Grants provided to partners Hooked on Hope VB and Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia fulfill their wishes

Virginia Beach, VA (September 2, 2024) – Over Labor Day weekend, thousands of runners gathered at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront for the second annual Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler & 5K. For every race entry, race organizer—J&A Racing—donated $1 to the Chartway Promise Foundation (CPF) and leading up to the race weekend, their run clubs raised $3,000 for the foundation. In addition, on Saturday and Sunday, after participants crossed the finish line to the sound of cheering crowds, they were also invited to share in special presentations during the race “after parties.” In conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, CPF granted two special wishes to local children with cancer with the help of its charity partners, Hooked on Hope VB and Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia.

“This year’s event was truly a celebration of hope and community spirit for our young Promise Heroes, Charlotte Fischer and Chanel Garcia, who are both battling leukemia,” said Christine Wilson, Chartway Promise Foundation president. “In total, the race and local run clubs raised $9,516 that will benefit even more Promise Heroes in our community and we can’t thank them enough.”

“Through our foundation, we’re able to give these children and their families the ‘hope’ they need to face their illnesses head-on,” said Brian Schools, Chartway’s president and CEO. “As title sponsor of the Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler & 5K we have a platform to bring more people into the fold and help even more medically fragile children by creating awareness.”

Charlotte’s Wish – Saturday, August 31

After a sell-out 5K on Saturday, 4-year-old Charlotte Fischer, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, saw her wish come true. Surrounded by her family—parents Tamara and Dan Fischer and her sisters Penny and Annabelle—Charlotte found out she and her family would enjoy a day full of memorable moments on the water on a fishing charter thanks to a grant from CPF to Hooked on Hope VB.

“Because of Charlotte’s diagnosis in late April, we’ve kind of been limited to where we can go and what we can do so this is a great way for us to enjoy time with each other that we really haven’t had in the last couple of months,” explained Tamara.

Charlotte’s sisters are also looking forward to the outing. Penny with some thoughts on what she’d like to reel in, “I hope I catch a shark.”

“Seeing Charlotte’s smile reminds us of all of the impact that a single wish can have,” said Wilson. “We are honored to have been part of her journey and share an opportunity for her family to spend time creating memories together.”

Chanel’s Wish – Sunday, September 1

The celebration continued Sunday as 15-year-old Chanel Garcia who is also fighting leukemia, had her wish revealed. Diagnosed at age 13, she’s been fighting the disease for two years. With the support of Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia and a grant from CPF, Chanel’s wish to visit Hawaii will be granted.

Excited to visit Hawaii, Chanel shared what she is most looking forward to, “I want to swim with dolphins, visit a volcano, go to a luau and see some sea turtles.”

“Chanel’s courage and resilience have touched everyone involved,” said Jessica Woodyard, Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia director of development. “We are thrilled to have made her wish a reality.”

Chanel, a sophomore at Deep Creek High School, her mother Bianca and her grandmother, head off to Hawaii in December. Chanel will celebrate her 16^th birthday while in Hawaii.

In 2023, the Chartway Promise Foundation raised $250,000 during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Those funds were among the more than $1M granted this year to 21 partner organizations across the credit union’s Virginia, Texas, and Utah markets to support medically fragile children. Throughout September, CPF invites credit union members and the community to participate in fundraisers to benefit even more medically fragile children and events where the foundation will grant wishes and dreams to three more children with cancer. Upcoming events include:

Saturday, September 7

Playset build in Virginia Beach, Va. – Location TBD

Charity partner: Roc Solid Foundation

Saturday, September 14

Old Dominion University vs. Virginia Tech football game

Ballard Stadium, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.

Dream Reveal partner: Toby’s Dream Foundation

Monday, September 30

Swings Fore Smiles golf tournament at the Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club, Virginia Beach, Va.

Dream Reveal partner: Toby’s Dream Foundation

Friday, October 4

Night for Hope: Bubbles & Bourbon cocktail party, auctions, tastings, live music, and family testimonials at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach, Va.

Wish Reveal partner: Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia

For those who cannot attend the planned fundraisers, donations to the foundation can be made at any Chartway Credit Union branch, online, or by becoming a peer-to-peer fundraiser.

Learn more about Chartway Credit Union and the Chartway Promise Foundation at www.Chartway.com and www.ChartwayPromiseFoundation.org.

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Chartway Credit Union & Chartway Promise Foundation

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 Hooked on Hope VB

Founded in 2018, Hooked on Hope VB supports pediatric cancer families with fishing outings at no cost to them. Children and their families enjoy charter boat and onshore fishing events as well as camping trips, allowing them to “catch” fun memories together. For more information, visit hookedonhopevb.org.

About Make-A-Wish^® Greater Virginia

Make-A-Wish^® delivers life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Their goal is to bring every eligible child’s wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey and helps them build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. For more information about Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, visit va.wish.org.