Northwest credit unions turned out in force to raise funds for the movement’s charity of choice during the Northwest Credit Union Association’s Enchanted Northwest Gala and Auction at its MAXX 2021 convention. Attendees raised the funds for Credit Unions for Kids, a now-national charity founded decades ago in the Northwest.

As a result eight Children’s Miracle Network hospitals will have more funds to support research, medical equipment, and life-saving care for young patients and their families. Contributors raised $1,001,720 – all in a single night, bidding on deluxe getaways to wine country inns, world-renowned resorts, and electric cars to be donated to each of the hospitals.

Brinley Oldham, the event’s “Miracle Child,” inspired higher bidding with the story of how her life was saved by the team at the St. Luke’s Pediatric Trauma Center in Boise.

Brinley was unable to attend the Enchanted Northwest Gala in person, but video produced by the hospital detailed a horrific day in 2019, when Brinley, then 9, was helping her family brand the herd on their remote Idaho ranch. She was trampled by a cow and severely injured. Fortunately, the trauma center had opened just 12 days before, and the well-practiced medical team saved her life from an accident where “five minutes more” could have made a drastic difference.

“When I first got out of the hospital, I thought I wanted to be a nurse or doctor so that I could help other kids like me,” said Oldham. “But now I kind of want to be a vet because this year, we’ve had quite a few animals get hurt, and it just seems cool to watch the process of them healing.”

“The credit unions’ generosity is once again going to make a difference for CMN hospitals as they help families and young patients through the most difficult of times,” said Troy Stang, president/CEO of NWCUA. “We appreciate the hard work of the Enchanted Northwest’s volunteer committee, all of the sponsors, the generous donors for gift packages, and the credit union family for its friendly, but competitive, bidding for the kids.”