DANA POINT, Calif.– The 17th annual California and Nevada Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction raised a record $1.5 million for the 11 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in California and Nevada.
It marks is the eighth consecutive year that the event has raised more than $1 million for these hospitals.
According to organizers, the California and Nevada Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction is the largest single fundraising event for Credit Unions for Kids, having raised more than $12 million since 2006 for CMN Hospitals. After a two-year hiatus from being a live event due to the pandemic, the wine auction was back in-person at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California. The sold-out event had 450+ attendees, and was supported by 62 credit unions, business partners and hospitals, organizers reported.
“Through the extraordinary efforts and generosity of our sponsors, donors, and volunteers, we’ve eclipsed $1 million in donations for a remarkable eighth straight year in support of the eleven Children’s Hospitals in California and Nevada,” said Geri LaChance, event co-chairperson and president/CEO of SESLOC Federal Credit Union. “It was a magical evening – I think the first year back in person brought extra excitement to the event for everyone.”
‘Flourish, a Time to Bloom’
The event’s was themed “Flourish, a Time to Bloom,” and included fine food, dancing, and both silent and live auctions. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on more than 500 packages that included bottles of fine wine and spirts, as well as travel getaways.
“Supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the children they serve is important to credit unions, and we are very pleased to be helping this great organization,” said Joan Opp, event co-chairperson, and president and CEO of Stanford Federal Credit Union. “The continued support for Credit Unions for Kids and CMN Hospitals over seventeen years has been incredible.”
“To see credit unions, business partners, and hospitals come together each year to show their support of the kids and their communities is touching,” added Tony Boutelle, president and CEO of CU Direct. “I am truly grateful for their continued generosity the past 17 years.”
The Special Guest
The event’s very special guest was 12-year-old Miracle Child Mina Longo, a CMN Hospital patient at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
Sharing how the hospital has changed her life, Mina’s charm and her amazing story of strength and courage inspired attendees, according to organizers.
Born premature, Mina was diagnosed with a multi-cystic dysplastic left kidney (MCDK) and severe bilateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Mina began receiving care under both Rady’s Urology and Nephrology departments.
Two years later, Mina’s left kidney was confirmed to have atrophied, leaving her with a single kidney. She subsequently underwent surgery to correct the VUR. Since then, she has been closely monitored by Rady Children’s Nephrology and shown normal progress in both function and growth, according to organizers.
“As she has grown, Mina has learned the importance of maintaining proper nutrition to help keep her single kidney healthy,” the organizers added.
The Executive Committee
The Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction is directed by an executive committee, with the committee’s CEOs representing the benefitting hospital/s in their area:
- Co-Chairperson: Geri LaChance – SESLOC FCU (Cottage Children’s Medical Center)
- Co-Chairperson: Joan Opp, Stanford FCU (UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland)
- Elizabeth Dooley – Educational Employees CU (Valley Children’s Healthcare)
- Diana Dykstra – California & Nevada Credit Union Leagues
- Eric Estes – Boulder Dam CU (Renown Children’s Hospital; St. Rose Dominican Hospitals)
- Carrie Birkhofer – Bay FCU (Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System)
- Tony Boutelle – CU Direct
- Bill Cheney – SchoolsFirst FCU (CHOC Children’s; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Rady’s Children’s Hospital San Diego)
- Teresa Freeborn – Xceed Financial CU (retired) (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)
- Brett Martinez – Redwood CU (UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland)
- Erin Mendez – Patelco CU (UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland)
- Shruti Miyashiro – Orange County's CU (CHOC Children’s)
- Nader Moghaddam – Financial Partners CU (CHOC Children’s; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Rady Children’s Hospital)
- Darren Williams – Wescom CU (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; CHOC Childrens’)
- Nicholas Ambrosini, Valley Strong CU (Lauren Small Children’s Center)
- Steve O’Connell – California CU (Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego)
- Debra Schwartz – Mission FCU (Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego)
- Keith Sultemeier – Kinecta FCU (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; CHOC Children’s, Cottage)
- Todd Clark – Co-op Solutions
- Robert Trunzo – CUNA Mutual Group
- Chuck Fagan -- PSCU
- Ana Fonseca -- Logix FCU, (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)
- John Cassidy – Sierra Central CU (retired) (UC Davis Children’s Hospital)
The Sponsors
The Title Sponsor for this year’s event was CU Direct, Presenting Sponsor was Co-op Solutions, and Corporate Sponsors were the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, CUNA Mutual Group, and PSCU.
“As a result of the efforts and contributions of each of these organizations, as well as the event’s other sponsors, 100% of donations received directly benefit the eleven Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in California and Nevada,” organizers said.
The 2023 California and Nevada Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction will take place on Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, California.