ANAHEIM, CA (November 1, 2014) -- Before the sun rose on Sunday, October 12, 2014, 135 Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) employees and family members laced up their sneakers in support of the 24th Annual CHOC Walk in the Park at the Disneyland Resort. Through the credit union’s employee-inspired charity, CU SoCal Helping Hands, the employees raised more than $60,000 in donations.
CU SoCal was a part of 19 southern California credit union teams that hit the pavement in the cooperative credit union spirit to raise awareness and fundraise for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), a regional pediatric healthcare system serving children and families in southern California. “Credit Unions for CHOC” was the largest team with more than 1,350 walkers and raised more than $175,000 in cash donations.
“It’s an honor to unite with other credit unions to put the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’ into action. CHOC is a wonderful organization and helps build better lives for so many,” stated Dave Gunderson, CU SoCal President/CEO.
“It was a privilege to participate in the 24th Annual CHOC Walk and support the health and well-being of children, celebrate the many lives saved by CHOC, and honor those who bravely lost their battle against serious disease or illness,” stated Melissa Manning, CU SoCal Helping Hands Board Member.
The 2014 CHOC Walk is the largest single pediatric walk in the United States and had the highest fundraising total of any CHOC Walk so far. Approximately 16,000 walkers participated in the 5K CHOC Walk through Disneyland and California Adventure and about $2 million was raised to support the care, family services, education, and research that CHOC provides for the region’s children.
About CU SoCal Helping Hands
Founded in 1997 by CU SoCal employees, the vision of CU SoCal Helping Hands is to provide Southern California’s underprivileged and impoverished families with the basic necessities of life, treating them with dignity and respect. Our program provides food, clothing, and financial assistance to families in need, and supports other charitable organizations in Southern California. For more information, visit CUSoCal.org/CUSoCal-Helping-Hands, or call 866 CU SoCal (866.287.6225) toll-free.
About Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal)
Founded in 1954 as Whittier Area Schools Federal Credit Union, CU SoCal has a five-star financial rating from BauerFinancial, a nationally recognized independent research firm. Today, CU SoCal has more than $900 million in assets and is dedicated to Building Better Lives for its 74,000 Member-Owners through World-Class Service, competitive products, and convenience. Membership is open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Orange County, Los Angeles County, as well as Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, Pomona and San Bernardino. For more information, visit www.CUSoCal.org.
About CHOC
For more than 45 years, CHOC has been steadfastly committed to providing the highest quality medical care to children. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, our regional pediatric healthcare network includes a state-of-the-art 279-bed main hospital facility in the City of Orange, and a hospital-within-a-hospital in Mission Viejo. CHOC also offers many primary and specialty care clinics, more than 100 additional programs and services, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence: The CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic, and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.