SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 27, 2016) — Sarah Canepa Bang, executive vice president, Industry Relations at CO-OP Financial Services and Bill Cheney, president and CEO,  SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in Southern California, were recently named to the Board of Governors for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a charity raising funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. Along with five other new appointees, Canepa Bang and Cheney will support the fundraising, development and awareness functions of CMN Hospitals, promote the cause of children’s hospitals throughout the business community and help attract companies to support the organization’s mission of saving and improving kids’ lives. “We are honored that both Sarah and Bill have accepted our invitation to join our Board of Governors,” said John Lauck, president and CEO, CMN Hospitals. “They have both demonstrated a strong commitment to our mission of helping sick and injured kids, which is reflected in their service on various Credit Unions for Kids boards and committees over the last 30 years.  We’re convinced they’ll have an even bigger impact now that they’ll be working with us on the national level.” Canepa Bang has a long history of supporting CMN Hospitals dating back to 1985 in the Pacific Northwest where she was instrumental in launching the Credit Unions for Kids program.  Today, she serves on numerous CU4Kids committees including the National Advisory Board where she was recently appointed Chairperson. “This is a huge honor for me and the credit union movement,” said Canepa Bang. “For more than 30 years credit unions have supported their local children’s hospitals and communities through Credit Unions for Kids.  Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was one of the first national, non-credit union organizations to recognize our importance in such a significant and formal way by inviting credit union representatives to serve on its’ Board.  It means a lot to me to be one of those representatives.” Cheney has been involved with CMN Hospitals for more than three decades and most recently chaired the 2016 California/Nevada CU4Kids Wine Auction event which raised more than a million dollars.  Previous to that, he served on the National Advisory Board for four years. “I am honored to have been named to the Board of Governors for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” remarked Cheney. “I was introduced to CMN Hospitals in the mid-80’s while in San Antonio and have continued my involvement through the CU4Kids program for my entire 30-year career in the credit union movement. I’m excited for the next chapter and inspired to do even more to support the kids served by CMN Hospitals in Southern California and across the country.” Canepa Bang and Cheney follow retired credit union executives Tom Sargent and Stan Hollen who also served on the CMN Hospitals Board of Governors. ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals. ABOUT CREDIT UNIONS FOR KIDS Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) is the brand under which America’s credit unions fundraise for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. CU4Kids is celebrating its’ 20^th anniversary and over that time the credit union movement has contributed over $150 million to CMN Hospitals throughout the U.S.  Throughout the year, individual credit unions across the country collaborate with credit union chapters, leagues and business partners to raise much-needed funds to benefit affiliated children’s hospitals. Fundraising campaigns range from Shop for Miracles, Miracle Jeans Day and holiday icon campaigns to golf tournaments, runs, walks and wine auctions. In 2015, credit unions raised over $11.5 million and once again ranked third among corporate partners in annual giving, trailing only Wal-Mart and Costco.  The funds raised by the credit union community help support new facilities, equipment, research programs, patient services, health education and special patient needs benefitting 10 million children annually.