments, therapies, and cures for brain tumors, Moyamoya disease, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. This important research is used by pediatric hospitals and other care centers from all over the world.
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is both the oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of most prestigious road racing events on earth. It is a ‘qualifying-time’ event with a limited number of runners’ bibs made available to charitable organizations. The CU K@H Team has run for Boston Children’s Hospital for 17 consecutive years. Each year, runners are paired with Boston Children’s Hospital patient partners many of whom are challenged to overcome debilitating diseases, and their partnership inspires an ambitious training and fundraising regimen that is encouraged and supported by the credit union community.
Credit Union Kids at Heart Team
The Credit Unions Kids at Heart Team also consists of more than 50 participating credit unions and several of their business partners. Jane Melchionda, president and chief executive officer for Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union (EasCorp) in Burlington, Massachusetts formed the Team as a way to leverage the impact of credit union charitable efforts and to provide greater visibility for credit unions in the process. Since the Team was formed in 1996, it has donated $5 million to Boston Children’s Hospital to fund a variety of special research projects, ensuring foremost that no portion of donations is withheld for administrative purposes.
In a recent letter to EasCorp’s members encouraging additional credit union participation, Melchionda stated, “We live in a time of unprecedented discovery within the human brain. More than ever before, technological advances in genetics, stem cells, and imaging have enabled a deeper understanding of the physiological processes of this most complex system. Indeed the promise is brightest for the very youngest minds whose brains are the most pliable and responsive to treatment for disease. We know that early intervention to fight disease can make an impact not only on the child, but the adult he or she will grow up to be. With the help of the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Team, scientists and physicians at Boston Children’s continue to push the boundaries of medicine to provide the best possible care for kids and they are transforming the fight against brain cancer, Moyamoya disease, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy on a daily basis. Through our Team, the credit union community’s compassionate and dedicated philanthropy is making a lasting impact on the world.”
Credit Unions Kids @ Heart was founded in 1996 by Jane Melchionda, President and CEO of Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union (EasCorp) of Burlington, MA and has since expanded nationally to include dozens of participating credit unions. Each year the Credit Unions Kids @ Heart Team has been able to obtain several of the limited entries awarded to charitable fundraising organizations by the Boston Marathon.
Credit Unions Kids @ Heart
c/o EasCorp
35 Corporate Drive, Suite 300
Burlington, MA 01803
kidsatheart@eascorp.org
800-428-1144 ext. 3320
