CUA connecting communities through increased support for School Fun-Run

Australia’s largest credit union, CUA, has stepped up its support of the School Fun-Run program for 2017, becoming the headline sponsor for the event, which reaches around 700 schools and more than 230,000 students each year.

The program, which has been relaunched this year as the CUA School Fun-Run, empowers kids, schools and communities to come together for mutual good.

Primary and high school students are encouraged to raise much needed funds for their schools and communities, while learning about setting and achieving financial goals, all in a healthy, active environment.

Last year, schools raised a total of $3.6 million through the School Fun-Run program – valuable additional funds that allowed school to enhance facilities, upgrade school equipment or supplies and in some cases, allowed the schools to contribute funds to community projects outside of the schools.

CUA Chief of Corporate Affairs and Community Jo Kearney said the long-standing partnership with the School Fun-Run, now in its ninth year, unites two like-minded community focused organisations.

“Our organisations share a passion for communities, health and teaching kids about financial goals, so we’re really proud to be playing an even greater role this year and to see the event relaunched as the CUA School Fun-Run,” Ms Kearney said.

“As Australia’s largest credit union, CUA is committed to helping Australians reach their financial goals. We are one of the few financial institutions to also have our own health insurance fund, so we recognise how important it is to support initiatives like the CUA School Fun-Run that promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle for kids and their families.

“The CUA School Fun-Run is one of many ways that CUA is working together with our members and local communities for mutual good, helping to build stronger communities and making a positive impact on social issues by creating a generation of happy, healthy kids.”

School Fun-Run program director Brendan Hopp said he was thrilled to have CUA on board again in 2017 to support the event.

“We’re proud to again have the support of a member-owned organisation in CUA this year. It’s exciting to be celebrating nine years of working together to empower kids, schools and communities to come together to achieve outcomes that will benefit students and communities now, and for many years into the future.”

The program encourages students to set an individual fundraising goal, connect with their local community to help them reach that goal, and then rewards them with prizes like scooters or sporting equipment that also promote healthy activity.

In addition to promoting fitness and participation, the CUA School Fun-Run program also provides students and families with additional tools and practical advice from an online health hub to encourage ongoing healthy habits at home.

Ms Kearney said CUA had a rich heritage of supporting local communities dating back 70 years and the School Fun-Run initiative was a tangible demonstration of that connection to communities.

The School Fun-Run program has been running Australia-wide since 1987, with participating schools raising over $90 million to date in extra funding.

CUA Community Days

Throughout New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, up to 50 schools are being given an opportunity to turn their CUA School Fun-Run into a bigger festival-style event, by hosting a CUA Community Day.

CUA Community Days bring added excitement to the School Fun-Run experience for the students, with the addition of a range of inflatables, music and event equipment helping to make the event even more memorable and fun.

“CUA Community Days are designed to help students and the school community to celebrate the things that make the School Fun-Run program great,” Ms Kearney said.

“They create an active event for all students to participate in and enjoy, while celebrating the work the students have done to strengthen the bridge between their school and the surrounding community.”

For more information on the CUA School Fun-Run or to register to host a fun-run at your school, visit www.schoolfundraising.com.au