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VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (August 20, 2024) – In September, Chartway Credit Union and its charitable arm, theChartway Promise Foundation, will observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by partnering with local charities to make wishes and dreams come true for five children in the communities they serve. Surprise wish and dream reveals will occur in conjunction with credit union events and foundation-hosted fundraisers to bring joy, hope, and smiles to medically fragile children and their families.
"Our commitment to helping our members and communities thrive is at the heart of everything we do,” said Brian Schools, president and CEO of Chartway. “And our Chartway Promise Foundation brings this foundational value full circle, providing grants for memorable experiences, assistive equipment, and so much more to children and families when they need it most. September’s national focus on childhood cancer awareness helps us raise the money we need to support even more medically fragile children in our communities.”
“The Chartway Promise Foundation is thrilled to collaborate with our charitable partners to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences to medically fragile children in our communities,” said Christine Wilson, president of the Chartway Promise Foundation. “This September, we’re honored to fulfill five wishes for young Promise Heroes battling childhood cancer. We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and credit union team members whose dedication helps us create these unforgettable moments for the children and their families.”
Beyond the wish reveals, Chartway and its Foundation will be sending Promise Heroes to the Utah State Fair and Rodeo, building a backyard playset, assembling 100 hospital ready bags, and offering multiple ways for members and the public to support the Chartway Promise Foundation. They can register to participate in the Chartway Virginia Beach 10-Miler & 5K at the Virginia Beach oceanfront on Labor Day weekend, a portion of the proceeds from the race go directly to the foundation. Additionally, credit union and community members can sponsor or attend the Swings for Smiles golf tournament on September 30 or purchase tickets to attend Night for Hope: Bubbles & Bourbon at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center on October 4. For those who cannot attend the planned fundraisers, donations to the foundation can be made at any Chartway Credit Union branch, online, or by becoming a peer-to-peer fundraiser.
Here are our events for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:
Saturday, August 30 – Sunday, September 1
Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler & 5k and Miles for Smiles Cheer Zone, Virginia Beach, Va.
Wish Reveal partners: Hooked on Hope VB and Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia
Friday, September 6 – Sunday, September 8
Utah State Fair at Fairpark in Salt Lake City, Utah
Promise Heroes will receive VIP treatment at the fair and rodeo
Charity partner: Best Seat in the House
Saturday, September 7
Playset build in Hampton Roads, Va. – Location TBD
Charity partner: Roc Solid Foundation
Saturday, September 14
Old Dominion University vs. Virginia Tech football game
Ballard Stadium, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.
Dream Reveal partner: Toby’s Dream Foundation
Monday, September 30
Swings Fore Smiles golf tournament at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club, Virginia Beach, Va.
Dream Reveal partner: Toby’s Dream Foundation
Friday, October 4
Night for Hope: Bubbles & Bourbon cocktail party, auctions, tastings, live music, family testimonials at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach, Va.
Wish Reveal partner: Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia
In 2023, the Chartway Promise Foundation raised $250,000 during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Those funds were among the more than $1M granted this year to 21 partner organizations across the credit union’s Virginia, Texas, and Utah markets to support medically fragile children.
Learn more about Chartway Credit Union and the Chartway Promise Foundation at www.Chartway.com and www.ChartwayPromiseFoundation.org
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Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia
Make-A-Wish® delivers life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their goal is to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey and helps them build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. For more information about Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, visit va.wish.org.
Toby’s Dream Foundation
Founded in 2009, Toby’s Dream Foundation is dedicated to bringing joy to children with life-threatening illnesses by granting them the dream of a lifetime. They serve children who are treated and referred from Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk and from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. For more information, visit tobysdream.org.
Hooked on Hope VB
Founded in 2018, Hooked on Hope VB supports pediatric cancer families with fishing outings at no cost to them. Children and their families enjoy charter boat and onshore fishing events as well as camping trips, allowing them to “catch” fun memories together. For more information, visit hookedonhopevb.org.
Roc Solid Foundation
Roc Solid Foundation is a Chesapeake-based nonprofit founded by pediatric cancer survivor, Eric Newman. The organization is best known for distributing Ready Bags to families when their child is first diagnosed with cancer and providing backyard playsets to kids during treatment. For more information, visit www.rocsolidfoundation.org.
Chartway Credit Union & Chartway Promise Foundation
Since 1959, Chartway has been unlocking the potential of individuals and families so they can thrive. Member-owned and values-driven, our $2.9 billion credit union proudly serves more than 240,000 members with branches in Utah, Texas, and Virginia. We’ve been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions, included on American Banker’s Top Credit Union to Work For list, and received numerous other top workplace and best credit union accolades. Reflecting a bright way forward, our charitable arm – the Chartway Promise Foundation – has granted nearly $15 million to provide medically fragile children and their families memorable experiences that bring joy, hope, and smiles. For information on our vibrant organization, please visit www.Chartway.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.