At participating schools, students K-12 will collect coins in honor of local Honored Patients—student survivors of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Raising money this way helps to personalize the cause, and shows kids that they have the power to help fight blood cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and young adults. The money raised in local schools helps blood cancer patients and their families by providing information and support, and funding research to find cures.
As a Pennies for Patients sponsor, Seattle-based Watermark Credit Union will participate in the month-long fundraising campaign by providing free coin counting services for schools, serving as a centralized supply center, and selling paper pennies for $1 each at its branches. In addition, the credit union will match paper penny donations up to $2,500. With approximately 50,000 transactions in a month at its branches, Watermark hopes each member will contribute a dollar to the campaign, creating a sizable donation to help fight cancer in children.
Brent Evans, executive vice president and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society volunteer, is excited that Watermark Credit Union is participating in this unique fundraiser.
“Over the past 40 years, research has increased the survival rate of children with blood-related cancers to over 80%. That’s great but it isn’t good enough,” Evans said. “We would like to find a cure and have the survival rate at 100%. What is amazing is that children understand this. When they find out a friend or classmate is battling cancer, they rally the support systems and find ways to help. The Pennies for Patients program is just that—a way children can help children.”
During the 2006-2007 school year, over 10 million students from 21,000 schools nationwide participated in the Pennies for Patients program, raising more than $18 million. To learn more about Pennies for Patients or to register your school, visit http://www.schoolandyouth.org/
Founded in 1938, Watermark Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution based in Seattle, Washington. With $486 million in assets and more than 70,000 members, Watermark Credit Union is ranked in the top 15 credit unions in Washington State in terms of assets. Watermark Credit Union offers a wide range of personal and commercial banking services, with branches in Bellevue, Burien, Lynnwood, Redmond, Seattle, Shoreline and Southcenter. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in the state of Washington. Watermark Credit Union prides itself on remaining true to the original purpose of credit unions—people helping people—to make certain that all members have access to the best products and services, and receive sound financial advice from professionals they trust.
