SECU Maryland donates $100,000 to University of Maryland Children’s Hospital
Donation Seeks to Support Efforts to Address Pediatric Mental Health Crisis
LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD (June 23, 2022) — SECU on behalf of the SECU MD Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Maryland’s largest state-chartered credit union, announced today it has committed $100,000 to the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital for an enhanced and newly renovated pediatric psychiatry emergency services area. The donation, pledged over the next five years, is the largest amount to date from SECU to the hospital.
Committed to creating a stronger Maryland by supporting health and wellness, empowering access to education, and serving as a catalyst for community development, the donation builds on a decade-long relationship between SECU and the hospital, and seeks to help address the ongoing pediatric mental health crisis.
“Maryland serves as a microcosm of a larger national trend of pediatric mental health crises,” said Becky Smith, EVP Chief Strategy and Growth Officer of SECU and Board President of the SECU MD Foundation. “We understand that the number of child psychiatry emergency department visits are increasing and there is a strong need for services but limitations to access, which is why we are deeply committed to meeting this need in a way that best helps these children and teens, their families, and the healthcare providers serving them. We are honored to support the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital in these efforts.”
While housed within the existing emergency room, the renovated, dedicated space will provide a safe, private and quiet environment, featuring four patient care rooms, a dedicated occupational therapy room and play area, a bathroom with shower, and a small nurse’s station for staff. Additionally, it will further support the collective ability of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital Departments of Psychiatry, Social Work and Child Psychiatric Emergency Services to evaluate a patient upon arrival, initiate active treatment, provide psychiatric occupational therapies, and leverage Child Life to better improve patient and family care.
“Over the years, and now with this latest gift, SECU Maryland has provided generous financial support to our children’s hospital. On behalf of our entire team, I want to thank this outstanding donor for their commitment to—and compassion for—our patients and their families,” said Steven J. Czinn, MD, Director of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital, and the Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
To learn more about SECU MD Foundation or to support its efforts to make Maryland stronger, please visit secumdfoundation.org.
About SECU (MD)
SECU ("see-Q"), Maryland’s largest state-chartered credit union, serves over 250,000 members via 25 branches across the state. As a member-owned, not-for-profit organization, SECU puts its members first. Membership is open to all of Maryland, with over 1,900 ways to join, you may be eligible through a family member, work, the college you attended, state employment, an organization you are affiliated with, or simply through a one-time donation to SECU MD Foundation. Headquartered in Linthicum, Md., SECU offers convenient access to over 50,000 free ATMs through the CO-OP network, as well as access to expert financial planners. With more than $5 billion in assets, SECU ranks among the top 60 credit unions nationwide based on total assets in the U.S. Insured by NCUA. For more information, visit www.secumd.org or follow SECU on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
About the SECU MD Foundation
The SECU MD Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes a stronger Maryland by empowering access to education, supporting health and wellness, and serving as a catalyst for community development. For more information, visit www.secumdfoundation.org.
