CUs of Massachusetts Kids at Heart Team Raises $111,000 through Boston Marathon

WOBURN, Mass. – During the April 19 Boston Marathon, the Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart team racked up another $111,000 for Children’s Hospital Boston. This is the sixth straight year that representatives of the credit union group have run the race, raising a collective $441,000 through the marathon. Further, in the nine years since the program began, sponsoring credit unions have raised a total of $1.7 million for the hospital. This year’s marathon was made all the more meaningful for sponsors of the Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart program because two of its participants were presented with the Third Annual Katie Lynch Award, given by the hospital and the Lynch Family. Ray Phillips, a Board member of Hanscom Federal Credit Union; and Maggie King; a 12-year-old patient-partner of the Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart team, received the award. Phillips and King were honored for their positive spirits and focus on the needs of others. Katie Lynch was a longtime friend, patient, and employee of Children’s Hospital, who passed away in 2002. Although she was only 28 inches tall and suffered from a rare-tissue birth defect, Lynch did not let her limitations prevent her from doing her best. Her personal motto was, “Parva Sed Potens” – “Small But Powerful,” and she proved that to be true throughout her life. In acknowledging the award, Phillips said he and his patient-partner, nine-year-old Andy Martin, have become a team. “Usually, I am able to carry him over the finish line, which adds to the thrill of making it to the end. He and the other patient-partners at Children’s are my strength,” he said. Phillips has run the race on Martin’s behalf every year since the Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart marathon team was organized in 2000. Maggie King, who also won the Katie Lynch Award, is, herself, a patient at Children’s Hospital and confined to a wheelchair, but she and her family have done their part to benefit Children’s through the Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart program. Two years ago, King and her siblings came up with the idea for a 10th hole lemonade stand to serve thirsty golfers and raise money for the hospital during EasCorp’s fundraising Annual Invitational Golf Tournament. Last summer, the lemonade stand raised nearly $1,300. The Credit Unions of Massachusetts Kids at Heart program was organized in 1996 by Jane Melchionda, president/CEO of EasCorp. She says working with the credit unions that sponsor the program and the children is one of her favorite activities. “Our patient-partners are all very special to me. They show so much courage in the face of numerous obstacles,” Melchionda said. “And it is a true joy to see credit union volunteers and staff put their hearts into raising money for the Hospital.” This year, the program includes 55 credit unions, which Melchionda says is the largest number of participants thus far.