RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (2/19/15)--A total of 170 credit unions participating in the 2014 Miracle Match by CO-OP program raised a record $3.1 million for Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals--with $1 million in  matching funds provided by CO-OP Financial Services.

"We established Miracle Match by CO-OP in 2008 as a way to encourage Credit Unions for Kids fundraisers," said Stan Hollen, CO-OP Financial Services president/CEO. "We are approaching 20 years of involvement with Credit Unions for Kids--having supported it since it was founded in 1996--and it is very satisfying to see a new record set in our most recently completed year." 

Program milestones include:

• 190 fundraising events with matching by CO-OP;
• 34 Shop for Miracles events, held on International Credit Union Day, Oct. 16, 2014, raising more than $84,000;
• 69 credit unions participating in the program for the first time;
• 110 CMN Hospitals benefited in 41 states; and
• $2,089,631 raised by credit unions, with a $1 million match from CO-OP.

"The Miracle Match by CO-OP program continues to play a vital role in the success and growth of the Credit Unions for Kids program," said Joe Dearborn, senior director of Credit Unions for Kids. "Events and campaigns that got their start because of the matching program years ago are still around today, raising critical funds for our CMN Hospitals across the United States. I guess you could call it the gift that keeps on giving."

In addition to the $1 million Miracle Match by CO-OP program, CO-OP donated a total of $138,000 to 11 credit union organizations as event sponsorships.

CO-OP also collaborated on a National Credit Union Foundation initiative, paying half the cost of all Biz Kid$ DVD box sets purchased by credit unions under a program to enhance the financial education of families at CMN Hospitals.

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