WASHINGTON–CUNA, the Republican National Convention, the Democratic National Convention Committee, and RealClearPolitics are partnering on community service projects as part of the national political conventions later this year.
The projects include providing indoor and outdoor garden spaces at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio and Karabots Pediatric Care Center, part of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), respectively.
CUNA reported that in the coming months credit unions and RealClearPolitics will create new green spaces to foster a restorative patient environment for children at each hospital. The effort represents credit unions’ tradition of honoring each National Convention city with a “leave-behind” project that will continue to serve the local communities long after the conventions have left town, CUNA said.
At UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, a year-round horticultural therapy suite will engage young patients in gardening and plant-based activities facilitated by a trained therapist. At CHOP’s Karabots Pediatric Care Center in Philadelphia, an outdoor Health and Wellness Garden will serve as a resource for vitally important 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. Both projects will positively impact the hospitals and their surrounding communities, encouraging patients to become empowered caregivers, CUNA said.
“Credit unions exist to help people and that’s why we’re working with these hospitals in Cleveland and Philadelphia,” said Jim Nussle, president/CEO of CUNA. “Through community engagement, we’re working to ensure that children and their families have a comforting place to cultivate, learn, heal and reenergize during their stay at these great hospitals.”
All costs for both projects are fully supported through funds raised by credit unions nationwide. The Ohio Credit Union League and Pennsylvania Credit Union Association, representing credit unions in the two states, are spearheading the fundraising efforts for UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and CHOP’s Karabots Pediatric Care Center, respectively.
Construction at the two hospitals will unfold over the spring and summer, and will include volunteer opportunities for credit union and convention staff to lend a personal hand. Plans call for ribbon-cutting events at each hospital to be held during the week of the Convention in each city in July 2016.