MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A total of $120,000 was raised in charitable and philanthropic donations at CO-OP Financial Services’ THINK 19 Conference here, including $95,000 from Transaction Network Services, Inc.
The THINK 19 charitable giving figure was announced during the final session of THINK 19, which reviewed the CO-OP Miracle Match program. Through this program, CO-OP makes matching donations to its client credit unions to support Credit Unions for Kids fundraisers.
During the event, CO-OP also announced a new charitable effort that involves taking a selfie that includes a CO-OP ATM, as CUToday.info reported here.
According to CO-OP, the $120,000 in donations marks the sixth THINK conference since 2013 in which the $100,000 plateau has been topped. Of this $120,000, a total of $110,000 is being donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and $10,000 is going to the National Credit Union Foundation.
Testament to People Helping People
“The consistently high level of giving at THINK conferences every year is a testimony to the people-helping-people ethic of credit unions,” said Todd Clark, President/CEO of CO-OP Financial Services. “People in this industry really are committed to the well-being of others, and it’s always particularly evident whenever this gathering takes place.”
Added Mike Keegan, CEO of TNS, “TNS is focused on supporting organizations that help provide a brighter future for children. We initially became involved with CMN Hospitals after seeing the passion of CO-OP and its credit union members for this important cause, which helps to see that children in need of medical attention receive the care they deserve regardless of their ability to pay.”
How Funds Were Raised
A tradition of the THINK conferences, the 2019 meeting included charitable and philanthropic contributions stemming from two additional sources beyond TNS’ substantial donation to CMN Hospitals:
- $20,000 through #ShadesUpforKids. A CO-OP initiative, the company donated $10 to CMN Hospitals and the National Credit Union Foundation for every time someone took a selfie with their airplane window shade raised, and then posted to one of their social media accounts. $10,000 each goes to CMN Hospitals and NCUF.
- $5,000 through participation in conference charitable events taking place on Monday, May 6. Events included an “Everglades Air Boat Adventure,” “Tastes and Sounds of Little Havana Tour” and “Thrill of the Water Boat Tour.”
The Newest Fundraiser
To continue the momentum of the #ShadesUpForKids promotion, CO-OP also announced the CO-OP ATM Network of Miracles promotion. Through August 31, 2019, for every photo a credit union employee or member posts on social media featuring a CO-OP ATM with the hashtag #ATMs4CMN, CO-OP will donate $10 to CMN Hospitals, up to a campaign total of $10,000.
“The CO-OP ATM Network of Miracles promotion is an engaging way to involve credit union members in the community spirit that defines our movement, while also reminding members that wherever they travel during the summer, they have the benefit if the nearly 30,000-strong, nationwide, surcharge-free CO-OP ATM network, said Samantha Paxson, Chief Experience Officer for CO-OP. “$10 alone – a single photo – can mean the purchase of essential care supplies, such as a package of diapers for a baby born prematurely.”
For more info: https://www.co-opfs.org/CO-OP-Purpose.
At right, from left: Samantha Paxson, Chief Experience Officer, CO-OP Financial Services; family members helped by CMN Hospitals; Nick Coleman, Director, Strategic Partnership, Credit Unions for Kids; and Cindy Taft, Director of Sales, North America Payments, Transaction Network Services, Inc.