Ukrainian CU Displacement Fund Nears $500k in Donations

As Fund donations come in, other credit unions are gathering money, supplies and food for Ukrainian refugees.

American Heritage Credit Union associates sort, pack and deliver thousands of donated medical supplies and essential goods to Ukrainian National Women’s League of America during the week of March 14, 2022. (Source: American Heritage CU)

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU), the charitable arm of WOCCU, announced Monday that credit unions and credit union-related organizations had donated $480,000 to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund since it was launched on Feb. 27.

“The generosity of our U.S. and international credit union communities has been overwhelming. Individuals and institutions are stepping forward to assist in the relief of displaced Ukrainian credit union members and citizens in conjunction with supporting our plans to aid in the recovery of Ukraine’s credit union system,” WFCU Executive Director Mike Reuter said in a statement.

Reuter added, “Our task force, comprised of internal and external stakeholders, will strategically deploy this critical resource in helping address the short- and long-term needs of our Ukrainian credit union colleagues.”

On March 15, WFCU disbursed the first $50,000 from its Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund to the Podolsk Regional Development Agency (PARD), a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that is providing humanitarian assistance to hundreds of refugees from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Melitopol and other cities who are seeking refuge in the Vinnytsia region of western Ukraine.

According to WFCU, nearly 20 credit unions had donated or pledged at least $10,000 to the Fund. The list included the following:

$100,000 in Donations or Pledges

$75.000 in Donations or Pledges

$25,000 in Donations or Pledges

$10,000 in Donations or Pledges

In addition, the Bremerton, Wash.-based Kitsap Credit Union ($2 billion in assets, 123,554 members) donated $10,000 to the Fund and has encouraged its members to donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund run by the United Nations.

The credit union recently kicked off a campaign at its branches, and on its website and social media channels calling for member donations.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to our Ukrainian neighbors, and although separated by distance, we stand beside them at the most devastating moment of their lives,” Kitsap CEO Shawn Gilfedder said.

Also, the Philadelphia-based American Heritage Credit Union ($3.9 billion in assets, 247,199 members) led a donation drive of goods and supplies for Ukrainian refugees.

Donations from American Heritage CU are loaded for delivery. (Source: American Heritage CU)

According to a statement from American Heritage on Tuesday, the credit union collected first-aid supplies, outerwear, non-perishable foods, toiletries, food, diapers and baby formula over the past two weeks. The items were given to the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Inc. (UNWLA) and will be shipped directly to organizations and families in Eastern Europe.

President/CEO Bruce Foulke said, “I am devastated by the events unfolding in Eastern Europe and the number of lives it has impacted. Everyone at American Heritage is doing their part to help our fellow global citizens: Several of our American Heritage associates are already longtime volunteers at UNWLA, and our associates have quickly mobilized and collected thousands of items on their behalf that will have an immediate and direct impact on many people. In addition, our Board and I are working with our credit union movement partners to provide much-needed funding for transportation and logistics programs that will hasten the medical and housing crisis that so many Ukrainian refugees now face. Credit unions are about people helping people, and I am very proud and grateful that our associates are so generous in this time of need.”

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