Fulfilling a five-year commitment, the Credit Union Association of New Mexico said this week it has now raised $1 million to build a pediatric emergency unit for the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital in Albuquerque and is marking the event with a March 9 celebration.
"Perhaps in other states, it might not seem like much but we have many small credit unions and so it was an important commitment to raise that amount," said a CUANM spokeswoman.
Industry efforts to help the hospital and construct the special pediatric facility have been recognized over the years with CU plaques adorning lobby and room areas.
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Invited as special guests to the March 9 ceremony will be Gov. Bill Richardson along with university and civic dignitaries.
CUANM said the efforts to support the hospital were started in 2004 by Sandia Laboratory FCU and Rio Grande Credit Union, eventually drawing 36 other CUs as financial backers.
"Though credit unions had historically supported the Children's Hospital individually, they agreed that as a credit union community more money could be raised collectively and make a real difference and impact at the hospital," said the association.
Sylvia Lyon, president/CEO of CUANM, said it is particularly gratifying to see the creative ways CUs participated to raise money and these have ranged from frito pie sales to golf tournaments and revenue from coin counting machines.
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