HANFORD, CA — In a powerful show of community partnership and commitment to heart health, Valley Strong Credit Union has pledged $1 million to Adventist Health Hanford—fueling the expansion of the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab). This transformational gift will help bring more advanced, life-saving heart care to families throughout the Central Valley.
The donation will go toward the hospital’s $10 million cath lab fundraising campaign, which is part of a larger $40 million investment to improve heart care services in Hanford. Cath labs are specialized medical facilities where diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to the heart and blood vessels are performed using catheters or tubes.

To celebrate this generous gift, which will elevate the cath lab waiting area and the experience for our patients and their families, a special community event will be held from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 18 at Adventist Health Hanford. The event will include remarks from doctors and dignitaries, heralding the impact of this meaningful contribution.

“At Valley Strong, we are deeply committed to supporting the health and well-being of our community,” said Nick Ambrosini, president and CEO, Valley Strong Credit Union. “Our $1 million investment to the Hanford cath lab is a testament to our mission and values. We believe in making a positive impact and ensuring that our members and their families have access to top-notch medical care. This partnership reflects our dedication to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our community.”

Adventist Health Hanford constructed its current cath lab nearly 15 years ago. The hospital’s service area includes more than 500,000 residents and spans five counties. In 2024, the cath lab team cared for more than 650 unique patients. With the expansion of four additional cath labs, that number is expected to grow to over 2,000 patients a year. The increasing demand for cardiac care has reached a tipping point, prompting the urgent need for these additional cath labs, which will be housed in a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the existing hospital.

“This expansion isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about saving lives,” said Jason Wells, president, Adventist Health Central California Network. “Thanks to this generous donation from Valley Strong Credit Union, we are one step closer to improving access to critical procedures, from heart to bariatric and pediatric care, right here in our own community.”

The expanded cath lab will include the acquisition of ARTIS imaging technology, a modular and high-precision angiography system that enables quicker, safer, and more accurate diagnoses and treatments. The new center will increase the hospital’s current capacity and help attract top-tier cardiologists and specialists to the Central Valley.

JAN. 24, 2025 — The Recreation & Parks Department’s project to revitalize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park will make a positive impact on the community by upgrading park amenities and providing a new state-of-the-art community center for the nearby residents and the rest of the City. 

But the City can’t make it happen alone. In the spirit of collaboration, Valley Strong Credit Union is contributing $1 million to create a new financial literacy center at the future facility.

“We are so grateful to Valley Strong for its support of this vital project,” said Darin Budak, Bakersfield Recreation & Parks Director. “Our vision is that the new park facilities will play an important role in the neighborhood in a number of ways, beyond just recreation. We want it to make a difference in residents’ lives every day. Valley Strong’s contribution will certainly help us do that.”

"Valley Strong Credit Union is committed to the revitalization of MLK Park in partnership with the City of Bakersfield,” said Nick Ambrosini, President and CEO of Valley Strong. “This project reflects our mission to help people and our community prosper by enhancing community spaces and fostering a vibrant, inclusive environment for all residents. By investing in MLK Park, we are improving the physical landscape and strengthening the community bonds that make Bakersfield a wonderful place to live and work. Additionally, our financial literacy programs that will be available at MLK Park will provide access to financial education, empowering individuals to achieve their dreams and secure a brighter future.” 

On Friday, Jan. 24, the Recreation & Parks Department provided a progress update on the revitalization project to the public, showing advanced concept designs of what the facilities are expected to look like once completed.

In addition to the Valley Strong Financial Literacy Center, the new park and community center will feature an outdoor pool and water slide, multi-use fields, colorful play areas, cool spray grounds, basketball courts, amphitheater, bike repair shop, gymnasium, new futsal and pickleball courts, an events plaza, and much more! It will have capacity to host community events and meetings as well.

In September of 2024, the project received $11.9 million from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grant and Recreation & Parks staff are pursuing another $18 million in available grant funding. This project will still need another $31 million to make it a reality. Anyone interested in progress of the project, or how to support or advocate for it, can visit the MLK Park Revitalization Project webpage on the City’s website.

Valley Strong Credit Union today announced a partnership with Greenlight® Financial Technology, Inc. (“Greenlight”), the leading fintech company on a mission to help parents raise financially smart kids. Through the Greenlight for Credit Unions program, Valley Strong Members will have free access to Greenlight’s award-winning debit card and financial literacy tools, bringing parents a better way to manage family finances and teach their kids about money. 

Valley Strong is the first credit union to offer Greenlight through an embedded mobile app experience, leveraging Greenlight’s new software development kit. This provides parents with easy and convenient access to Greenlight all within the Valley Strong Credit Union mobile app, powered by the Alkami digital banking platform. 

Using Greenlight, parents can send money instantly, automate allowance payments, manage chores, set flexible spending controls, get real-time notifications of all transactions, and more. Kids and teens get hands-on experience learning to earn, save, give and spend wisely, along with access to Greenlight Level Up™, an in-app financial literacy game with a best-in-class curriculum, educational challenges, and rewards. 

“Our partnership with Greenlight allows us to better serve our California families, furthering our commitment to help members live financially empowered lives,” said Mirella Reznic, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Valley Strong Credit Union. “With Greenlight, Valley Strong parents have access to top financial education to help teach their kids about money and set them up for financial success later in life.” 

Valley Strong Credit Union Members can receive complimentary access to Greenlight by signing up in the Valley Strong Credit Union mobile app. To learn more, please visit here.

Each student that participated was given a fictional occupation, salary, credit score, spouse and child, student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical insurance payments.

This interactive activity teaches teens how to make financial decisions and give them a better understanding of the challenges of living on a budget. During the two-hour simulation, they encounter various stations to “purchase” housing, transportation, food, clothing, child care and other needs. Fortunately, the experience also includes a “credit union” to help with their financial needs. 

84% of teens say they look to their parents for information about money, according to a study by Junior Achievement. According to T Rowe Prices 11th Annual Parents, Kids, and Money Survey, nearly half of parents said they miss opportunities to talk to their kids about money and a quarter said they are very reluctant to discuss financial topics with their kids.  

Fairfield High School Assistant Principal, Valorie Quijas, had this to say, “It’s important for our Seniors to be financially literate so they can make sure when they earn their money that they can save funds as well as pay their bills and budget.”

Valley Strong has made it a priority to open doors for youth and adults to learn about finance and how to make more informed financial decisions by offering a full suite of financial education products and services which can be found here.