Desert Financial Donates $800,000 to Phoenix Children's Hospital

Credit union's single largest gift supports teachers at 1 Darn Cool School

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Mar 02, 2021, 14:49 ET

PHOENIX, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When 15 educators launched the credit union in 1939, they likely never envisioned their work would lead to fully funding the 1 Darn Cool School at Phoenix Children's Hospital (PCH), the local beneficiary of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals^®.

As a tribute to their founding teachers, Desert Financial, Arizona's largest credit union has funded numerous organizations supporting education. In 2020, the credit union began an ambitious pledge to longtime partner PCH with a multi-year, three million dollar pledge to support 1 Darn Cool School.

Patients such as Victor Quijano find hope in homework at 1 Darn Cool School at Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Teachers at 1 Darn Cool School at Phoenix Children's have another reason to smile under their masks.

"Agility, and adapting to change was important in 2020," said Steve Schnall, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Phoenix Hospital Foundation. "But we're grateful that one thing remained unchanged — the love, care and continued support from our partners at Desert Financial. In a year like no other, they continued to fight for our kids to give them everything they deserve."

In 2020, 1 Darn Cool School served 4,800 patients and families. With nine certified, Master's level teachers on staff, the team works with local school districts to help students keep pace with academics while they heal. Homework, the teachers often say, means hope, and gives them a sense of normalcy.

In 2020, in addition to uninterrupted services as teachers continued to work with patients, 1 Darn Cool School accomplished the following:

Delivered bedside instruction to patients coping with critical illnesses and lengthy hospital stays
Guided patients through school enrollment, college exploration, disability services, GED and career research
Developed school reentry videos
Served patients receiving dialysis treatments
Worked with schools to develop learning plans, IEPs, homebound instruction and 504 plans

Victor Quijano, a grateful patient at Phoenix Children's said, "Thank you Desert Financial for everything you do to support patients like me, and for everything you do for this 1 Darn School. The school has helped me achieve my freshman year to the fullest and beyond."

The gift is the first installment of the multi-year, $3 million pledge, bringing $10 million in total gifts to the Hospital. During the virtual check presentation ceremony, Desert Financial's Jeff Meshey, President and CEO, and Executive Vice President, Ron Amstutz, spoke about how much the community-focused credit union values the partnership with Phoenix Children's.

"The challenges of the past year highlighted that our values aren't just words," said Amstutz. "What matters is the community and the people we support."

Celebrating more than 80 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's largest local credit union with six billion dollars in assets, 350,000+ members and 47 branches. Membership eligibility is open across Arizona with contactless solutions via eBranch, making it easy to call, click or come in. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2020, members received $14 million in dividends via the Member Giveback Bonus, and Desert Financial gave more than $5 million in COVID-19 relief plus donations, scholarships and Random Acts of Kindness to our members, community and team. Learn more about the credit union difference at Desert Financial Credit Union and find news and information @desertfinancial on Twitter.

SOURCE Desert Financial Credit Union