Chartway and its charitable arm – the Chartway Promise Foundation – are pleased to announce the results of the inaugural “Give with All Your Heart” campaign. Chartway members and the public stepped up to make February’s fundraising effort a success, donating $5,000 to make wishes come true for medically fragile children and their families.

The campaign brought smiles to the faces of children. Each donation of $5 or more delivered a Promise Heart to children’s hospitals in Chartway’s markets: Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) in Norfolk, Virginia, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital of Utah, and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. Cayden, a seven-year-old with congenital heart disease, was the face of the campaign. His wish to visit Legoland in Florida was granted during a public wish reveal at the Chartway-sponsored men’s basketball game at Old Dominion University during the foundation’s annual Promise Night at the Arena on February 22.

“For a first-time campaign, we are pleased so many of our supporters opened their hearts to bring joy, hope, and smiles to those who need it most,” said Christine Wilson, president of the Chartway Promise Foundation. “Cayden’s public reveal during Promise Night at the Arena was one of two wish reveals we held in February. He and Joshua, a young boy who had a kidney transplant when he was 18 months old, were granted their wishes through our partner charity, Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, and we couldn’t be happier to play our part in making it happen.”

“He kept asking me, ‘Mom, did my wish get approved yet? Has my wish been approved yet?’” said Kelley Shipley, Cayden’s mom. “So, he’s very excited.”

“I’ve been really excited for this over the past several months, and it’s been approved. I didn’t know they were going to approve it here,” said Cayden. “This is the best day of my life.”

The Promise Night at the Chartway Arena brought together partner charities, supporters, board members, leaders, team members, and dozens of Promise Heroes assisted through foundation grants. Earlier in the month, on Valentine’s Day, six-year-old Joshua, his four brothers, and his parents, were invited to Chartway’s Obici Place branch in Suffolk for the first of a dozen wish reveals at Chartway branches across Virginia, Utah, and Texas throughout the year. The family was surprised with an ice cream social and the news that Joshua’s wish to go to the Florida theme parks, including Disney, was granted.

“It’s a little surreal,” said Ryan Buchheit, Joshua’s father who donated a kidney to his son. “He’s going through a key development time right now and the fact that I could do my part to help him through that – to get him through his young years hopefully into adulthood, is great.”

As for what Joshua wants to do at Disney, “See Mickey, and I wanna see Goofy and Donald Duck.”

“Research shows that the impact of a wish lasts far beyond the hope and joy a child feels during their wish experience,” said Sheri Lambert, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia. “A wish reveal is an exciting part of the wish journey and helps give kids with critical illnesses the strength to fight far beyond their wish, which is why the support and partnership of Chartway Promise Foundation is so critical.”

While the campaign to “Give with All Your Heart” is over, the opportunity to give never ends. Chartway Credit Union members can donate anytime through their Chartway account in a branch, or by using digital banking or an ITM. Additionally, supporters can donate on the Chartway Promise Foundation’s website or via Venmo @ChartwayPromise.

Chartway Promise Foundation awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants to partner organizations in 2023 providing 80 wishes, 30 playsets, 2,500 toy bags for medically fragile children, 400 pairs of eyeglasses, 50 fishing trips, 400 field trips for mobility-challenged children, and much more.

Visit Chartway Promise Foundation at www.chartwaypromisefoundation.org to learn more.

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® Greater Virginia

Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and volunteers, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1987, Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia has granted more than 5,700 wishes in the local community, contributing to the more than 350,000 wishes granted throughout the U.S. and its territories. With 58 chapters nationwide, Make-A-Wish is the most trusted nonprofit operating locally across 50 states. For more information about Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, visit va.wish.org. 

# # #