<p>CU Times Texas Correspondent AUSTIN, Texas – Texas credit unions raised more than $1 million for the Children's Miracle Network in the 2001 Credit Unions for Kids fundraising campaign. As the largest credit union contributor to Children's Miracle Network, Texas has contributed a total of $5.75 million over the last seven years. "Credit Unions for Kids is an incredible program in Texas. The credit unions are very supportive, and all the hospitals are very involved. This program has the same level of recognition in Texas as United Way does in many states," said Riley Smith, Children's Miracle Network. "Texas credit union contributions were bumping the million-dollar milestone at $940,000 in 2000. This year, they made it over the top." Texas credit unions' 2001 contributions totaled $1,132,757. The Austin Chapter of Credit Unions was the largest contributor with $416,000 in donations, followed by the Alamo Chapter (San Antonio area) with $290,000 in donations, and the Dallas Chapter with $106,290 in donations. The Austin Chapter conducts two major fundraisers each year for the charity. During April and May, they sell $1 tickets for a chance at a car being given away. In September, the chapter sponsors a Kids Classic Golf Tournament with pro-golfer Tom Kite. "Last year, we gave away a donated 2001 P.T. Cruiser, airline tickets and a television and made $157,000. The golf tournament raised $215,000, which is down a little from the year before but is still impressive when you consider that it was held the weekend after September 11," said Jackie Anselmo, Randolph-Brooks FCU, Austin Chapter CMN Co-Chair. "This is a charity that everyone endorses," Anselmo explained. "So many people in the chapter have family members that have utilized services at the CMN hospitals. Every credit union can find personal stories. It's a cause that is easy to sell, because these children are our future." CMN's mission is to generate funds and awareness programs to benefit children's hospitals in North America. One hundred percent of locally generated donations stay in communities in which they were made to benefit the participating hospitals. CMN-affiliated hospitals are all not-for-profit and treat children with all types of afflictions including cancer, accidents, muscle and heart diseases, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and trauma. Services are rendered based on need, not a family's ability to pay. In 2001, Children's Miracle Network raised $270 million for the 170 hospitals in the CMN system and treated 14 million kids. Even so, not-for-profit hospitals provided $5 billion in uncompensated care in 2001. Hospitals may utilize funds wherever the need is greatest, for example in education or training, but the majority of funds go toward patient care, according to CMN's Smith. The 2001 CMN fundraising campaign culminates March 25 with the Children's Miracle Celebration live television broadcast from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. -</p> <p>[email protected]</p>