PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The World Council of CUs has created a relief fund and begun accepting donations following the devastating earthquake that may have killed as many as 100,000 in Haiti.
Haiti has 175 credit unions that serve some 400,000 members. WOCCU reported yesterday it was attempting to contact local authorities and its own program staff who have been working in the country, with Greta Greathouse, chief of party for WOCCU’s Haiti program, indicating WOCCU staff members are uninjured and accounted for. WOCCU reported that communications remain intermittent.
In July 2009, WOCCU launched a three-year program to extend financial services to Haiti's rural poor with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development.
"The people of Haiti already had difficult lives, and it's almost impossible to imagine the devastation the earthquake has brought them," said Pete Crear, WOCCU president. "I'm thankful that our staff in Haiti is safe, and we are ready to assist them in their recovery efforts."
Donations can be made via check, credit card or wire to:
* Worldwide Foundation for CU, Inc., 5710 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
* Online at
* For wire transfer information, contact Valerie Breunig, Worldwide Foundation for CUs, 608-395-2055, or via e-mail at
* U.S. credit unions can also support WOCCU's relief efforts by donating through the National CU Foundation's CUAid system at
