MADISON, Wis.—The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is building upon its long tradition of providing relief to credit unions reeling from natural disasters by launching Project Storm Break—an annual campaign to establish a forward-prepared disaster fund.
The Worldwide Foundation—the international and charitable arm of World Council of Credit Unions—seeks to establish a reserve fund of $100,000 that can be tapped to help impacted credit unions in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.
“This is the first time we are proactively asking for donations from individuals and institutions who see value in getting ahead of the storm, because it’s not a matter of if, but when, the next disaster will strike,” said Mike Reuter, executive director of the Worldwide Foundation. “Past relief campaigns have put out the call worldwide after a disaster, but invariably, people on the ground are suffering within minutes or hours of a storm, earthquake or fire. Having the resources on hand to send immediately, or even in advance to credit union systems so they can be more proactive, is central to Project Storm Break’s purpose.”
Formal Launch at World CU Conference
The World Council of Credit Unions said a formal launch of Project Storm Break will take place at the 2019 World Credit Union Conference (WCUC 2019) in The Bahamas, July 28-31, in partnership with the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions.
Initial supporters for Project Storm Break include the Indiana league, the Carolinas Foundation, Unitus Community CU, Steve and Michelle Stapp, Jamaica Teachers Association Cooperative, and Richard Miller, WOCCU said.
The organization said credit union disaster relief response has always been a core pillar of purpose for the Worldwide Foundation, and that since 2015, relief efforts have raised more than $350,000 to assist credit unions responding to disasters in Nepal, Ecuador, Dominica and Puerto Rico.
Donations can be made on the Project Storm Break campaign page or by texting the keyword “STORMBREAK” to 44-321.