Oregon Credit Unions Join Forces to Expand Lifesaving Support for Children at Children’s Miracle Network Hospital

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on October 26, 2026

On Sept. 28, Central Willamette Credit Union, OCCU, and Peak Credit Union came together at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, Ore., to celebrate a combined $98,637.65 donation to Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) that was raised at the 2025 CU4Kids auction at MAXX — showing that the impact of that generosity reaches far beyond one evening or one check presentation.

Representatives from the three credit unions toured PeaceHealth’s fifth-floor neonatal intensive care unit and pediatrics floor, seeing firsthand how donations support local children and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“The impact you all are making together is incredibly special and makes the world of difference for local children and families,” shared Amy Quiring, Associate Philanthropy Officer for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation.

Every Dollar Stays Local

Representatives from Central Willamette Credit Union, OCCU, and Peak Credit Union toured PeaceHealth’s fifth-floor neonatal intensive care unit and pediatrics floor, seeing firsthand how donations support local children and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

At PeaceHealth Sacred Heart, donations support infants, children, and families across Oregon’s Lane, Douglas, Linn, Coos, and Benton counties.

PeaceHealth says 100% of local donations remain local. More than 4,000 infants and children receive support through the program each year, helping ensure families can access essential pediatric care closer to home in these primarily rural areas.

What Giving Helps Make Possible

CU4Kids and CMN donations help strengthen pediatric and neonatal services throughout RiverBend, including:

• The 16-bed pediatric and adolescent care unit, where children and young adults receive specialized, family-centered hospital care.
• The 36-bed Level III NICU, which cares for premature and medically fragile newborns from across the five-county region.
• Child Life services, which help children and families cope with hospitalization, medical procedures, trauma, grief, and anxiety through therapeutic play, education, and emotional support.
• Pediatric specialty care, including pediatric surgery and endocrinology.

The tour also highlighted tangible examples of philanthropy at work. CMN funding replaced the NICU’s isolettes in 2019. Every NICU room has one of these specialized infant beds, which can even be converted into an operating environment during an emergency.

CMN funding has also provided $150,000 for PeaceHealth’s breast milk program. For tiny babies who cannot digest formula, donor breast milk can be critical to their health and development.

Then there is “Big Blue,” the neonatal ambulance that transports critically ill newborns to Sacred Heart’s NICU. In partnership with LifeFlight, Big Blue serves the five-county region and is equipped with life-saving technology. Each of the neonatal units on wheels that are equipped to ride on Big Blue cost $350,000.

These are not abstract investments. They help caregivers respond quickly, support families compassionately, and give children the best possible chance to survive and thrive.

This collaboration reflects the power of the Credit Union Movement, expanding support for local children and families when they need it most.

Posted in CU4Kids, Oregon, Regional Member News, Washington.