First Quarter 2008
CEOs appointed to councils, boards
Two Illinois CU chief executives have been appointed to important leadership positions in state government and financial literacy.
First, Peggy Cummins, a director on the ICUL board of directors, has been appointed to Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’ Southern Illinois Affairs Council.
The council aims to strengthen the relationship between the Treasurer’s Office and southern Illinois communities through open dialogue and to develop new programs and services designed to make a tangible difference in the everyday lives of residents.
Giannoulias recently convened the council’s first meeting during a two-day visit to downstate Effingham. The council is comprised of area leaders, business people and community members. Members, such as Cummins, serve on a voluntary basis.
“I am pleased to count Peggy among my advisors on the issues and needs affecting Southern Illinoisans. I look forward to working with her and her peers to improve services to an important, and sometimes overlooked, part of the state,” Giannoulias said. “Through this council, I hope to better serve this region and its residents.”
Cummins represents the Southern Illinois Chapter of Credit Unions on the ICUL board and is CEO of Three Rivers Community Credit Union in the southern Illinois town of Mt. Carmel. She is also current chairman of the ICU Foundation.
The Treasurer’s Office administers many programs to promote the financial health of Illinois residents. The Our Own Home program serves as an alternative to predatory lenders by helping residents with less-than-perfect credit purchase homes. The Bright Start College Savings Program enables families to invest money tax free for their children’s college tuition. In addition, the Treasurer’s Office offers low-interest loans to business owners, community service agencies, farmers, citizen soldiers and people with disabilities through the Cultivate Illinois, Employ Illinois, and Opportunity Illinois programs.
In addition, David Mooney, Alliant CU President and CEO, was recently appointed to chairman of the midwestern board of directors of Operation HOPE, Inc. (OHI), a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that supports economic empowerment through financial literacy.
Mooney’s appointment was celebrated 
at a reception that also included an announcement by OHI’s Chairman & Founder, John Bryant, that Alliant CU had become its first national credit union “HOPE” partner. A HOPE partner primarily for the Chicago area since 2004, the credit union provides financial support to the organization. In addition, Alliant CU employee volunteers teach basic classes on banking and money management in public schools through HOPE’s Banking on Our Future program.
As a national partner, the credit union
plans to expand its involvement to additional markets and recruit new partners for HOPE, according to Mr. Mooney. “Although there are other organizations set up to improve financial literacy, HOPE’s delivery system (public school classes) makes it especially successful. We’re proud of Alliant’s employee teachers and all the other Banking on Our Future volunteers,” he said.
In his remarks, John Bryant said, “We’re here to honor Dave Mooney and Alliant. With their help, Chicago HOPE has grown to having 700 volunteers who’ve taught the language of money to nearly 35,000 students, many at minority schools.” He added, “Chicago has become a model for HOPE offices around the country.”
National Credit Union Administration vice chairman Rodney Hood also attended and spoke at the reception. “I believe that establishing and developing innovative partnerships between credit unions and outreach organizations is critical to meeting the needs of our nation’s underserved communities,” said Hood. I congratulate Dave Mooney, Alliant and Operation HOPE for their passionate commitment to this cause.”