PHILADELPHIA — What do Santa and credit unions have in common? The people-helping-people philosophy.
So it was only fitting that American Heritage FCU CEO Bruce Foulke recently took a turn at playing Santa, traveling all the way to Busia, Kenya to bring a dollop of the Christmas spirit and a heaping dose of the people-helping-people philosophy to the African orphanage.
The $1.33 billion American Heritage has a long-standing relationship with the Kenyan organization, conducting regular fundraisers that have helped build a new facility for the orphanage, which includes electricity and clean drinking water. The CU's efforts have also helped cover food costs for the more than 120 children housed there and collected medical and school supplies, as well.
This most recent trip was Foulke's second time visiting the orphanage. Credit Union Journal asked the CEO-turned-Santa to share about his experience in Kenya.
Credit Union Journal: How and why was this particular charity/orphanage chosen? Why a Kenyan charity as opposed to something closer to home?
Foulke: I first started working with Kenyan credit unions in 1999, when I was Chairman of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and made my firs t visit to Kenya in 2000. Since then, we have had many representatives of Kenyan "SACCOs" (the term used for credit unions in Kenya) visit American Heritage for training through a partnership with PCUA and the World Council of Credit Unions. I first heard about the Busia Orphanage through World Council and was inspired by what they were doing without any government help for children whose parents had died of AIDS/HIV.
We are very active in our community here at home. American Heritage was the first credit union to establish its own Foundation in 1996 - the Kids-N-Hope Foundation, which supports the Music Therapy Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - and we have raised over $927,000 for that program since its inception. We have been recognized with annual Dora Maxwell Awards on both a statewide and national level for that and a number of other local community initiatives like our Adopt-A-Family, Books-4-Kids and Adopt-A-Friend programs. We also actively support the charitable efforts of our sponsor companies. So we didn't choose to support a Kenyan charity in place of any of our local initiatives. We do this in addition to what we are already doing locally. We are just extending the reach of our community involvement beyond our borders to the world community.
CUJ: What was the most memorable moment of your trip?
Foulke: Playing Santa for the kids was probably my most memorable moment. Just seeing how excited and happy they were. Seeing their smiles and the gratitude in their eyes made the trip for me. Two years ago when I came, many of them were lethargic and stand-offish. Since we have been supporting them with food and medical supplies and school supplies and flip-flops for their feet, they seem to be more engaged. I was also amazed at how incredibly well behaved they are for children in such extreme poverty. Stella, who runs the orphanage, has done a tremendous job.
CUJ: When you were in Kenya, what did you miss most about the US? Now that you're back, what do you miss most about Kenya?
Foulke: McDonalds! Seriously, I really missed my family, but what is really noticeable is the lack of luxuries that we have here that they don't. Now that I am back, I have a new appreciation of what we have in this country. But it also has kind of hit home to me how friendly and outgoing the people of Kenya are without having those luxuries that we take for granted every day.
CUJ: The holidays (among other things) must be different in Kenya. What were some of the differences you saw during your travels?
Foulke: Things are simpler there. It's not as commercialized. So, while they don't really celebrate Christmas as we do, they do get dressed up and celebrate holidays. But they are mostly government holidays, rather than religious holidays.
CUJ: No matter the differences, some things are universal. What similarities did you see?
Foulke: People are the same everywhere. They show emotion when they are happy or sad. We all laugh and cry. Just because you are an orphan living in extreme poverty, it doesn't mean you can't be happy or make a life for yourself. I met the first graduates of the orphanage and they are now studying to be doctors and software engineers. As we have done with our community work here, I believe we are making a difference in people's lives by living up to our people-helping-people motto.
