Wright Patman Chapter helps fund area CMN hospital

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, credit unions in the Wright Patman Chapter of Credit Unions are finding ways to help local children get the care they need. 

The chapter, which covers the Texarkana area across Arkansas and Texas, recently made a $3,000 donation to the local Circle of Friends, which supports the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.  

“We don’t have a local CMN hospital in Texarkana, and the majority of the kids in this area go to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, so we started funneling our dollars to the Circle of Friends to make a larger impact with our dollars,” said Patricia Cunningham, Red River Employee Federal Credit Union’s VP of marketing & business development, chapter director, and the chapter’s CMN Hospital representative. 

The chapter comprises Red River Employee Federal Credit Union, Domino Federal Credit Union, Mil-Way Federal Credit Union, Texar Federal Credit Union, Texarkana Terminal Employees Federal Credit Union, Morris Sheppard Texarkana Federal Credit Union, FCI Federal Credit Union, and Swemp Federal Credit Union.  

“With COVID 19 pretty much stopping us in our tracks this year with our monthly meetings and no fundraising, we decided we should still do what we can with some of the funds we have from our annual dues,” Cunningham said. “Donating to the local Circle of Friends to help Arkansas Children’s Hospital just seemed to be the right thing to do.”  

Typically, the chapter holds events, such as regular meetings and training, a bowl-a-thon, and bingo night and cake auction with proceeds funding the Circle of Friends, local Court Appointed Special Advocates, and the Shop for a Cop program. 

The Wright Patman Chapter of Credit Unions presented a $3,000 check to the Circle of Friends, benefiting the Arkansas Children’s Hospital during a recent chapter executive committee meeting. Pictured from left are Brittaney Rossum, Red River Employee FCU; Dena Ashby, Texar FCU; Dean Ransdel, Circle of Friends; Gina Moon, Circle of Friends; and Summer Nelson, Texar FCU.

About the Circle of Friends
Over the past 28 years, Circle of Friends has grown to include more than 700 members in communities across Arkansas. These members have raised nearly $10 million for the children served by Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The strength and power of the Circle of Friends comes from volunteers who give their time, talents, and treasures every year.