BEAVERTON, Ore.-Tom Sargent has not only lived the people-helping-people credo of the credit union movement, he's been on both sides of it.
The CEO of First Tech CU here, Sargent helped spearhead the Credit Unions For Kids Program, raising the money that helped build a new Children's Hospital in his area. Twenty years later, that same hospital saved his newborn granddaughter's life.
Today, Sargent is chairman of the board for the Children's Miracle Network-the first CU person to serve on the volunteer board-and his efforts are being honored with the Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Individual Achievement.
Sargent's path began in 1986 when he joined six other Oregon and Washington CU leaders, hoping "to make a difference in the lives of local children," he said.
Since then, Sargent has helped Credit Unions for Kids become a Children's Miracle Network program in 1997. Now, more than 5,000 CUs across the country support Credit Unions for Kids. The organization expects raise $9 million in 2009, and is the third largest corporate partner in Children's Miracle Network.
With Sargent serving as chairman, Children's Miracle Network grew 19% last year; the rest of the non-profit sector grew less than 5% last year.
Stan Hollen, CEO of CO-OP Financial Services in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., which has been an active supporter of Credit Uions for Kids, said that Sargent introduced his causes to CO-OP when he joined its board in 1999.
"Tom's enthusiasm for Credit Unions for Kids is infectious," Hollen said.
One of the many people who nominated Sargent for the award is Jim Blaine, CEO of State Employees Credit Union.
"Tom Sargent does much more than just talk about helping kids," Blaine wrote in his nomination. "He has invested a full measure of his time, his talent and his heart into improving the lives of children in his home state and across the United States. Through Tom's leadership, other credit unions from California, Florida to Texas have developed unique charitable events to help fund Credit Unions for Kids and Children Miracle Network Hospitals."
