The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is great PR for credit unions. But, first and foremost,
it's a chance for credit unions to raise money for a good cause: the Children's Miracle Network
(CMN). A portion of the sponsor fees paid by credit unions for the race is donated to CMN, and Cherry
Blossom, Inc. gives a generous portion of the proceeds from the race to CMN as well. However it's
important that individual credit unions get involved in fundraising and find ways to get their members
involved too.
Credit Unions should submit their 2009 CMN donations from May 1, 2008 through April 30,
2009 in order for the funds to be counted in our total donation this year. Send your donations
to:
Note Card Gift Sets featuring illustrations by the kids! 
A collection of eight wonderful drawings by Children’s Hospital patients is featured on the
covers of these note cards. They come complete with envelopes and packaged for safekeeping.
Collect Donations from Members in Your Lobby
Order these free paper CMN logos from Heather Terry
at the Children's National Medical Center.
Ready-to-use Marketing Materials!
Promote the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and encourage your members to donate!
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Statement Inserts (Click image for more details)
.04 cents each (plus shipping and handling)
Place order by:
Dec. 1, 2008
Feb. 9, 2009
Mar. 2, 2009
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For delivery by:
Dec. 15, 2008
Feb. 20, 2009
Mar. 20, 2009
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Posters (Click image for more details)
Customized with your Credit Union's name 22x28 $25.00
8.5x11 $7.00
(plus shipping and handling)
Delivery within 5 - 10 business days |
Get Sammy in your lobby!
Author Sam Renick has produced a wonderful children’s book about the habit of saving. “It’s
A Habit, Sammy Rabbit” is a tale any child will love and it teaches the value of saving carrots.
Parents can use it to help teach the value of saving money as well! Sample books are available upon
request.
The book has a companion music CD that children of all ages will love. From gospel to rap, there’s
something for everyone.
Preview the CD now:
Get in the Habit!
Rainy Day!
More Than You
Make
Purchase the books for $3.00 each plus S&H.
Purchase the CDs for $4.00 each plus S&H.
Downloadable signage is available for use in your
lobbies. We are suggesting a price of $10.00 each if purchased separately or $15.00 when purchased
together, but sell these gifts for whatever works for your members! Order
now.
Here's what some sponsor credit unions have done to raise funds for CMN:
Constellation FCU
The staff and volunteers at Constellation FCU, the winner of the 2006 Credit Union Member
Donation Challenge (for donations from employees and members), collected money in a variety of ways
to earn their crown. During the holidays, the staff and board donated items for six gift baskets.
These baskets were raffled off, with tickets selling at $5 apiece. They also had two bake sales
at their branches, held a chili cook-off with their sponsor agency, collected money from employees
in exchange for their wearing jeans on Fridays and put change jars at their teller windows.
The best part of this strategy, according to Marketing Assistant Kimberly Vaughn, was the amount
of involvement at all levels of the credit union. “Everyone, including our board, got involved
and different people’s ideas were put into play,” she said
Library of Congress FCU
By supporting CMN, you may be helping one of your fellow credit union members, without even
knowing it.
When the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union partnered in a fundraiser with author
Pam Avery Yielding, she visited DC’s Children’s National Medical Center to read her
children’s book “Sam’s Search” to kids being treated there.
The next day, the credit union held a book signing to get donations for CMN. One of the members
who came to the office to meet Ms. Yielding told her how thankful he was for her hospital visit.
It turns out his son, five-year-old Lucas, was a patient at the hospital, and her presentation had
really lifted Lucas’s spirits.
Remember, when you make a donation to CMN, you’re helping children in your local community—and
maybe even in your own credit union.
Northwest FCU
Northwest hosted a silent auction at its headquarters with more than 200 items sold to
employees and building tenants, including surplus office furniture, lobby artwork and exercise equipment
from the CU's onsite gym. The event generated $2,600 in sales with 100% of the funds donated to
Children’s Miracle Network.
Since its fundraising launch, NWFCU has raised more than $5,800 this year for its local Children’s
hospital, mostly through the generosity of its members’ donations and through the sale of
CMN "candy safes" – acrylic combination safes filled with Tootsie Roll candies aimed
at teaching children about the value of saving.
Bank-Fund Staff FCU
Participation pays at Bank-Fund: not only are members and staff eligible for entry fee
reimbursement when they run under the Bank-Fund Staff flag, but the CU also commits to a $10 donation
to CMN for each runner it sponsors who crosses the finish line. Between that and proceeds from the
sale of official Cherry Blossom Run gloves to its runners and volunteers, Bank-Fund is banking on
their participation growing annually!
Lafayette FCU
Lafayette FCU sold Miracle Bear backpacks and Spin and Save Gumball Banks to their members, with
proceeds from the sale of these items going to CMN. Lafayette began selling these items shortly
before Valentine's Day in the hope that members would purchase them for their own "little Valentines"
at home.
Lafayette also encouraged members to make online donations directly to CMN by offering them a chance
to win a U.S. Savings Bond. Members who made an online donation were eligible to guess the average
time it will take all of the members of Lafayette's team of runners to complete the race. The three
members whose guesses were closest won a $100, $75, or $50 Savings Bond.
Educational Systems FCU
"Our employees were really fired up when we decided to hold a 50/50 raffle. We collected approximately
$300. Our tellers and Member Service Representatives also sold Miracle Bear backpacks to members...over
150 of them!"
Victoria Samuels
Vice President of Marketing
Engraving & Printing FCU
"To keep awareness of the race alive, we put decorated donation boxes at each teller station.
We also provided a link to the CMN donation site on our website. In the end, we donated money and
had 12 volunteers for race day from our staff, their families, and employees of the Bureau. Everyone
got involved!"
Cy Kirsch
President
Here are some more ways credit unions across the country are raising money for Children's Hospitals:
Collect Loose Change - Lafayette FCU (Maryland), Engraving & Printing FCU (Washington,
D.C.) and credit unions in Ohio and Arizona set out jars for collecting loose change. Desert Schools
FCU in Arizona raised over $44,000 in just six weeks.
Lemonade Sales - Fire Police City County FCU in Fort Wayne, Indiana collected $1,500 from
lemonade stand sales in July. They set up the stand for four Fridays in a row and sold lemonade
along with bake sale items donated by staff. Try the same thing with coffee or hot chocolate during
winter months!
Golf Tournaments - First Technology CU in Oregon sponsors the "Hank and Moose Open
Golf Tournament" and collected $325,000 this year. Mountain America CU in Salt Lake City sponsored
their first tournament this year and raised $110,000. Community America Credit Union in Kansas City
held their first "Tee-Off for Tots" in 2004 and raised $38,000.
Silent Auctions and Formal Dinners
Candy and Bake Sales
"Cruise for Kids" Poker Run - Sponsored by the Tampa Chapter of the Florida Credit
Union League, this event raised $23,000 in sponsorships and rider registration fees.
Submit your own fundraising success story to info@visionsink.com.
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