Credit Unions are longtime supporters of Make-A-Wish New Hampshire according to Ron Covey, CEO of St. Mary’s Bank. Make-A-Wish New Hampshire is a non-profit organization that grants wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“Our partnership started in 1997,” said Covey, who also serves as Chairman of the Social Responsibility Committee for the NH Credit Union League. “So far this year, the league has raised over $180,000 for the foundation.”

Covey is also extremely proud of one recent milestone in fundraising for the organization achieved by one of the Social Responsibility Committee members.

Jack Crane, Executive Vice President, St. Mary’s Financial Services for St. Mary’s Bank supports Make-A-Wish professionally and personally. He and fellow band mate, Bob Desmarais, owner of NH Tunes in Manchester, spend their weekends entertaining crowds for the cause as the acoustic, “happy hour duo,” The Sonic Boomers.

“It’s wonderful that Jack has been able to help raise over $25,000 by combining his passion for music and his commitment to giving back,” said Covey.

On October 3, 2014, the Sonic Boomers reached the $25,000 milestone surrounded by friends, family and fans at Shorty’s Restaurant in Bedford. Julie Baron, CEO of Make-A-Wish NH was also in attendance.

Crane and Desmarais formed their band in 2007, right around the same time that Crane started volunteering on the Social Responsibility Committee for the New Hampshire Credit Union League.

“It started out as a fun idea and it just blossomed from there,” said Crane. “We first started playing a few gigs once or twice a month, now we are playing a couple times every weekend.”

At each gig, they bring along the “traveling tip bucket” and display it with a sign that reads, “We are not starving musicians. 100% of your gratuity is donated to Make-A-Wish.”

Since the Sonic Boomers started, they have played over 400 shows. The duo and the traveling tip bucket will be making their next local appearance on Saturday, October 25th at the Black Water Grill in Salem, NH from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. The schedule for upcoming events can be found at www.nhtunes.biz.

About the New Hampshire Credit Union Social Responsibility Committee
The New Hampshire Credit Union League actively supports and encourages credit unions in their community outreach efforts. In support of those efforts, the League maintains a committee on Social Responsibility. The purpose of that committee is to develop a unified plan of social responsibility for the League through recommendations to the League's Board of Directors. That plan features programs and events that focus statewide efforts on designated charitable and community activities and that enhance the positive image of credit unions as well as the public's overall awareness of them.

About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish serves a unique, and vital, role in helping strengthen and empower children battling life-threatening medical conditions. Every 4 days Make-A-Wish® New Hampshire grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in New Hampshire. We believe that a wish experience can be a game-changer. This one belief guides us in everything we do. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve.