CO-OP FINANCIAL SERVICES FULFILLS THE LIFELONG DREAM OF A ‘CHAMPION’

ONTARIO, Calif. (January 23, 2007) – Last month, CO-OP Financial Services, the national presenting sponsor of the Children’s Miracle Network “Champions Across America” program, helped Oregon “Champion” Michael Salvestrin realize his dream. The 15-year-old, who’s afflicted with Spina Bifida, attended his first Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field and saw his hero, Brett Favre, set the NFL record for career pass completions and lead the Packers to a 17-9 victory over the Detroit Lions. (Each year, Children’s Miracle Network selects a child ambassador – or Champion – from every state to represent the 17 million kids who are treated in Children’s Miracle Network-affiliated hospitals.)

According to Mary Hessel, CO-OP Financial Services Product Manager, CO-OP first learned about Michael’s love of the Packers when he was a guest speaker at the organization’s 25th anniversary celebration in Las Vegas in May 2006. “When Michael discovered that I work in Wisconsin,” said Hessel, “he told me his room is completely decorated with Green Bay Packers memorabilia. I also learned that Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston, a Packers’ Hall of Famer from the legendary Vince Lombardi era, is his grandma’s brother.

“In spite of his relationship with a Packer great and his love for the team, Michael had never met Fuzzy, been to a Packers game or seen Lambeau Field. I saw the perfect opportunity for CO-OP to make this happen for him and immediately started making arrangements.”

Working with Children’s Miracle Network, CO-OP flew Michael and his father to Green Bay for a weekend that included visiting the Packers’ Hall of Fame and touring Lambeau Field. Michael got autographs from Packers’ running back Ahman Green, rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk and Packers’ Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer, one of Fuzzy’s teammates from the 1967 Super Bowl. (In the first Super Bowl ever played, the Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10.) Additionally, Michael finally got to meet his great-uncle Fuzzy.

“Michael and his family took time out of their busy lives to join us in Las Vegas for our annual shareholders’ meeting and we wanted to find a meaningful form of honorarium,” said Jim Hanisch, CO-OP Financial Services Executive Vice President Network Operations and Corporate Development/CAO. “Michael’s interest in – and connection to – the Packers was the perfect way to thank them for their contribution to our conference. Thanks to Mary’s initiative, we were able to make a very special weekend for an extraordinary young man.”