Credit unions and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital joined the 2016 Republican National Convention and RealClearPolitics to open a horticultural therapy suite in Angie’s Rooftop Garden at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. Today’s ribbon cutting marks an end to the construction that credit unions funded earlier this spring to open a horticultural therapy suite in honor of the 2016 RNC, taking place in Cleveland.
The new horticultural therapy suite is an enhancement of Angie’s Rooftop Garden at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. Angie’s Rooftop Garden is part of the Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute.
A construction kick-off and volunteer day took place earlier this year to help transform the space into a horticultural therapy suite in Angie’s Rooftop Garden. New equipment and activity centers in the suite will help the staff at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital address the special needs of hospitalized children and their families. Volunteers created glass mosaic tiles that are now hung in the suite to commemorate the project.
The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and RealClearPolitics honored the Republican National Convention by taking on the project. The effort represents a tradition of credit unions honoring cities that host the national party conventions with “leave-behind” projects which serve the local communities long after the conventions have left town. A similar project is being done for the children’s hospital in Philadelphia, host of the Democratic National Convention.
Janna Ryan, wife of House Speaker Paul Ryan, cut the ribbon with the help of UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital child patients and siblings Cordelia Willets, CC Willets and Constance Kammerer at today’s event.
Representatives from CUNA, the Ohio Credit Union League, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, the RNC and RealClearPolitics, along with special guests, were on hand for the event and discussed the importance of the event.
“Therapy options such as art and music have remarkable healing effects for our children. Our Angie Fowler garden enables patients and families the opportunity to leave the indoor hospital environment, breathe fresh air, and experience healing effects of gardening and planting activities,” said Patti DePompei, President of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s. “Part of our mission is to heal and that involves caring for the emotional and physical well-being of each child. This unique indoor horticultural therapy space allows us to do add a wonderful new feature for our patients and their families. We are grateful the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and Ohio Credit Union League shared in our vision to expand our horticultural therapy services.”
“We’re delighted to have been doing such meaningful, long lasting projects at the National Party Conventions since 2000,” remarked Rich Meade, Chief of Staff and COO of CUNA, “It’s an honor to be able to work with local credit unions, RealClearPolitics and the Republican National Convention on such a meaningful and lasting endeavor that will impact the lives of children and their families for years to come.”
“The Boy Scouts teach to always leave a site better than when you found it, and that is a motto we have striven to live up to since the Republican National Convention came to Cleveland,” said Steve King, Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the RNC. “This horticultural therapy suite will leave a lasting positive impact on the Cleveland community for years to come.”
“Thanks to the credit unions and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s we’ve had an opportunity to participate in something uplifting and important at this year’s Republican National Convention,” saidRealClearPolitics co-founder and publisher Tom Bevan. "It’s an honor to be a part of this continued partnership.”
“This is a great opportunity to create an enduring example of how credit unions impact the lives of their members and their communities. With the help and support of many across the credit union movement, I’m proud that Ohio’s credit unions will sprout a therapy retreat for the children throughout Ohio cared for at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital,” said Paul Mercer, president/CEO of the Ohio Credit Union League.
Jane Portman, wife of U.S. Senator Rob Portman and Chair of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said, “I’m here today because of my passion for Children’s Hospitals – their mission is near and dear to my heart. This horticultural therapy suite is a wonderful asset to all patients and their families as they come for care. I'm pleased that the RNC partnered with credit unions and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s on this project to help make a long lasting difference in Cleveland.”
The Ohio Credit Union League spearheaded fundraising by the credit unions and raised more than their target goal of $300,000, the amount needed to cover the costs of the project.
CUNA, credit unions in Pennsylvania and RealClearPolitics also are working with the Democratic National Convention Committee on a companion project for a wellness garden at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The ribbon cutting event will take place during the week of July 25-28 in Philadelphia.
Photo Caption (L to R): Constance Kammerer, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital patient; Rich Meade, CUNA Chief of Staff and COO; Mrs. Janna Ryan, wife of House Speaker Paul Ryan; Cordelia Willets, former UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital patient and sister CC Willets; Paul Mercer, Ohio Credit Union League President/CEO; Patti DePompei, President of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s; Tom Bevan, RealClearPolitics co-founder and publisher; Mrs. Jane Portman, wife of U.S. Senator Rob Portman and Chair of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; and Steve King,Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the RNC, participate in a ribbon cutting event on behalf of America’s Credit Unions to commemorate the opening of a new horticultural therapy suite in Angie’s Rooftop Garden at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
Photo Caption: (L to R): Mrs. Janna Ryan, wife of House Speaker Paul Ryan, cutting a ceremonial ribbon to commemorate the opening of a new horticultural therapy suite in Angie’s Rooftop Garden at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital as Cordelia Willets, former UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital patient, sister CC Willets and Constance Kammerer, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital patient, hold the ribbon on behalf of America’s Credit Unions.
