AACUC Chairman Anderson and Board Secretary Montgomery providing holiday cheer to victims of Hurricane Harvey
HOUSTON (PRWEB) January 16, 2018 -- The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) continues to live the credit union motto of people helping people. During the holiday season, Chairman Timothy L. Anderson and Board Secretary Sheilah Montgomery, visited Houston, Texas and delivered financial aid to those still severely affected by Hurricane Harvey. Donations were solicited through a humanitarian outreach that permeated the credit union industry.
Through this call for aid, the United States Senate Federal Credit Union donated $40,000 to the AACUC for the expressed purpose of helping people of color and low-income individuals, who are disproportionally affected by these types of natural disasters. Led by Secretary Montgomery, AACUC worked with four Houston credit unions and their CEOs, Houston Metropolitan FCU – Malcolm Rene, Light Commerce CU – Harlene Johnson, Team Financial CU – Lynda Milton and BCM FCU – Tony Black, along with local city officials, to identify individuals in distress. Overall, we were able to help 36 families, many still displaced and not able to live in their homes. Some lost everything, and to hear their stories of despair, was heartbreaking.
“Helping others is the true mission of the credit union movement, said Anderson (who is also the CEO at the Government Printing Office Federal Credit Union in Washington DC). The people we visited suffered great loss. Some may never fully recover, while others are praying for some sense of normalcy. The stories of being trapped in homes submerged with water up to your neck, is just unimaginable.”
The AACUC Board of Directors made assisting our member credit unions and their members a top priority at the close of 2017. In 2005 the AACUC was instrumental in assisting credit unions hit with devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many credit unions in the southeast region of Louisiana were affected. As a result of the devastation to credit unions, the AACUC Mentorship Committee established an assessment team. The purpose of the assessment team was to work with affected credit unions in identifying immediate and long-term needs, and providing resources for survival. Members of the assessment team visited New Orleans and other immediate surrounding areas to work with the stabilization of approximately 12 credit unions. Grants totaling approximately $90,000 were secured from the National Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU) the Canadian League and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to assist in the relief effort.
About AACUC:
The AACUC was created to increase the strength of the global credit union community. In 1999 the AACUC became a 501c3 non-profit organization. Over the years, AACUC has grown and is ever changing to meet the needs of the dynamic credit union community which it serves. We are an all-encompassing organization for individuals (professionals and volunteers) in credit unions, insurance, regulatory, consultants and other entities in the credit union movement.
Renee Sattiewhite, AACUC, http://www.aacuc.org, +1 770.761.2769, [email protected]
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