Northwest CUs For Kids Wine Auction Raises $135,000

For Immediate Release:
Contact:  
Roger Michaelis
Rogerm@iQcu.com
360.992.4240 or
Sarah Canepa Bang            
sarahcbang@fscc.com
888.372.2669 ext. 1205

Vancouver, WA. (April 21, 2011)  – The sponsors of the 2011 Northwest Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction benefitting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals announced today they had raised over $135,000 last Friday evening, April 15.   “This was our ninth anniversary auction and it just gets better and better,” says Roger Michaelis, CEO of iQ Credit Union and the event’s diamond sponsor and coordinator.  “As usual we are overwhelmed by the generosity of the Credit Union Movement.”

Event sponsors are quick to point out that when they say “Credit Union Movement,” they mean credit unions, vendor partners and individuals.  “We are especially grateful to our platinum sponsors, FSCC and CO-OP Financial Services,” added Mr. Michaelis. “We know we can count on them each year to help us make this event a success.”

Other leading sponsors of the event included Allied Solutions, CUNA Mutual Group and the Northwest Credit Union Association.   OnPoint Credit Union, BECU and Columbia Credit Union as well as Boyce Financial Group and CU Direct Corporation rounded out the sponsor list.

“As a credit union person, it’s impressive to see our vendor partners and association step up in such a meaningful way,” said, Pat Smith, CEO of Unitus Community Credit Union in Portland. “Their generosity does not go unnoticed by the Credit Union community and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.”   Ms. Smith also serves on the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and is an ardent supporter of Credit Unions for Kids.

The event was held at the Governor Hotel in downtown Portland.  Because it was a formal affair with room for fewer than 200 guests, sponsors were stunned at the $135,000 total.  “Attendees could see we had some extraordinary wines,”   said Lisa Stokman, wine auction coordinator at iQ Credit Union.   Although there were many valuable wines to bid on, one of the most exciting was a Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, donated by Mark Loebner and Jan Hartler from Auto Solution.  “We were floored when that donation came in,” said Ms. Stokman.  “That one bottle was valued at over $900 dollars. I know the fact that we were doing this to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals made that high-end wine purchase easier to justify,” she added.

“It also doesn’t hurt that Roger and his team put together one of the finest events ever,” said Mandy Jones, CEO of Oregon Community Credit Union in Eugene.  “We don’t know how Roger manages to get Grammy award winning entertainment for this party, but he does it every year.”  Ms. Jones was referring to legendary blues singer, Marcia Ball, whose band kept attendees on the dance floor until late in the evening.

“It’s our goal to raise money for Credit Unions for Kids while making sure our attendees have an outstanding evening and our sponsors feel appreciated,’ said Mr. Michaelis.  “The definition of good wine is one that starts and ends with a smile.  We want to make sure the auction does too!”                

Planning for next year’s auction is already underway.  For information on that event, please contact Lisa Stokman, at iQ Credit Union at lisas@iqcu.com.

ABOUT CREDIT UNIONS FOR KIDS AND CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS

Credit unions hold fast to their motto of “People Helping People” and this philosophy blossoms with credit union’s support of non-profit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  Credit unions have sponsored CMN Hospitals since 1996, when the Credit Union for Kids program was developed.  Today, credit unions across the United States collaborate with credit union chapters, leagues and business partners to raise much-needed funds to benefit 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  Fund raising campaigns range from golf tournaments and loan promotions to special credit and debit cards that offer a donation of a percentage of purchases to local children’s hospitals.  Since 1996, the Credit Unions for Kids program has generated over $90 million for CMN Hospitals.  The funds raised help support new facilities, equipment, research programs, patient services, special patient needs and health education programs benefiting 17 million children annually.

For more information on Credit Unions for Kids and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, please contact Joe Dearborn, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, at (480) 614-9673 or jdearborn@CMNHospitals.org

---