The float celebrates 30 years of working together to fight heart disease and stroke

Company Website: http://www.unionbank.com
LOS ANGELES -- (Business Wire)

Union Bank and the American Heart Association (AHA) Western States Affiliate announced today that former San Francisco 49er and four-time Super Bowl champion Jesse Sapolu along with 11-year-old heart disease survivor Kaelyn Graham will serve as “Heart Champions” on the organizations’ Union of Hearts float in the 2016 Pasadena Rose Parade.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151130006424/en/

Jesse Sapolu (Photo: Business Wire)

The pair will ride on the colorful float as it passes through Pasadena on New Year’s Day during the world-famous event, which Union Bank and the American Heart Association are using to celebrate their 30-year collaboration and welcome many additional years of partnerships in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Reflecting this year’s parade theme, “Find Your Adventure,” their extraordinary life stories will help inspire others to pursue their own heart-healthy adventures.

Jesse and Kaelyn are volunteering for this prominent position because both have experienced heart disease firsthand. Sapolu, who spent his entire 15-year NFL career as a lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, secretly played with a heart condition that left him dangerously short of breath during strenuous physical activities. While unable to take a full, deep breath he learned to take a series of short breaths to keep his body fully oxygenated during practice and at games.

That didn’t stop Sapolu from reaching the peak of his profession. During his decorated playing career, Sapolu earned four Super Bowl titles, appeared in nine NFC title games, went to the Pro Bowl twice and received two All-Pro selections before retiring in 1997. However, he realized the need to tell his story after the untimely death of his son’s teammate, who collapsed while playing college basketball and later passed away due to an enlarged heart. Sapolu resolved to bring greater awareness to heart disease and contribute to the national conversation about the importance of heart health in youth sports. “Many young people are living with the same condition I have, or similar conditions, and I want them to know they can still be champions,” Sapolu said. “Improving awareness and education about these important issues is key to building happier and healthier lives.”

His inspiring memoir, “I Gave My Heart to San Francisco,” chronicles his upbringing, his drive for success, and his passion for football and for life. The book also provides a platform for Sapolu to bring awareness to heart disease and help combat the nation’s No. 1 killer.

Eleven-year-old Kaelyn Graham was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare defect that essentially left her with half of a functioning heart. At only 11 days old, she underwent her first of three open heart procedures, and later underwent a nine-hour surgery to receive a new heart at the age of six. To date, she has undergone 33 surgical procedures and takes numerous medications to live with her donor heart. But she hasn’t let any of it diminish her joy for life.

Now in fifth grade, Kaelyn is thriving. While some normal physical activities can be challenging, she enthusiastically approaches each day in the spirit of her personal motto: “Keep moving forward!” She and her family look to groundbreaking medical research — including work supported by the AHA — as they continue to overcome the odds against heart disease.

“Jesse and Kaelyn’s remarkable courage in the face of adversity is an inspiration to us all,” said Pierre P. Habis, Head of Retail Banking and Enterprise Marketing, Union Bank and American Heart Association Chairman-Elect Western States Affiliate. “The American Heart Association is at the forefront of supporting new breakthroughs in the fight against cardiovascular disease. The bank is proud to stand alongside the AHA in our quest to end heart disease and stroke so that one day people like Kaelyn and Jesse, and everyone who has a personal connection to the illness can live longer, healthier lives.”

“These Heart Champions exemplify the strength and perseverance of all people living with heart disease and stroke,” said Kathy Rogers, Executive Vice President of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate. “Our friends at Union Bank have helped us make a huge difference in cultivating healthier communities through crucial fundraising and community outreach efforts. We are excited to share the uplifting stories of people like Jesse and Kaelyn, especially through a platform like the Rose Parade that allows us to communicate our heart-healthy message to millions.”

The float’s name — Union of Hearts — is a tribute to the longtime collaboration between Union Bank and the AHA, and will be carefully decorated with more than 15,000 flowers. Designed and built by Phoenix Decorating Company, the float measures 25 feet high, 18 feet wide, and 55 feet long, and will weigh approximately 25,000 pounds. It will also feature a show-stopping daytime fireworks display as it chugs along to the sound of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” — a song the AHA frequently uses in CPR training to demonstrate the proper rhythm of chest compressions.

*Headshots of Jesse Sapolu and Kaelyn Graham are available upon request.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke — the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

MUFG Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service bank with offices across the United States. We provide a wide spectrum of corporate, commercial and retail banking and wealth management solutions to meet the needs of customers. We also offer an extensive portfolio of value-added solutions for customers, including investment banking, personal and corporate trust, global custody, transaction banking, capital markets, and other services. With assets of $114.3 billion, as of September 30, 2015, MUFG Union Bank has strong capital reserves, credit ratings and capital ratios relative to peer banks. MUFG Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE: MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations with total assets of approximately ¥289.2 trillion (JPY) or $2.4 trillion (USD)¹, as of September 30, 2015. The corporate headquarters (principal executive office) for MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation, which is the financial holding company and MUFG Union Bank, is in New York City. The main banking office of MUFG Union Bank is in San Francisco, California.

¹ Exchange rate of 1 USD=¥119.96 as of September 30, 2015

©2015 MUFG Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Union Bank is a registered trademark and brand name of MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151130006424/en/

Contacts:

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
Erika Montelongo, 818-425-0998
Erika.montelongo@unionbank.com
@UnionBankNews
or
American Heart Association
Kristine Kelly, 213-453-9277
Kristine.Kelly@heart.org

Source: MUFG Union Bank, N.A.