Salt Lake City, UT (May 29, 2024) – The Chartway Promise Foundation, the charitable arm of Chartway Credit Union, recently brought magic and renewed strength to medically fragile children and their families in Utah. Through a strategic partnership with Make-A-Wish Utah®, the foundation's series of events across the state included granting a 4-year-old's wish to visit Walt Disney World and providing therapeutic equipment to a teenager with a nervous system disorder. Chartway is one of Make-A-Wish Utah’s largest donors and has provided the organization with $2.7M over the last 13 years, helping them to double their annual wish grants.
Last week's activities began on Tuesday, at a team member connection event at Top Golf in Salt Lake City, where 13-year-old Aimi was surprised with a therapeutic hot tub. Fulfilling this wish during Mobility Awareness Month not only supports Aimi and her family, but also creates more awareness about children with mobility issues, giving Chartway members and the public an opportunity to participate in our month-long Get Moving with Your Giving campaign.
“This gift will provide consistent comfort and relief to our daughter,” said Aimi’s father, Bradley. “Aimi was born in Japan and found relief and joy in hot springs and the bath culture. She finds immense joy in warm water activities that help relax her muscles after a major spinal surgery last year. We are so grateful to Make-A-Wish and the Chartway Promise Foundation.”
"Aimi's strength, resilience and zest for life are unparalleled," said Christine Wilson, president of the Chartway Promise Foundation. "While she cannot verbalize her emotions, you could see the pure elation in her eyes when she received this gift tailored to improve her quality of life. Moments like these reinforce why we remain dedicated to our mission of creating joyful, meaningful experiences for incredible children like Aimi."
The festivities culminated on Thursday at the Chartway Promise Foundation’s 8th annual Putting for Promises golf tournament with a full field of golfers, sponsors, and volunteers. There, Make-A-Wish Utah surprised 4-year-old Ryan, who is in remission from leukemia, with the news that his wish to go to Walt Disney World is coming true thanks to a charitable grant from the Chartway Promise Foundation. Additional charity partners including Best Seat in the House, Ability Found, Primary Children's Hospital, and EyecCare4Kids, were also present on the course along with representatives from the golf apparel brand, Primo Golf, to help him celebrate.
"There are no words to fully express our appreciation for this incredible gift. At a time when joy has been scarce, this wish is a priceless opportunity to create lasting memories together,” said Ryan’s mother, Lindsay. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude to Chartway, the Promise Foundation, and all the kind-hearted supporters."
"Wishes can provide a renewed sense of hope, joy and resilience for kids like Ryan during their medical battles," said Daniel Dudley, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Utah. "We're grateful to partner with the Chartway Promise Foundation to create unforgettable experiences for him and so many other children with critical illnesses."
Throughout the week, more than 100 Chartway leaders, team members, community partners, and volunteers contributed their time and efforts to ensure these events' success. Thanks to their dedication and support, the annual charity golf tournament raised $60K to bring joy, hope, and smiles to young heroes – and since inception, the foundation has granted nearly $15 million to bring dreams and wishes to life.
"This week has been an extraordinary demonstration of what we can achieve together. The joy and hope we've been able to bring to these children and their families are what drives us to do more. Each smile, each moment of relief, reaffirms our dedication to our mission," explained Wilson.
Learn more about Chartway Credit Union and the Chartway Promise Foundation.
Chartway Team Members & Volunteers
Ryan's Wish Reveal
About Chartway
Since 1959, Chartway has been unlocking the potential of individuals and families so they can thrive. Member-owned and values-driven, our $2.9 billion credit union proudly serves more than 230,000 members with branches in Utah, Texas, and Virginia. We’ve been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions, included on American Banker’s Top Credit Union to Work For list, and received numerous other top workplace and best credit union accolades. Reflecting a bright way forward, our charitable arm – the Chartway Promise Foundation – has granted nearly $15 million to provide medically fragile children and their families memorable experiences that bring joy, hope, and smiles. For information on our vibrant organization, please visit www.Chartway.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Make-A-Wish® Utah
Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We’re on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. For more information about Make-A-Wish Utah, visit https://wish.org/utah or call (801) 262-9497.
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