For Immediate Release:
Contact:

Roger Michaelis
rogerm@iqcu.com
360/ 992-4240

Sarah Canepa Bang
sarahcbang@fscc.com
888/372-2669 ext. 1205

Over $135,000 Raised at Northwest CUs for Kids Wine Auction
Cumulative Total of the nine auctions passes $1 million

Vancouver, Wash., and Ontario, Calif. –(May 11, 2010) – The sponsors of the 2010 Oregon and Washington Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction announced today they had raised over $135,000 at their event last month on Friday, April 16. “Our goal was $125,000 and frankly we weren’t sure we could achieve that this year,” said Roger Michaelis, CEO of iQ Credit Union in Vancouver, Wash, and the event’s main sponsor. “To say we are overwhelmed is an understatement.”

The national Credit Unions for Kids program which originated in Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Texas, raises money for 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals including Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene and the Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford, Oregon. More than 5,000 of the nation’s 8,000 credit unions participate. The NW Wine Auction is one of program’s biggest events, with Portland being the country’s number one city for Credit Unions for Kids fundraising.

The auction was held at the Governor hotel in Portland, Oregon. 150 enthusiastic attendees were treated to fine wines, original artwork, a lively oral auction and dancing to award winning blues artist, Janiva Magness and her band.

As usual, the live auction was the highlight of the evening. Co-hosts Roger Michaelis and Sarah Canepa Bang, President/CEO of Financial Service Centers Cooperative, Inc. (FSCC) entertained the crowd with jokes and observations. Michaelis’ musings had the audience laughing nonstop with advice such as, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough,” and, “between two evils, I always pick the one I haven’t tried before.”

In an effort to get the crowd to loosen their purse strings, Bang shared her perspective on spending, “It is better to spend money like there’s no tomorrow then to spend tonight like there’s no money.”

Event sponsors agree that Auction Coordinator, Lisa Stokman, iQ Credit Union, deserves much of the credit for the event’s success. She is frequently called upon by other event coordinators for “best practices” for similar auctions. Stokman is quick to add that, “We had an amazing audience. The generosity of our attendees and our sponsors is what makes this work.”

The NW Wine Auction just passed a cumulative total of $1 million. Co-Op Financial Services, main sponsors of the event, were on hand for the announcement. Eric Porter and James Hanisch both of Co-Op agree that the spirit of credit unions having fun while giving back is epitomized at the auction.
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Other sponsors of the event include SW Corporate Credit Union, Columbia Credit Union, CUNA Mutual, BECU, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and Allied Solutions.

Credit unions are encouraged to mark their calendars for April 15, 2011 for next year’s auction. For more information on next year’s Northwest Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction, please contact Auction Coordinator, Lisa Stokman at lisas@iqcu.com.

ABOUT CREDIT UNIONS FOR KIDS AND CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK

Credit unions hold fast to their motto of “People Helping People” and this philosophy blossoms with credit union’s support of Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Credit unions have partnered with Children’s Miracle Network since 1996 and in that time have raised over $80 million.
Today, credit unions across the United States collaborate with credit union chapters, leagues and business partners to raise much-needed funds to benefit 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.
Fundraising campaigns range from golf tournaments, runs, walks to wine auctions, online giving promotions and paper balloon icon sales.

In 2008, credit unions moved into third place among Children’s Miracle Network corporate partners in annual giving, trailing only Wal-Mart and COSTCO.

The funds raised by the credit union community help support new facilities, equipment, research programs, patient services, special patient needs and health education programs benefiting 17 million children annually.

For more information on Credit Unions for Kids and the Children’s Miracle Network, please contact Joe Dearborn, Children’s Miracle Network, at (480) 614-9673 or jdearborn@childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

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