BANGOR — Bangor Federal matched Brewer Community School’s fundraising effort, Nickels with Noah, Nov. 5.
The school raised $2,353.40, which resulted in a $4,706.80 donation to Children’s Miracle Network when the matching contribution from Bangor Federal Credit Union was added.
Noah Tibbetts, a 10-year-old survivor of bacterial meningitis who recently was named Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals State of Maine Champion Child, is always coming up with ways to “pay it forward” after his experience growing up with a disease, according to a press release. The Nickels with Noah campaign encouraged Noah’s classmates in Brewer to donate their coins during October. The class that raised the most money during this time would be awarded a pizza party.
When the coins started coming in faster than expected, Noah’s mother Julie wondered how they could count all of the money. She reached out to Bangor Federal to see if it could use the branch’s coin counter free of charge. The credit union surprised Noah by allowing use of the coin counter, and offering to match what the Brewer classrooms raised.
“Whenever I needed special equipment or doctors, CMN has been able to make sure those types of things are here in our community,” Noah said. “I wanted to raise money for CMN so I could be sure other kids would have things they need just like I did.”
Noah and his brother Gabe accepted the checks from Brewer Community School and Bangor Federal on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network at Brewer Community School, where they held a pizza party for Mrs. Raymond’s first-grade class, which brought in the highest amount, a total of $286.01 for “Nickels with Noah.”
“This is awesome,” said Noah, “and I am so happy we can help the kids in our local community who need help. I can tell you from my own experience this money will be [well] used and will probably help save the lives of kids you may even know.”
Noah and his family have been fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network for the past three years, including Dare to Scare, a backyard haunted fundraising event held at the Tibbetts home for the last three Octobers. This year, Noah’s parents weren’t able to host the event so Noah came up with a different way to raise money — Nickels with Noah.
Bangor Federal Credit Union officials said they were happy to be a part of the effort being led by such a young, community-minded citizen.
When asked why he decided to match Noah’s fundraising, Michael Sturdee, director of marketing at Bangor Federal said, “Projects like this are the heart and essence of a tight community. Bangor Federal will always be part of community-building programs. We’re lucky to have Noah and his family right here near us to inspire our community to do good and help one another. That’s what Bangor Federal is all about.”