WFCU Grant Helps Credit Union Members in Belize Recover from Hurricane Lisa
Disaster relief funds matched by Caribbean and Belize credit union leagues
06 April 2023
MADISON, Wis—50 credit union members in Belize are making repairs to hurricane-related property damages thanks to $40,000 in disaster relief funds provided by Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU), the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions’ (CCCU) Development Foundation and the Belize Credit Union League.
On November 2, 2022, Hurricane Lisa made landfall in the Central American nation as a category-one storm, causing extensive damage. More than 5,000 houses were either fully or partially destroyed.
After observing Lisa’s catastrophic impact, specifically in Belize City, the Belize Credit Union League (BCUL), a member organization of CCCU, decided to focus its relief efforts on credit union members who sustained substantial property damage.
Worldwide Foundation of Credit Unions was there to support those efforts, providing a $10,000 grant to CCCU’s Development Foundation, which matched WFCU’s grant for a total assistance package of $20,000 for BCUL.
BCUL matched those combined funds and then worked through the Belize City Council to deliver just over $40,000 to 50 members of two credit unions, Holy Redeemer Credit Union and St. John’s Credit Union Limited.
“With the support of CCCU and WFCU, BCUL was able to positively impact the lives of 50 residents of Belize City. On behalf of our member credit unions, the Belize City Council, and the recipients of the grant funds, thank you for your donation that truly has made a difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable members,” BCUL officials wrote in their March 31 Hurricane Lisa Relief Fund report.
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, as the strategic partner of the World Council, bridges gaps impacting credit unions' ability to grow and advance financial inclusion worldwide. Our commitment to provide global credit union journeys augments our shared vision with World Council's of realizing a vibrant and growing global credit union movement. Worldwide Foundation's philanthropy advances World Council's technical capacity to strengthen credit union systems that advance financial inclusion to underserved communities.
World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the global trade association for the credit union movement, advancing cooperative finance worldwide. Through advocacy, education and more than 300 technical assistance programs in 90 countries, WOCCU advances financial inclusion and strengthens cooperative finance across diverse markets. Globally, more than 67,000 credit unions across over 100 countries serve more than 412 million people and hold over $3.8 Trillion (USD) in assets. Learn more at www.woccu.org.
Organization: World Council of Credit Unions
E-mail: lstanislawski@woccu.org
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