Worldwide Foundation Launches Campaign to Support Ukraine’s Credit Unions

Thursday 25 January 2024

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) utilised the inaugural Cooperative Voices Event  to launch a new fundraising effort in support of Ukrainian credit unions impacted by the current military  conflict in the Eastern European nation.

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.

Between proceeds from the Cooperative Voices Event, held on the eve of Credit Union National Association’s (CUNA) Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), and donations from Worldwide Foundation Champions, more than $43,000 were raised for the Displacement Fund in just the first few hours of the campaign.

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 boasts a 30-year history of providing both regulatory and development support to build and strengthen credit unions there.

“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.

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. 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,” said Reuter.

Anyone interested in donating to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund can do so by clicking here.