MADISON, Wis.–The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) said it has committed up to $225,000 from its CUAid program in response to the catastrophic destruction left by Hurricane Ian, primarily in Southwestern Florida.
The grant will be made to the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation, which has identified over 350 credit union employees and volunteers who were impacted by the storm—although that number is expected to rise (see related reporting in CUToday.info).
“CUAid was made for moments like this,” said André Parraway, the Foundation’s chief financial and operations officer. “We manage the fund in such a way as to position us to provide support, even when multiple disasters happen in quick succession. But we are seeing environmental disasters wreak more havoc, more often. In light of that, and following both Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, the Foundation is calling on our credit union and system partners to continue to donate to CUAid.”
The Foundation noted it has already committed up to $250,000 of CUAid funds to Inclusiv, which is managing individual donations to credit union employees and volunteers in Puerto Rico, affected by Hurricane Fiona.
According to the Foundation, this latest grant will be managed similarly. The commitment is made to the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation, which will then work on the ground across Florida to identify and provide financial support to affected credit union colleagues.
‘Sheer Scale of Damage’
“Hurricane Ian has leveled entire communities to the ground. This was the fifth strongest storm to ever hit the USA, and a week later, it’s still hard to take in the sheer scale of damage and destruction,” said Bobbi Grady, executive director at the Southeastern Credit Union Foundation. “Many of our colleagues have lost everything. The support we can provide through CUAid is one of the first steps in what will be a long road to recovery and repair.”