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Worldwide Foundation & Illinois Credit Union System Activate Guatemala Relief Fund

Volcan de Fuego Devastates Guatemala

MADISON, WI (June 21, 2018) — The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, in partnership with the Illinois Credit Union System (Illinois Credit Union League and ICUL Service Corporation), is putting a call out to the movement to aid our Guatemalan peer credit unions, their employees and members to provide immediate disaster relief support.

Volcan de Fuego, one of the two active volcanoes near the nation’s capital Guatemala City, erupted on June 3, destroying communities and leaving individuals destitute. Nearly two million people have been affected with hundreds more missing. Smoke and ash have rained on the nearby capital, covering a five-mile radius, burying entire villages and displacing families.

“It is through these difficult times that our global community comes together to show its strength and reach beyond borders to help those in need,” said World Council President and CEO Brian Branch, urging credit union leaders to offer their financial support in providing relief to those impacted by Volcan de Fuego.

“We are committed to supporting all credit unions and the safety of their members and staff. Our motto is ‘People Helping People’ and we are now being called to expand that attitude of service on a global scale. It is our duty to unite together in order to aid the disaster relief efforts in Guatemala,” said Tom Kane, President and CEO of the Illinois Credit Union System.

Monetary contributions are being requested to provide supplies to those affected, repair damaged credit union branches and help get credit union members back on their feet in providing financial training and services by supporting the rebuilding process of member businesses or farms.

Guatemala’s credit union system is comprised of 25 credit unions with 266 branches and 1.5 million members nationwide and is coordinated by FENACOAC, the nation’s cooperative network federation.

Click here to donate to Volcan de Fuego Relief Efforts

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is the official gift-receiving and grantmaking arm of World Council. Over the past four years, the Worldwide Foundation has delivered nearly US $1 million in aid to credit union organizations affected by natural disasters in the Philippines, Nepal, Ecuador, Malawi and Colombia.

About World Council of Credit Unions

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform 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 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 87,914 credit unions in 118 countries serve 393 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.

About the Worldwide Foundation

The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that shares the World Council’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion and empowerment to millions worldwide through credit unions. Inspiring and encouraging credit unions and their members to “Do Good. Do Global Good.” by participating and engaging the global credit union movement is the key strategy to its sustainability. For more information, visit www.doglobalgood.org.

About the Illinois Credit Union System (Illinois Credit Union League and ICUL Service Corporation)

The Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) is the primary trade association for nearly 300 state and federal credit unions doing business in Illinois. It focuses on providing legislative and regulatory advocacy, compliance assistance and information, and a wide range of educational and training services to those credit unions, who in turn serve approximately 3.4 million members. As a not-for-profit corporation chartered under the laws of the State of Illinois, membership in the League is open to any Illinois credit union doing business and operating in accordance with the Illinois Credit Union Act or the Federal Credit Union Act. ICUL Service Corporation (LSC)’s purpose is to help credit unions compete and to provide credit unions with a favorable operating environment and quality information, products and services, which have value, and which enable credit unions to exist, compete and prosper in the financial marketplace.

Contacts

Greg Neumann
gneumann@woccu.org
608-395-2048

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