ANAHEIM, Calif.–Twenty-one California Credit Union League employees came together on Sunday with fellow volunteers, staff, and members of the credit union movement for the 2025 CHOC Walk In The Park at Disneyland, raising $5,531.
This 5K initiative brings together supporters each year to raise funds for Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s (CHOC) mission of protecting and advancing the health and well-being of kids and families in need, the league said.
In the weeks leading up to the walk, the League’s team worked hard volunteering their time and fundraising for the cause — all in representation of the Ontario, Calif.-based association’s mission to serve and uplift credit unions, their members, and local communities. Supporting CHOC’s health care programs, educational initiatives, and research is a natural extension of the league’s mission of reflecting the credit union philosophy in communities statewide, the league said.
“As credit union advocates, our calling is to support those who help improve the health and prosperity of individuals facing difficult circumstances,” Larry Palochik, EVP and executive director of Fuel Solutions, said in a statement. “When we prioritize compassion for children in need and families in crisis, we create a more hopeful l community for everyone and help build a brighter future. That’s what the CHOC Walk represents to the league and to so many credit union advocates across Southern California.”
The league said the credit union movement — and it’s people-helping-people spirit — played a special role, as its commitment to service and philanthropy was on display. Credit union supporters and advocates walked side by side through “The Happiest Place on Earth” with others from the community who champion CHOC and believe in the organization’s mission.
“Sunday’s walk put compassion into action, making it possible for CHOC to provide expert care, recruit world-class talent, research innovative treatments, and more. CHOC can now add a new dog to its resident dog program, which plays a vital role in holistic healing by minimizing patients’ stress and anxiety from hospitalization and illness,” the league said. “Sunday’s funds will also help establish a Special Delivery Unit at CHOC’s Fetal Care Center for healthy parents with high-risk pregnancies to deliver their babies, as well as expand the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at the Orange campus so the site is optimally positioned to meet emergency pediatric needs.”
Funds raised will also directly support other CHOC services, including:
- Uncompensated care. More than $135 million in uncompensated care is provided annually, making sure every CHOC child receives necessary medical services regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
- WellSpaces initiative. A portion of CHOC Walk proceeds will support the expansion of CHOC’s mental health program, which establishes calming retreats in middle and high schools across Orange County.
- Facilities and research. Funding will also be directed to the ongoing development of state-of-the-art facilities like the new Southwest Tower, one of the largest health care and groundbreaking pediatric research projects in the region (recently completed this summer).
The league said this year’s CHOC Walk continued a legacy of hope, building upon its more than three-decade history of raising over $46 million for children’s health care. It remains the nation’s largest and most unique pediatric fundraising event. CHOC is a nonprofit comprehensive pediatric health care system dedicated to providing pioneering, compassionate, and customized care to children in Southern California, serving over 2 million children annually and offering a wide array of medical services and treatments.
“We want to thank each League employee and every supporter from the local credit union community for embodying the credit union spirit and making this year’s CHOC Walk a success,” said Karla Davis, vice president of Communications and Marketing of Fuel Solutions. “Once again, we were honored to celebrate the purpose and mission of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, helping make the day a life-changing event for kids, their families, and the dedicated medical staff and volunteers who serve them every year.”