WASHINGTON—The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) has launched a fundraising effort in support of Ukrainian credit unions being affected by the Russian military invasion of that country.
According to the Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund will help to mitigate both short- and long-term impacts to Ukraine's credit union system and those who look to it for support, including both employees and members.
The fundraising effort was announced during the Cooperative Voices Event held at the National Museum of the American Indian on the eve of CUNA’s GAC in Washington, and more than $43,000 was raised for the Displacement Fund in just the first few hours of the campaign, the Foundation reported.
Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is the charitable and engagement arm of World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), which has a pair of member credit union associations in Ukraine and which has a 30-year history of providing both regulatory and development support to build and strengthen credit unions in the country.
“Thank you to the (Worldwide) Foundation staff. This is the right thing to do, this is the global community, this is the power of a network like this,” said Elissa McCarter LaBorde, WOCCU president and CEO, during her speech at the Cooperative Voices Event.
Short & Long-Term Benefits
Mike Reuter, executive director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, said credit unions from around the world reached out over the past few days to ask how they could help their colleagues in Ukraine.
“Our global credit union community stepped forward immediately with both concern and support for their Ukrainian peers,” said Reuter. “Proceeds from the Cooperative Voices Event, as well as donations provided to the Displacement Fund, will help Ukraine’s credit unions in the short and long term.”
Those interested in making a donation can do so by clicking here. People in the United States can also donate by texting CUS4UKRAINE TO 44-321.
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