California and Nevada Credit Unions Raise a Record $1.85M at Annual Wine Auction

This week, credit unions across the nation continued to flex their community giving muscles with major donations to local and national charitable organizations.

Out West, credit union leaders from California and Nevada gathered in Dana Point, Calif., on Tuesday for the 19th annual Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction. According to an announcement from Origence, the event’s title sponsor, a record $1.85 million was raised, bringing the total amount raised for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the event to more than $16 million over nearly two decades.

More than 500 people from 64 credit unions, business partners and hospitals attended the black-tie event at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Resort in Dana Point, where more than 400 donated packages of fine wine and spirits, as well as travel getaways, were bid on.

The auction is directed by an executive committee comprised of 22 CEOs from credit unions and credit union organizations, each of whom represents a benefitting children’s hospital in their area. Aside from Origence, other sponsors for this year’s event included PSCU and Co-op Solutions as presenting sponsors, and Allied Solutions, the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, TruStage and Visa as premier sponsors.

Each year, the event features a “miracle child” as a special guest – this year’s was 12-year-old Melody Piña, who was born with a rare congenital condition called Amniotic Band Syndrome, also known as Constriction Ring Syndrome, and received successful treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled with the exceptional generosity of our sponsors, donors and volunteers. They have made our annual Credit Unions for Kids auction a huge success by raising more than $1 million for the 10th straight year,” said Ana Fonseca, co-chair of this year’s event and president/CEO of Logix Federal Credit Union ($9.5 million, Valencia, Calif.). “This event continues to be a night of hope as we support such an important organization.”

The 2025 California and Nevada Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction is scheduled for March 14 at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point.

In North Carolina, the Coastal Credit Union Foundation – the $4.9 billion, Raleigh-based Coastal Credit Union’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit – gave $252,500 to 15 nonprofits in North Carolina during its Q1 2024 grant cycle. Nine of the nonprofits help provide access to resources in the community, while the other six are focused on supporting financial well-being.

According to Coastal Credit Union Foundation Executive Director Emily Nail, each time members use their Coastal debit or credit card, the credit union donates a penny to the Foundation. Last year, those pennies added up to more than $379,365 – a sum the credit union is using to help its communities in 2024.

Also in Raleigh, the SECU Foundation, the $54.5 billion SECU’s charitable arm, announced that a new round of Mission Development grants totaling $640,000 were approved by its Board of Directors. Sixteen nonprofits will benefit from the Foundation’s two-year Mission Development Grant Program, which began seven years ago, has awarded over $3 million to 89 nonprofits so far and helps fill unmet financial needs for North Carolina nonprofits seeking to strengthen their long-term growth and stability, according to the Foundation.

“We are thrilled with the program’s success and strong interest from nonprofits throughout the state,” SECU Foundation Executive Director Jama Campbell stated. “We are seeing positive, tangible outcomes for grant recipients working to boost their capacity and impact for programs and services that are vital to those in need. The cooperative efforts of many amazing people are coming together to uplift our communities and the lives of those served by these nonprofits.”