Press
CU SoCal raises $14,000 and makes great strides for CHOC
ANAHEIM, CA (October 13, 2013) — Before the sun rose on Sunday, October 13, 2013, 74 Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) employees laced up their sneakers in support of the 23rd Annual CHOC Walk in the Park at the Disneyland Resort. Through the credit union’s employee-inspired charity, CU SoCal Helping Hands, the employees raised $14,000 in donations.
CU SoCal was a part of 20 southern California credit unions who hit the pavement in the cooperative credit union spirit to raise awareness and fundraise for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a regional pediatric healthcare system serving children and families in southern California. Credit Unions for CHOC was the largest team with more than 825 walkers and raised more than $115,000—not including funds from the CO-OP Financial Services Miracle Match program.
“It’s an honor to unite with the credit unions here to put the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’ into action. CHOC is a wonderful organization and helps build better lives for so many,” stated Dave Gunderson, CU SoCal President/CEO.
“It was a privilege to participate in the 23rd Annual CHOC Walk and support the health and well-being of children, celebrate the many lives saved by CHOC, and honor those who bravely lost their battle against serious disease or illness,” stated Melissa Manning, CU SoCal Helping Hands Board Member.
The 2013 CHOC Walk had the largest attendance and highest fundraising total of any CHOC Walk so far. Nearly 16,000 walkers participated in the 5K CHOC Walk through Disneyland and California Adventure and $1.9 million was raised to support the care, family services, education, and research that CHOC provides for the region’s children.
About CU SoCal Helping Hands
Founded in 1997 by CU SoCal employees, the vision of CU SoCal Helping Hands is to provide Southern California’s underprivileged and impoverished families with the basic necessities of life, treating them with dignity and respect. Our program provides food, clothing, and financial assistance to families in need, and supports other charitable organizations in Southern California. For more information, visit www.CUSoCal.org, or call 866 CU SoCal (866.287.6225) toll-free.
About Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal)
Founded in 1954 as Whittier Area Schools Federal Credit Union, CU SoCal has a five-star financial rating from BauerFinancial, a nationally recognized independent research firm. Today, CU SoCal has $732 million in assets and is dedicated to Building Better Lives for its nearly 60,000 Member-Owners through World-Class Service, competitive products, and convenience. Membership is open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Orange County, San Gabriel Valley, the cities connecting those geographic areas, as well as Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, Pomona and San Bernardino. For more information, visit www.CUSoCal.org.
About CHOC
For more than 45 years, CHOC has been steadfastly committed to providing the highest quality medical care to children. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, our regional pediatric healthcare network includes a state-of-the-art 279-bed main hospital facility in the City of Orange, and a hospital-within-a-hospital in Mission Viejo. CHOC also offers many primary and specialty care clinics, more than 100 additional programs and services, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence: The CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic, and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.