Doernbecher Receives $97K Donation From NW Credit Union Assoc.

PORTLAND, OR — Doernbecher Children's Hospital at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland was one of eight hospitals in the Northwest Children's Miracle Network to receive considerable cash donations over the past few months.

Along with hospitals in Medford and Eugene, as well as Utah, Washington State, and Idaho, Doernbecher shared $334,421 that was raised in October during the Run for the Roses auction, sponsored by the Northwest Credit Union Association.

“Doernbecher ensures the health and safety of children by focusing on the best clinical care available, cutting-edge research, education for the healers of tomorrow, and advocacy that improves lives every day. We can only do this with the help and steadfast support of our community," said Doernbecher physician-in-chief Dana Braner, who is also the chair for Credit Unions for Kids and Professor of Pediatrics at OHSU School of Medicine. "Gifts like this one from the CMN and the Northwest Credit Union Association enable all of these missions and provide direct support for everything Doernbecher is able to accomplish. At a time when children are profoundly at risk, Doernbecher stands as a proud resource for every child and family that needs us.”

Accepting a total donation of $97,768, Doernbecher joins a plethora of Children's Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals across the Northwest that since 1996 have received more than $170 million in support from the Credit Unions for Kids charity — $20 million of which was raised over the past eight years alone, officials said.

"The support of our credit union partners has been critical to the funding of life-saving research, expansion of facilities, and charity care, which assures all kids receive treatment regardless of their families' ability to pay," Chris Perry, the managing director of corporate partnerships at CMN hospitals, said in a statement. "As one of the largest contributors among our corporate partners, credit unions in the Northwest has played a vital role in assuring all kids have access to the best healthcare available."

The charity model currently designated as Credit Unions for Kids was established in 1986 by a group of Oregon and Southwest Washington credit unions that wanted to raise money to support local children's hospitals. Ten years later, the charity is running strong and helping kids via the 184 credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington that make up the Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA).

“Every dollar makes a difference in comforting children and their families, and in helping the hospitals to do their amazing work,” said NWCUA Project Manager Holly Miller.

Along with Doernbecher, the following hospitals received a portion of the $334,000 donation:

• Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (Medford, OR)- $20,698.89
• PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center (Eugene, OR) - $24,463.89
• Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital (Salt Lake City, UT) - $21,068.89
• Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital (Spokane) - $64,088.89
• Seattle Children’s Hospital - $59,168.89
• St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital (Boise) - $24,163.89
• Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital (Yakima) - $22,998.89

Image via Northwest Credit Union Association