Valley Strong Credit Union will donate $1 million toward a cardiac catheterization lab at Adventist Health Hanford. Photo via Valley Strong Credit Union

A Central Valley credit union has made a significant pledge of support for heart health in Hanford with a $1 million gift.

Bakersfield-based Valley Strong Credit Union’s donation will go toward the $10 million cardiac catheterization lab at Adventist Health Hanford, which is part of a larger $40 million investment to improve heart care services in Hanford.

So-called “cath labs” are specialized medical facilities where diagnostic and therapeutic procedures related to the heart and blood vessels are performed using catheters or tubes, according to an Adventist Health news release.

“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, according to the release.

“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, according to the release.

Valley Strong Credit Union operates 31 branches in Kern, Kings, San Joaquin, Solano and Tulare counties, serving more than 360,000 members and holding about $4 billion in assets.

Valley Strong Credit Union’s Hanford branch opened in 2024.

The credit union expanded outside of Kern County for the first time in 2020, opening branches in Tulare and Porterville. In 2022 came Visalia and Dinuba locations.

Valley Strong Credit Union was established in 1938 at Bakersfield High School. In 2020, it rebranded from Kern Schools Federal Credit Union.

In 2021 Valley Strong Ballpark was born in Visalia as the home of the Rawhide baseball team — product of a 10-year naming rights deal.