March 16, 2011
The Cherry Blossoms are on their way. . . Ready, Get Set, Go for another fun-packed race weekend.
Plan to Attend Kids' Craft Hour, Press Conference and Sponsor Appreciation Luncheon RSVPs due March 24
Don't miss your chance to mix and mingle with Children's National Medical Center patients and staff, your credit union peers and pals, and other special guests at our annual Craft Hour and Press Conference followed by a sponsor appreciation luncheon. Miss Maryland and Bill Rodgers, four-time winner of the Boston and New York Marathons and the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, plan to join us. Seats are still available for the April 1 free event, but you must make your reservation by March 24.
The agenda for the April 1 event is:
10am - Craft Hour with the Kids in the Main Atrium
11:30am - Press Conference in the Main Atrium
12:30 - Sponsor Appreciation Luncheon with Dr. Kurt D. Newman, Surgeon in Chief
Valet parking is available.
John Schneider Visits Cherry Blossom Booth
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals co-founder, John Schneider (also known as "Bo Duke" in the TV show Dukes of Hazzard, and most recently for acting in the show Smallville) delighted us by visiting our booth during the CUNA GAC, and signed Snuggle Up for Kids t-shirts and CUs for Kids dolls, resulting in over $1,200 in sales.
Left to right: Marsha King, President CEO of Library of Congress FCU, John Schneider and Kristi Porter, President/CEO of Western Rockies FCU.
Keep Up the Momentum. . . Fundraising Challenge Runs Through April 30
Each year our credit union sponsors compete in a fundraising challenge to see who can raise the most money through organizational and member donations. Donations will be accepted through April 30, 2011.
Andrews FCU has created its own "Team Andrews" donation page The credit union has sent eblasts to its members about how to donate. The donation page includes a thermometer to announce progress toward its $2,000 goal.Need help with fundraising ideas? Visit our website The web page contains great fundraising ideas including CUs for Kids chocolate candy bars and Got a Dollar flyers, etc. Be sure to let us know of your fundraising activities by emailing info@cucherryblossomrun.org.
Get Yours Today - Snuggle Up for Kids T-shirts
If you cannot make the run, here's a great way to fundraise
for the cause. We have
Snuggle Up for Kids T-shirts with the
official race logo. They are $20 each and your purchase will
benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Donations Continue to Build on Fundraising Site
Nearly 500 runners and their friends have raised over $127,000 and many have already reached their $500 goal on our on-line fundraising site. A top fundraiser is Randy Dotemoto, SVP of Kinecta FCU in California, who is an avid runner.
Be sure your runners,families, friends, and members know that they can make donations on behalf of individual runners or teams through this online site. Encourage everyone to visit this site to help us reach our online fundraising goal of $200,000. Click here for the on-line fundraising button to use on your website.
Cherry Blossom "Buzz" Increasing
As we move closer to race day, our efforts to get the word out about the event and our fundraising activities have stepped up. Some of the ways we are creating buzz include:
-
Facebook
We are happy to report that our new facebook page has 592 active users. This social media tool will be useful to create a buzz among the 15,000 runners about fundraising online (link to on-line fundraising page). A special thanks goes to CUNA Mutual Group for underwriting this initiative. -
Live Video Streaming and Lobby Videos
This year the race will be covered live on our websites. And, we have developed short videos for sponsors to use to publicize the race. (you may need to download QuickTime.)
Sponsor News
We would like to welcome our newest sponsors: Statewide FCU in Mississippi and Fort Sill FCU in Oklahoma
A special thanks goes to. . .
Tim O'Hara, President and Publisher of Credit Union Business Magazine, for distributing 10,000 of our "When the Rubber Hits the Road" sponsorship pledge forms with his latest issue.
Schedule of the Race Weekend Events
- Friday, April 1, 2011 Race Weekend Kick-Off with Special Event and Press Conference at the Children's National Medical Center. RSVP by March 24.
- Saturday, April 2, 2011 - 15,000 runners converge at the Annual Health and Fitness Expo at the historic National Building Museum to pick up their packets and t-shirts.
- Sunday, April 3, 2011 - The 39th running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, starting on the Washington Monument grounds. Easy access via Metro from the Smithsonian Station (Yellow and Blue Lines). Go to the official race website
And, new to celebrate our 10th Anniversary of title sponsorship, an Awards Luncheon, June 10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Alexandria, Va. Look for more information in future newsletters.
Still have questions about the Cherry Blossom Run events? Check out all the resources available at www.cucherryblossomrun.org or call me at 443.325.0778.
Sarah Turner
Director, Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc.
