Credit Unions Nationwide Pledge Support for Life-Saving Initiative
Georgia’s Own Credit Union, the third largest credit union in Georgia, joined a coalition of over 20 credit unions in the United States raising money for the Polish American Credit Union Support Fund. Georgia’s Own donated $15,000 to the initiative, which has raised over $400,000 for Ukrainian civilians injured or impacted by the war.
The fund began after Bruce Foulke, a volunteer firefighter and president and CEO of American Heritage Credit Union in Pennsylvania, and Dr. Brian Branch, a retired former president of the World Council of Credit Unions, visited the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after the war began and saw the challenges refugees were having receiving medical supplies and treatment. Given transportation and infrastructure were key issues, the American benefactors began reaching out to friends and colleagues at leading credit unions across the United States to rally support, highlighted by the purchase of ambulances to transport medical supplies from Poland back into Ukraine.
“When it comes to our charitable giving, we always look for ways to make a direct impact, and this initiative created by Bruce and Brian addresses a key issue they’ve witnessed firsthand,” said Dave Preter, president and CEO of Georgia’s Own Credit Union. “On behalf of our staff and members, we are proud to support this critical cause and join our credit union colleagues in solidarity for humanitarianism.”
After crossing the $300,000 threshold, leaders of the relief mission in Poland purchased three ambulances, with additional funds raised going to help refugee families find more permanent housing, place refugee children in schools and find employment for refugees.
“It’s one thing to watch what’s happening on the news, but after seeing over 2,000 refugees in need when we visited the Ukraine-Poland border in April, it was impossible not to act,” said Bruce Foulke. “We are so grateful to credit unions like Georgia’s Own who have stepped up to meet this challenge and served as an example to its members and the community.”
Georgia’s Own has been actively involved in multiple efforts for Ukrainian relief, having recently joined forces with four other Georgia credit unions to raise $30,000 for the Ukrainian Displacement Fund. Facilitated by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, that donation is specifically supporting Ukrainian credit union members and staff whose lives have been upended by the ongoing conflict.
For more information about the Georgia’s Own Foundation, please visit GeorgiasOwnFoundation.org.
About Georgia’s Own Credit Union
Georgia’s Own Credit Union has been a source of full-service banking and financial solutions for Georgians since 1934. Because it’s owned by and reports to its members (instead of stockholders), the not-for-profit institution is able to provide lower loan rates and fewer and lower fees than what is typically found in the market, all of which amounts to significant savings for families across the state. The 87-year-old credit union serves the metro Atlanta and surrounding areas, as well as Savannah, Albany and Augusta through its 29 branch locations, its contact centers, 24/7 phone banking, as well as its mobile, tablet and online banking platforms. Visit georgiasown.org to discover more about its commercial, industrial, commercial real estate, equipment and government-secured lending, in addition to a full suite of business deposit products, on-line business banking, treasury solutions, merchant service and payroll services.
