Grants Help Fund UnderservedProjects

WASHINGTON - (02/23/06) – The National CU Foundationannounced Wednesday it has awarded 18 grants worth a total of$910,000, to help support $3.5 million in credit union outreachprojects for underserved communities. The Foundation is channelingthe money from its Community Investment Fund to 11 credit unionsand seven credit union organizations, which will use the funding toleverage $2.6 million in matching funds from other donors. Thefunds will, among other things, help Financial Health CU, Lansing,Mich., create a financial education program for disabled youth;help Prospera CU, Appleton, Wis., develop a branch inside aGoodwill Industries outlet for low income employees and customers;help El Futuro FCU, Porterville, Calif., set up a financialliteracy and income tax assistance program for migrant workers inthe San Joaquin Valley; help the Filene Research Instituteintroduce new products to assist low income members at 125 creditunions; and help the Texas CU Foundation implement a state-mandatedfinancial literacy program for high students throughout thestate.