In Memory of Little Charlie

The Dakota Credit Union Foundation makes a generous gift to the Sioux Falls Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for a pediatric oncology exam room. 

by Shawn Marie Brummer, Communications Specialist

The Murano family of Aberdeen, South Dakota, recently made a trip to Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The route to the hospital is very familiar to them, as Charlie, beloved son of Abby and Joel Murano, was treated there last year for a rare form of brain and spine cancer. Sadly, the beautiful toddler lost his battle with this devastating disease late last fall. But this trip was for a very different purpose: the official reveal of the pediatric oncology exam room named in honor of little Charlie.
 
Earlier this year, the Dakota Credit Union Foundation had announced a $200,000 commitment to the three Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals located in North and South Dakota. Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls is the recipient of $50,000 and the funds were earmarked for a memorial to honor Charlie. Abby is a staff member at Dakotaland Federal Credit Union in Aberdeen, and previously served on the foundation’s board. 

Foundation Board Back row L to R: April Tompkins, foundation board chair, Explorers CU; Tyler Gross, foundation treasurer, Sioux Valley Co-op FCU; Jim Schaefbauer, foundation vice chair, United Savings CU; Dorothy Voorhees, foundation director, Sentinel FCU; Shannon Webster, foundation director, Town & Country CU; Melissa Gehl, CMN National Partnerships; Lisa Snedeker, foundation director, Dakotaland FCU. Front row: Kylee Lemieux, foundation director, North Star CCU; Ashton Siebrecht, Sioux Falls Sanford Health Foundation; Bethany Olson, Sioux Falls Sanford Health Foundation; Jeff Olson, foundation director, president/CEO Dakota Credit Union Association; and Holly Steier, foundation director, Western Cooperative CU.

​April Tompkins, foundation board chair and CEO of Explorer’s Credit Union (Yankton, SD), explained, “We wanted to honor Charlie in a meaningful way. Credit unions clearly understand the health care debt cycle, and there is no doubt that physical health plays a major role in financial wellness. As an industry, we strive to help our members, our employees, and our communities find a path to physical, mental, and financial health, and we are extremely excited to dedicate this room at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Charlie’s honor. Undoubtedly, his spirit will live on as many more children are able to receive the best care, close to home at our regional CMN Hospital,” she added.
 
“When Charlie was diagnosed with this unfortunate disease, our family was devastated,” shared Abby Murano. “Our motto became we can't control what happened, but we can control how we respond – and that's how we've navigated the past year. We are honored by this memoriam that the Dakota Credit Union Foundation has chosen, which will help many more children in our community. This is an amazing and impactful gift to honor Charlie's legacy, and we are forever grateful,” she concluded. 

          Photos: Abby and Joel Murano; the Murano extended family and friends gather in the pediatric exam room.

Ashton Siebrecht, development officer for Sanford Health Foundation, stated, “Sanford Children’s Hospital will benefit significantly from this incredible gift to support Children’s Miracle Network. As the region’s only free-standing CMN hospital, we are proud knowing that 100% of every gift stays local providing assistance to our patients and families at a time when they need it most. We are so grateful to be a part of this story and for the support from the Dakota Credit Union Foundation. Now the Murano family will have this extra-special place in the Castle of Care while the funds will help support programs like Child Life, music therapy, on-site teacher, or meal vouchers, mileage reimbursement, and lodging for families, just like the Murano’s, that find themselves traveling or receiving extended inpatient care.”
 
The Murano family’s recent visit to the hospital was captured by Dakota News Now in a feature news video story, Honoring Charlie, which you can see here.
 
About Dakota Credit Union Foundation
The Dakota Credit Foundation is the charitable arm of the Dakota Credit Union Association. The Foundation’s purpose is to build community awareness of credit unions throughout North and South Dakota by supporting financial well-being for all. The Foundation provides assistance for financial education events and financial literacy classroom programs; scholarships for credit union professional development and certification programs and supports local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. For more information visit dakcu.org/foundation.
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