Credit Unions Breaking Ground on Health and Wellness Garden at Children's Hospital

Credit unions will break ground on their second leave-behind project at a national convention Thursday, with a ceremony on a Health and Wellness Garden at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphias (CHOP) Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pediatric Care Center. Philadelphia will host the Democratic National Convention (DNC) July 25-28. CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle, Pennsylvania Credit Union Association (PCUA)President/CEO Patrick Conway, CHOP President/CEO Madeline Bell and RealClearPolitics Washington Bureau Chief Carl Cannon are expected to be joined by the Rev. Leah Daughtry, DNC Committee CEO, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney for the groundbreaking. In the months leading up to the 2016 DNC, credit unions and RealClearPolitics will work with the DNC Committee to create a resource for patient and community engagement programs, including nutritional experiences, physical activity and a site to host events for patient programs, such as Reach Out and Read. Credit unions have a tradition at each national convention every four years to "leave behind" community projects at the host cities. Construction will take place during spring and summer, and will include volunteer opportunities for credit union employees, convention staff and those in the community. Plans call for a ribbon-cutting event to take place during the week of the convention. PCUA is spearheading the $300,000 fundraising effort to cover the costs of the project and is working with credit unions in Pennsylvania and nationwide. CUNA, the Ohio Credit Union League and RealClearPolitics broke ground in March on a horticultural therapy suite at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital in Cleveland, site of the 2016 Republican National Convention.