SALT LAKE CITY – With more than 600,000 votes having been cast, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Credit Unions for Kids announced that Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint, Mich. Has won the top prize as part of its Vote for Miracles campaign.
Four other winners were also announced in the contest in which the votes cast were more than doubling the vote total from 2016. In addition, members representing more than 3,000 credit unions cast votes during the campaign.
Hurley Children’s Hospital won the top prize of $50,000 with more than 100,000 votes. This is Hurley’s second straight Vote for Miracles win. The funds will help create a special treatment room for pediatric victims of child abuse, according to CMN. From the décor, to an interactive gaming system to distract the child, to comfortable furniture, every aspect of this room will be designed with these young victims in mind. Once the project is completed, Credit Unions for Kids, CO-OP Financial Services and CU Direct will be recognized with a plaque commemorating the gift. CO-OP and CU Direct both provided contributions to make the prize money possible.
“We are grateful beyond words for the powerful display of support for Hurley Children’s, our credit unions and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Linda Tracy-Stephens, CMN Hospitals Director at the Hurley Foundation. “Because we are so passionate about helping these young children who are victims of physical, sexual and human trafficking abuse this gift from our credit union partners means the world to us.”
Dr. Alan Klein, a pediatric dentist on staff at Hurley, also made a $20,000 contribution.
CMN reported another key player in Hurley’s success was ELGA Credit Union in Burton, Mich., just outside of Flint. ELGA was not only the number-one credit union choice among voters on the official Vote for Miracles website, but it also helped rally support at the ballot box.
“ELGA Credit Union members and employees are extremely generous when it comes to giving their time, talent and treasure to a great cause,” said ELGA Executive Vice President Terry J. Katzur. “During the Vote for Miracles campaign many committed to voting each day and spreading the word to get friends and family involved as well.”
Rounding out the top five vote-getters were Mercy Children’s Hospital in Toledo, Ohio; El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation in Texas; Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, Penn. Each of these hospitals will receive $20,000, $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 donations, respectively.