Chatfield Fund To Provide Educational Opportunities to Developing Country Leaders: Fund Raises $157,000

L-R: League President and CEO David L. Chatfield, his daughter Danielle Chatfield, League Executive Vice President Matthew Davidson, Arizona Credit Union System President and CEO and World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) Chairman Gary Plank, Kris Chatifield, and WOCCU CEO Pete Crear pose with the $157,000 donation check for the David L. Chatfield International Training Fund. (Photo provided by CCUL)

Madison, WI - World Council of Credit Unions' (WOCCU) newest charitable fund, the David L. Chatfield International Training Fund will support credit union education programs in developing countries. The fund honors Chatfield, who retires as California Credit Union League CEO in April 2006, and will support training for credit union staff and volunteers in developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

California Credit Union League staff members were instrumental in helping to raise funds by publishing tribute messages in a Windows of Opportunity special edition of the the California Credit Union League's magazine. More than 120 different organizations and individuals contributed. The goal of the fund is to reach out to provide formal training to many in the credit union system who wouldn't otherwise have access to professional level training on basic skills such as lending, technology and credit union governance.

For the next three years, the Chatfield Fund will help support programs such as the African Technical Conference and the Latin American Best Practices Conference, along with other international training. Those contributing to the David L. Chatfield Fund, while honoring a credit union leader who has given much to the national and international credit union system, will also help to strengthen skills of their colleagues in other countries.

"I was honored and touched at the creation of and contributions to the fund in my name to support educational opportunities of fellow credit union leaders in developing countries. Education is the answer to so many challenges we face, at home and abroad. I have seen first hand through my work with World Council that credit union development is one of the tools that can help fight against poverty and oppression. I am proud of the fund that will help credit union leaders in developing countries better equip themselves to build stronger credit unions for their members and the communities they serve," noted David Chatfield, president and CEO, California Credit Union League.

Pete Crear, WOCCU chief executive officer, noted, "Education is a key factor in furthering international credit union development. The David L. Chatfield Fund will help to further build on the experience of credit union leaders in developing countries by helping to supply them access to financial tools necessary to succeed."

For more information on how to contribute to the David L. Chatfield Fund, please contact Valerie Breunig, WOCCU fundraiser at 608-231-7353 or vbreunig@woccu.or g.

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.