The readers of Credit Union Magazine have named Warren Morrow the 2013 Credit Union Hero of the Year (posthumously).

Morrow founded Coopera, a full-service Hispanic market solutions company, with the belief that Hispanics need credit unions as much as credit unions need Hispanics.

He passed away Feb. 15, 2012, at the age of 34. His wife, Christina Fernandez-Morrow, will accept the award on his behalf during the America’s Credit Union Conference in New York City June 30 to July 3.

Morrow believed deeply in helping underserved Hispanics receive dignified financial services, says Coopera CEO Miriam De Dios.

“By bringing financial stability to a home, Warren believed, you could begin to address other social issues,” she says. “Warren envisioned a credit union movement that rallied around serving the underserved Latino community. He would often say, ‘Hispanics need credit unions, as much as credit unions need Hispanics.’”

“Warren had a powerful vision that outreach to the underserved Hispanic community should not be philanthropy,” adds Murray Williams, chief operating officer for the Iowa Credit Union League. “Instead, a business could do well by doing good—and everyone would benefit.”

Coopera is owned by Affiliates Management Co., the holding company of the Iowa Credit Union League.

Credit Union Magazine readers also lauded these leaders as credit union heroes:

• Lily Newfarmer, CEO of Tarrant County Credit Union in Fort Worth, Texas;
• Anabela Pereira, CEO of Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union, Springfield, Mass.; and
• Scott Prior, president/CEO of Connection Credit Union in Silverdale, Wash.

Voting took place on creditunionmagazine.com April 1 through May 17.