MADISON, WI - Richard Johnson, William Herring, and the World Council of Credit Unions' Credit Union Empowerment and Strengthening (CUES) Philippines Project are the 2002 winners of the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards, sponsored by the National Credit Union Foundation. The awards represent the highest national honor available in the credit union movement and are named in honor of the late CUNA chief executive officer. They recognize "innovative, creative, risk-taking" leadership in the spirit of Herb Wegner.

"This year's winners truly represent the best of the global credit union movement," says Pat Brownell, Executive Director of the NCUF.

Richard Johnson, president and CEO, Western Corporate Federal Credit Union (WesCorp), San Dimas, California, will receive the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his long-term career within the credit union movement. Under his stewardship, WesCorp has grown from a fledgling corporate in 1976 to the progressive and highly respected organization it is today. WesCorp now sets the standard for other corporate credit unions in innovative products and services. He has also testified before Congress on credit union-related matters and has established long-term contacts with elected officials, NCUA board and staff members, and credit union leaders throughout the country.

William Herring, CEO, Cincinnati Central Credit Union, Cincinnati, Ohio, will receive the Individual Achievement award for his work promoting consumer financial independence through credit unions in a depressed, underserved neighborhood in downtown Cincinnati. Partnering with community leaders and the non-profit organization SmartMoney Community Services, Cincinnati Central opened a branch in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood in 1988. The branch now serves 3,600 members and processes 160,000 transactions a year. The son of the late Louise McCarren Herring, William Herring has served as president and CEO of Cincinnati Central since 1969. He has also served on the Ohio Credit Union League Board of Directors since 1993, serving as chairman in 1997-1998 and initiating Ohio's Renewal Project.

The World Council of Credit Unions' Credit Union Empowerment and Strengthening (CUES) Philippines Project will receive the Outstanding Program Award for its success as an innovative effort to provide affordable financial services to people, especially women, in some of the poorest areas of the Philippines. The project is based in Davao City, on the island of Mindanao, and consists of two main components: "building model credit unions" and "saving with education." In its first three years, the project has impacted more than 103,646 members, mobilizing P626.8 million (US $12.5 million) and financing P815.8 million (US $16.2 million) in loans.

"Chairing the committee charged with selecting the recipients of the annual Wegner Memorial Awards is one of the more difficult tasks I've undertaken in my credit union career," says Chuck Purvis, Wegner Selection Committee Chairman and NCUF Vice Chairman. "All the nominees are worthy. All have made significant contributions to our movement. But for those same reasons, servig on the committee is also one of the most rewarding tasks I've been a part of."

The awards will be presented Sunday, February 24, 2002, at the Foundation's Herb Wegner Memorial Awards Dinner at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Held during CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., the dinner raises money to support the continued worldwide development efforts of the Foundation.

For more information on the awards or this year's dinner, contact Kris Hoffman, National Credit Union Foundation, at 608-231-4397 or khoffman@cuna.com.

Established in 1980, NCUF is the U.S. credit union movement's primary charitable and fundraising organization for global credit union development. The Foundation has given more than $8.4 million in grants, in support of its mission to promote consumer financial independence through credit unions. Visit the Foundation's web site at www.cuna.org/ncuf.html