Distribution to credit unions made possible by second large donation from National Credit Union Federation of Korea (NACUFOK)

MADISON, Wis.—The National Credit Union Federation of Korea (NACUFOK) made a sizeable donation of facemasks to World Council of Credit Unions for the second time in less than a year in an effort to help credit union systems still facing a critical need for more personal protective equipment (PPE) in the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, the charitable and engagement arm of World Council, has in turn repackaged those masks and paid to distribute them to credit union systems in at least five countries through the second wave of its Project Storm Break PPE initiative.

20,000 of the masks will go to credit unions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a nation of islands in the Caribbean facing the impacts of both COVID-19 and an ongoing volcanic eruption. Credit union systems in Peru, Panama, Kenya and Barbados have also requested and will receive masks.

The distribution comes less than one year after NACUFOK and the Worldwide Foundation teamed up to deliver 40,000 masks to credit union employees and members in more than 30 countries during the first wave of Project Storm Break’s PPE initiative.

NACUFOK President and CEO Younsik Kim, who serves as Chair of the WOCCU COVID-19 Response Committee, once again led the effort to purchase the masks and get them to World Council for distribution.

“The Worldwide Foundation continues to leverage Project Storm Break, our disaster relief fund, to respond to credit union systems in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributions by credit unions, individuals and system partners allow Project Storm Break to operate annually and provide this support,” said Mike Reuter, Executive Director of Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions.

Donations to replenish the Project Storm Break fund are appreciated and needed to sustain Worldwide Foundation’s relief efforts. Visit Worldwide Foundation’s Project Storm Break page to make a generous contribution.

The Worldwide Foundation is the fundraising and engagement arm of the World Council. Join us on a global journey to transform a billion lives worldwide using credit unions. Visit www.doglobalgood.org to start your journey today.

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, 86,055 credit unions in 118 countries serve 291 million people. Learn more about World Council’s impact around the world at www.woccu.org.