CU SacTown & Cherry Blossom Runs Raise $506,000 for CMN Hospitals

The 12th Annual Credit Union SacTown Run raised more than $183,000 for 11 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across California and Nevada. More than 1,500 runners participated in the April 3 SacTown Run, which started and ended at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, including 500 credit union employees and members from the two states. Pictured from left to right are Michelle Linenberger, professional development nurse specialist and nurse educator at UC Davis Children’s Hospital; John Pamer, chair of the Credit Union SacTown Run race and CEO of Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union ($46 million, Concord, Calif.); Tiffany Doty, SVP of client relationships for Co-op Solutions; and Larry Palochik, SVP of member solutions for the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues.

Participants of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run present a $323,000 donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals on April 3 on the Washington Monument Grounds in Washington, D.C. Of the total donated to CMN Hospitals, $65,748 was raised by runners, their families and friends. Since credit unions became the title sponsors in 2002, over $10.2 million has been donated to CMNHs nationwide. The race returned to April for an in-person run for the first time since 2019 as COVID restrictions canceled the Run in 2020 and delayed an in-person event to September in 2021.

Staff from the $228 million, Fremont, Mich.-based Gerber Federal Credit Union read the book “Count on Pablo” by Barbara deRubertis to local second grade classrooms in nine school districts in March. “Count on Pablo” is part of the Math Matters series, which contains books that focus on a single concept and reinforce math vocabulary and skills. Following each book read, staff discussed good money management and presented every student, their teacher and their school library with a copy of the book, donating a total of 675 books across the districts. Pictured at a Fremont Christian district school are teachers Pedro Chuchoque and Ann Yonker (back left corner) and Gerber President/CEO John P. Buckley, Jr. (right).

Vibe Credit Union ($1.1 billion, Novi, Mich.) employees, and their friends and family members, gather at Milliken Park in Detroit on April 30 to support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s PurpleStride Michigan 2022, an annual 5k that funds life-changing programs and services to accelerate progress for pancreatic cancer patients. The credit union has supported the event for over 10 years, this year serving as premier sponsor and the top fundraising team. Vibe employees raised over $22,000 through fundraisers such as candy sales, trivia night, office dress-down days, and individual donations.

The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation (ACUF), the philanthropic arm of Ascentra Credit Union ($542 million, Bettendorf, Iowa) contributed $50,000 toward the expansion of the River Bend Food Bank’s facilities last month. The Davenport, Iowa food bank is expanding its current facility due to a 50% increase in the need for food during the pandemic, and has initiated a capital campaign to support an expansion project that will add an estimated 25,000 square feet of warehouse and volunteer space. Pictured from left to right are River Bend Food Bank Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving Leslie Corlett, Ascentra SVP and COO Shelly Ridgeway, Ascentra Board Chair Larry Ridenour, River Bend Food Bank President/CEO Mike Miller, Ascentra President/CEO Linda Andry, ACUF Committee Member Debbie Lensmeyer, Ascentra SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Naeve and Ascentra Marketing Team Lead Barry Shaw.

A group of Patelco Credit Union ($9 billion, Dublin, Calif.) team members celebrate packing more than 20,000 meals in collaboration with Kids Against Hunger Bay Area and other volunteers to support the Pleasanton, Calif., non-profit’s Ukrainian refugee relief efforts. The credit union participated in two relief efforts in March. Pictured from left to right are Patelco’s Ameet Seth, Robert Gonzalez, Beatriz Lizaola, Kamran Hazemi, Chris Huynh, Valerie Phillips, Joey Magpusao, Kelley Young, Brenda Valenzuela, Natasha Williams, Carl Montgomery, Espie Valerio and Jade Luong.

Please send your Community News items to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com.