Miracles happen when credit unions collaborate to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals. So does magic.
There was no shortage of either when the Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) hosted the Credit Unions for Kids Masquerade Auction during MAXX Convention in Spokane Oct. 16. The event raised nearly $872,000 for the eight CMN hospitals that treat patients in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Hearts melted when a Disneyland Vacation, donated by Portland-based IBEW and United Workers Federal Credit Union, was in turn donated by bidders to five-year-old Elliott Naftzger, who served as the auction’s Miracle Child. Elliott was born with a life-threatening heart condition and underwent her first open heart surgery when she was just four days old. Her treatments have been successful and today, she’s thriving. Thanks to the generosity of Masquerade Auction donors, Elliott, her parents Rachel and Carter, and her big brother Edmond, will soon enjoy a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Another surprise came Elliott’s way when Joel Schwartz, Founder and CEO of DoubleCheck, an NWCUA Strategic Link business partner, added a tour of Warner Brothers Studios for the family.
Attendees also bid aggressively on wine country getaways, coastal vacations, and other travel packages. Each CMN hospital in the Northwest will receive a toy-filled electric car which will either be donated to a patient or be kept in the hospital to transport little ones from their rooms to their medical appointments. After bidding on the electric cars hit an NWCUA auction record, auctioneer Sean Kelly called “anyone who can contribute $1,000 more” to the stage. Twenty-five attendees came running.
“We are humbled by the generosity of credit unions,” said Troy Stang, NWCUA President and CEO. “Credit Unions for Kids is a charity that is making so many miracles possible for children like Elliott, for researchers finding cures, for medical teams that never give up, and for their families who need comfort and resources when their children are hospitalized. We’re proud to be part of this.”
A committee of credit union employees volunteered their time to make the auction a success, starting last spring to secure donations, and working onsite to arrange dozens of silent auction gift baskets. Spokane Valley-based Horizon Credit Union donated the design work for the Masquerade theme. CUNA Mutual Group was the auction’s premier Venetian Masquerade sponsor.
“As not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions truly do have a DNA that drives them to make a difference,” said Holly Miller, NWCUA Director of Programming and Auction Coordinator. “Thanks to the generosity of all of our sponsors, donors, and bidders, Credit Unions for Kids will keep making miracles—and magic.”
Credit Unions for Kids was “born” in 1986 when a group of Northwest credit unions began raising money for CMN Hospitals. Their model was “adopted” by the national Credit Union Movement ten years later, and since then, the charity has contributed nearly $200 million to CMN hospitals across the nation.
When it appeared bidding had hit a record, auctioneer Sean Kelly asked anyone who could “contribute $1,000 more” to come to the stage. Twenty five people answered the call.
Elliott Naftzger, 5, wowed MAXX attendees as the auction’s Miracle Child.
Attendees to NWCUA’s MAXX Convention raised their paddles high to raise more than $871,000 to CMN Hospitals.