ANDOVER, MA (June 18, 2013) On May 3, 2013, Jane Melchionda, president and CEO of EasCorp and founder of Credit Unions Kids at Heart, was honored with the Community Service Award at The Professional Center for Child Development’s (PCCD) Annual Swing into Spring Gala. The award was presented to Ms. Melchionda for her dedication to helping children and their families, and Credit Unions Kids at Heart’s encouragement, participation, and financial support to the Professional Center for Child Development
Established in 1996, and organized by EasCorp, Credit Unions Kids at Heart is a group of credit unions that collectively raise funds to provide programs and services to children receiving treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital and their families, as well as for other organizations that work for the benefit of children, including The Professional Center for Child Development.
Ms. Melchionda said, “I am honored to receive this award on behalf of Credit Unions Kids at Heart, and would like to thank the Program’s credit union sponsors for their contributions throughout the year, which make it possible for us to support the amazing work of The Professional Center for Child Development.”
The Professional Center for Child Development provides therapeutic and educational services for children of all abilities and their families. Founded in 1973 as a private nursery school for disabled children, PCCD now serves more than 1,400 children from Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire each year.
About Credit Unions Kids at Heart
Credit Unions Kids at Heart is a favorite public service activity for the credit union community, and one of the largest credit union collaborative fundraising programs in the nation. Jane Melchionda, president and CEO of Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union (EasCorp) of Burlington, Massachusetts, founded Credit Unions Kids at Heart in 1996 with a small group of Massachusetts credit unions. Since that time, the program has expanded nationally to include dozens of credit union sponsors. The cornerstone of the Credit Unions Kids at Heart Program is the Boston Marathon running team. Each year, runners sponsored by credit unions are paired with a patient partner child who is receiving care at Boston Children’s Hospital. The annual Marathon event, combined with other fundraising activities, has enabled Credit Unions Kids at Heart to contribute more than $3.9 million to Boston Children’s Hospital since the program’s inception. In addition, Credit Unions Kids at Heart sponsors the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, with funds raised earmarked for pediatric brain cancer research at Boston Children’s Hospital.