NY's Credit Union Community Responds To Tsunami Relief Fund

NYCUF

Albany, NY – The New York Credit Union Foundation (NYCUF) has collected a total of $63,906 in Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund donations.

NYCUF has transferred the funds, donated by 53 New York credit unions, 58 individuals, and the Metropolitan District of the NYSCUL, to the World Council of Credit Union's (WOCCU) Worldwide Foundation. WOCCU will distribute 100% of the funds to help rebuild credit unions demolished by the recent Asian tsunami.

"On behalf of the NYCUF, I would like to thank all those who donated to our Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund," said James Mack, chairman, NYCUF Board of Trustees. "I would also like to extend a special thank you to the following credit unions for their leadership donations: Municipal CU, $10,000; Capital Communications FCU, $5,000 and Suffolk FCU, $5,000.

Mid-Hudson Valley FCU (MHVFCU) is one example of the many credit unions that stepped up to support the relief effort. Collection boxes were placed in each of their five offices while the credit union's community relations committee announced they would match donations up to $2,500. With contributions from employees, members, two community organizations and the matching funds, MHVFCU donated an impressive $7,215.61.

"NYCUF established the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund right after the New Year," said Diane LaVigna Wixted, NYCUF's executive director, "to facilitate donations from New York credit unions wanting to assist the credit unions, staff, volunteers and members impacted by the massive tsunami that devastated 11 nations."

The New York Credit Union Foundation works to help improve the financial well-being of people everywhere by supporting initiatives that express the credit union difference and the movement's "people helping people" philosophy. The Foundation has also served as a conduit of financial aid to victims of natural disasters, including victims of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, the California wildfires, Florida hurricanes, and Washington Postal Employees in the wake of anthrax attacks. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Foundation raised more than $1.4 million for credit union victims of the catastrophe. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.nycuf.org.

El Consejo Mundial de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito es la asociación gremial y agencia de desarrollo para el sistema internacional de cooperativas de ahorro y crédito. El Consejo Mundial promueve el crecimiento sustentable de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y otras cooperativas financieras en todo el mundo a fin de facultar a las personas para que mejoren su calidad de vida a través del acceso a servicios financieros asequibles y de alta calidad. El Consejo Mundial realiza esfuerzos de defensa activa en representación del sistema global de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito ante organizaciones internacionales y trabaja con gobiernos nacionales para mejorar la legislación y la regulación. Sus programas de asistencia técnica introducen nuevas herramientas y tecnologías para fortalecer el desempeño financiero de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito y profundizar su alcance comunitario.

El Consejo Mundial ha implementado 290 programas de asistencia técnica en 71 países. A nivel mundial, 51,000 cooperativas de ahorro y crédito en 100 países atienden a 196 millones de personas. Obtenga más información sobre el impacto global del Consejo Mundial en www.woccu.org.