MADISON, Wis.—Six credit unions in Haiti that were devastated by an August 14 earthquake will soon be operating again following a $45,000 grant issued through Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions’ Project Storm Break initiative.
According to the World Council of Credit Unions, the money will help the impacted credit unions set up emergency tents, IT equipment and other supplies needed to begin serving members as assessments on their damaged permanent structures continue.
All six credit unions are located near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which struck in the southwest corner of Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula.
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of WOCCU, said it will administer the grant to Association Nationale des Caisses Populaires Haitiennes (ANACAPH), the World Council’s affiliate member in the country.
ANACAPH represents 86 credit unions serving more than one-million members in Haiti.
WOCCU said ANACAPH will disburse the funds among the six effected credit unions and provide updates on their progress to Worldwide Foundation. As assessments of the credit union damage in Haiti continue, Worldwide Foundation will work with ANACAPH to determine a long-range relief campaign through Project Storm Break, WOCCU added.
“It is because of the generosity of credit union peers worldwide that we are able to partner with ANACAPH to get these six credit unions up and running again," said Mike Reuter, executive director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions. “Project Storm Break did its job of responding as quickly as possible post-earthquake in coordinating a short-term relief response with ANACAPH and its member credit unions.”
WOCCU said donations to replenish the Project Storm Break fund are appreciated and needed to sustain Worldwide Foundation's relief efforts. For additional info, visit the Worldwide Foundation’s Project Storm Break page to make a contribution.