More Than $300k Added to Ukrainian CU Displacement Fund

Credit unions, leagues and credit union-affiliated organizations continued to raise money for the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund as the bloody Russian invasion of the country entered its second month.

On Monday, the Carolinas Credit Union League announced a $280,000 donation to the Fund. The League, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation and 23 other Carolinas-based credit unions raised the money, according to a statement. Initially, the League and Foundation had set a goal of raising $50,000.

“Historically, when one of our global credit union communities is under crisis, the Carolinas League, its Foundation and credit union community have stepped forward,” Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions Executive Director Mike Reuter said. “It is no different with supporting Ukraine’s credit union system and members during this war. Funding will be divided between immediate, short-term needs of current members and their credit unions as well as holding a portion in reserve as plans are laid to help reconstruct Ukraine’s credit union movement.”

The Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund was launched on Feb. 27 by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable arm of WOCCU, in response to the Russian military attacking the country on Feb. 24.

According to reports, at least 24,000 people have died and 10 million citizens have been displaced since the beginning of the war.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for WOCCU emailed CU Times stating that the Fund has raised $852,000 so far.

Other credit unions and organizations that have recently announced donations to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund include:

• First Capital Federal Credit Union ($304 million, York, Pa.) donated $800.
• Chartway Federal Credit Union ($2.5 billion, Virginia Beach, Va.) donated $10,000.
• Eagle Community Credit Union ($329 million, Foothill Ranch, Calif.) donated $10,000.
• Southeastern Credit Union Foundation (Tallahassee, Fla.) donated $10,000.