ORANGE, CA (April 29, 2025) |
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), now part of Rady Children’s Health, is pleased to announce a generous $3 million gift from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in support of an innovative nine-story ambulatory building designed to enhance care for children and families across Southern California. In recognition of this transformative donation, the first-floor lobby of the tower, set to open this June, will be named the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Lobby.
“We are deeply grateful to SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union for this extraordinary investment in CHOC’s future,” says Jessica Miley, chief development officer, CHOC Foundation. “This gift will help us create a welcoming, healing space for children and families, and it beautifully reflects the community spirit and sense of responsibility that guide everything SchoolsFirst FCU does. They are true partners in our mission to bring hope and healing to those we serve.”
Founded in 1934, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union serving school employees and the largest in California, with nearly 1.5 million members. With a steadfast commitment to serving the financial needs of California’s school employees and their families, SchoolsFirst FCU has also demonstrated its belief in “people helping people” through decades of charitable giving, volunteerism, and community investment.
“We are deeply committed to supporting CHOC and its mission to deliver world-class pediatric care. By nurturing, supporting and safeguarding children’s health, we address the broader factors that influence well-being, offering care that goes beyond medicine to improve the overall quality of life for children and their families,” states Bill Cheney, chief executive officer, SchoolsFirst FCU. “This new facility will provide essential comfort, healing and hope to thousands of families in need, and we are profoundly honored to be a part of making this vision a reality.”
This latest gift brings SchoolsFirst FCU’s total giving to CHOC to $4.7 million over the past 23 years, with support directed to numerous areas, including child life and neonatal care. In addition to financial support, SchoolsFirst FCU’s team has consistently volunteered their time through CHOC Walk, gala events, and activities such as assembling holiday care bags, packaging shirts and serving meals to patients and families.
Located across the street from CHOC Hospital in Orange, the new outpatient tower will house a comprehensive outpatient imaging center, a dedicated Research Institute floor, oncology infusion services, more than two floors of specialty clinics, and several patient and family amenities. It will create a one-stop shop for patients and families who currently are seen across numerous specialties and locations. It is part of the healthcare system’s ambitious expansion plan designed to solidify its position as a leading destination for children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care.