About Us

Credit Unions Kids at Heart® (CU Kids at Heart) is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and one of the largest collaborative fundraising programs in the nation for the credit union community. Eastern Corporate Federal Credit Union (EasCorp) of Burlington, Massachusetts, founded CU Kids at Heart in 1996 with a small group of Massachusetts credit unions. Today, the organization includes dozens of participating credit unions and corporate sponsors nationwide. Our aim is to leverage the collective impact of credit union charitable efforts and to reflect of the industry's belief in collaboration in service of a greater good.

Our mission is straightforward: we are dedicated to helping children lead healthy and happy lives.The organization and its supporters are committed to funding research activities aimed at the prevention, treatment, and/or cure of pediatric neurological diseases, including Moyamoya disease, Cerebral Palsy, pediatric epilepsy and other seizure disorders, and pediatric brain cancer. We work closely with the medical investigators at Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and their research affiliates, to provide financial stability to these often underfunded research areas. Our contributions have directly made possible clinical trials, new diagnostic tools, treatment breakthroughs and promising drug therapies, and much more. Since its founding, CU Kids at Heart has raised over $10 million toward these fundraising directives.

News


Moyamoya Disease Awareness Day is May 6, 2026

May 6 is Moyamoya Disease Awareness Day and Credit Unions Kids at Heart®, its Participating Credit Unions, and Corporate Sponsors have organized advocacy initiatives and observances in local communities.

Moyamoya is a rare and progressive neurological disease in which the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain narrow, restricting blood flow. If left untreated, this dangerous disease can cause life-threatening strokes in children and adults, resulting in long-term, debilitating impairments.

Early diagnosis and treatment are critical. On May 6, 2026, help us educate the public and the medical community about this disease. Wear blue, participate in the events listed below, print out this fact sheet provided by Boston Children's Hospital, global leaders in the study of this disease.

MOYAMOYA DISEASE AWARENESS DAY MAY 6 ACTIVITIES

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared May 6 Moyamoya Disease Awareness Day in the Commonwealth as enacted by the Legislature. Their leadership helped amplify the importance of this endeavor to save lives and launched supporting efforts for a week of recognition by communities and partners throughout the state.

  • Digital Marquees: During the week leading up to Moyamoya Day, the DCU Center will salute the event on signage at the Center Arena and the Convention Center located at 50 Foster Street, Worcester.
  • Digital Billboard: The IBEW Local 103 labor union will recognize Moyamoya Day on the digital billboard at their headquarters located at 256 Freeport Street, Dorchester, facing the Southeast Expressway.
  • Proclamations: Official proclamations recognizing Moyamoya Day have been made by Mayors Michelle Wu (Boston), Paul E. Coogan (Fall River), Paul Lundberg (Gloucester), David Beauregard, Jr. (Methuen), Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. (Peabody), Peter M. Marchetti (Pittsfield), Melinda Barrett (Haverhill), Dominic J. Sarno (Springfield), and other local officials.
  • Bridge and Municipal Building Lightings: Bridges will light up the skyline in blue on May 5 at the Leonard Zakim Bridge (Boston), Fore River Bridge (Weymouth) and Burns Bridge (Worcester). On the following day, awareness will continue at Boston’s Prudential Tower, Cox Bridge (Lowell), Government Center (Fall River), City Hall (Pittsfield), Campanile Clock Tower (Springfield), and Union Station (Springfield).
  • Boston Children’s Hospital Lights: The main entrance of Boston Children’s Hospital at 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, will light up in blue and signs of support will greet the medical teams, patients, and their families in the Moyamoya Program facilities on the 6th floor.
  • Workplace Observances: Credit Unions Kids at Heart Participating Credit Unions and Corporate Sponsors will raise awareness with their employees, members, and customers in various ways, such as, fundraising challenges, wearing blue clothing, sharing educational resources online and on social media, distributing informational flyers, and more.
  • Spotlight on Cooperative Principles: In the spirit of credit union cooperation amongst cooperatives, five credit unions joined together to raise funds for a Boston Marathon Credit Unions Kids at Heart runner and her long-term patient partner and son who is a Moyamoya survivor. Their collaboration reflects creativity and concern for their communities, led by the dedicated service and commitment of their Boards of Directors, staff, and members. Saluting Moyamoya Awareness Day in this distinguished manner are Common Trust Federal Credit Union (Woburn), HTM Credit Union (Haverhill), Methuen Federal Credit Union (Methuen), Stoneham Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union (Stoneham), and Tewksbury Federal Credit Union (Tewksbury).
  • 98.5 The Sports Hub Radio Spots: Credit Unions Kids at Heart media partner 98.5 The Sports Hub will feature our public awareness campaign.

MOYAMOYA DISEASE AWARENESS DAY MAY 9 ACTIVITIES

Annual Boston Children’s Hospital Virtual Moyamoya Disease Family Day: Held virtually, this conference will feature experts from Boston Children’s Hospital. Learn about the latest in clinical care. Register at Virtual Moyamoya Family Day 2026 Registration

Show your Support

To add your event or observance to our list, or to share your pictures from the day, please contact us at cukidsatheart@eascorp.org.


The CJ Buckley Memorial Fund

In 2019, CU Kids at Heart established the CJ Buckley Memorial Fund for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research to support the groundbreaking work of the Panigrahy Lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Dipak Panigrahy, principal research investigator, and his team study the impact of inflammation on cancer in the hope of stopping the growth of cancerous cells. The fund honors Carter J. Buckley, a young man who passed away in 2002 from brain cancer.