After a rocky 2020, the Children’s Miracle Network and its Credit Unions for Kids program are looking to rebound in the year ahead.
Even before the pandemic impacted fundraising for the industry’s charity of choice, CMN was rocked by the
“It was devastating for a long time for our organization,” recalled Nick Coleman, director of corporate partnerships. “[S]o many in our organization were close with John’s family, and they allowed us to join in their grieving process and came to our office and spoke with us when all that was happening.”
Within a month, however, COVID-19 had begun its rapid spread across the country, upending credit union operations and forcing changes to a variety of industry staples, including Miracle Jeans Days, golf outings and other events to raise money for CMN hospitals and, most notably, necessitating the
Because much of the funds for the race had already been collected by the time the event was cancelled, 2020’s Cherry Blossom race was a
One thing that could help with that is the return of the Cherry Blossom race, which organizers recently announced would be pushed from April 11 to Sept. 12, due to concerns about a lack of widespread immunity in the spring.
Many credit union events for the first half of the year have already been moved to a virtual format, but much of the industry appears to be betting on a return to normalcy by the fall. The National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions is scheduled to kick off its annual Congressional Caucus in-person in Washington on Sept. 12, which could also help boost industry participation in the CMN race.
