(Woodbury, MN – September 14, 2017) Ideal Credit Union has been honored with a 2017 Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for its involvement in the MN Brain Tumor 5K. The award, sponsored by the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MnCUN) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), recognizes credit unions for the activities they coordinate that benefit the communities they serve and/or specific charities.

Ideal Credit Union’s winning entry will advance to the national competition, where it will compete with Social Responsibility Community Service projects from credit unions in other states.

The 2017 MN Brain Tumor 5K, sponsored by Ideal Credit Union and the Ideal Community Foundation, hit a new milestone this year, breaking the half-million dollar mark for total fundraising since its inception in 2010. To date, the annual event has raised $541,397 for brain tumor research. All proceeds benefit the Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc.

For the past seven years, Ideal CU and Ideal Community Foundation have provided monetary and volunteer support to the event. For the past three years, the event has been planned and coordinated by a dedicated group of Ideal CU employees, who make up almost 50% of the planning team. Organizers attribute the success of the 2017 event to the addition of new 5K committee members, increased use of email marketing, social media, extraordinary teamwork and generous support from sponsors like Ideal and the Ideal Community Foundation.

This year’s MN Brain Tumor 5K, held May 21 at Lake Phalen in St. Paul, raised $147,039, which exceeded the previous record set in 2015. The annual event attracted 1,824 participants, including 713 taking part for the first time, and approximately 50 brain tumor survivors, who shared their stories and brought hope and encouragement to attendees. More than 700,000 people in the U.S. are currently living with a brain tumor, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Nearly 80,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed this year, and nearly 17,000 people will lose their battle.

The annual MN Brain Tumor 5K is dedicated to those who have lost the battle with brain tumors, the loved ones left behind, the courageous people who have been diagnosed with and are fighting a brain tumor, their family, friends and caregivers, and the researchers who strive for better treatments and a cure.

“The MN Brain Tumor 5K has been an incredibly important event for Ideal Credit Union and the Ideal Community Foundation for the past seven years. To have our efforts recognized by the Minnesota Credit Union Network and CUNA is quite an honor and a tribute to the selfless efforts of our employee volunteers and the countless hours they donate to ensure the success of the event from one year to the next,” said Brian Sherrick, Ideal CU President/CEO and Ideal Community Foundation chairman. “

Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member owned financial institution that specializes in providing excellent member service, great rates and convenience to over 52,000 members. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of electronic banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products and title services, exclusive VIP member payback, business services, investment services and more. Offices are located in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater and Woodbury. Visit idealcu.com for details and directions