Affinity Credit Union Building a Better World
To mark International Credit Union day, Affinity Credit Union has announced an $80,000 donation to the Co-operative Development Foundation's Build a Better World Campaign.
For many years, Affinity has taken a leadership role in community economic development across the province, focusing strongly on entry-level housing, financial literacy and support for disadvantaged and marginalized people. Through this significant donation, Affinity will enhance its support to people who are working to improve their lives and their communities through co-operatives and credit unions.
“Affinity believes in being a socially responsible corporate citizen,” said Mark Lane, CEO. “On this credit union day, it seems appropriate to announce our expanded support for community economic development, and the Build a Better World Campaign offered the perfect opportunity. We encourage other credit unions to make a significant commitment to this campaign.”
In addition to Affinity’s corporate donation, their Board of Directors has also agreed to donate one per diem per year directly to the Campaign.
The Build a Better World Campaign aims to develop and strengthen co-operatives and credit unions in marginalized communities throughout the world empowering thousands of co-op members and their families to lift themselves out of a cycle of hardship and deprivation. They seek to raise $12 million over the next four years.
According to Michael Barrett, Chair of Co-operative Development Foundation, “Co-operatives are among the most effective tools in reducing and eliminating poverty, and our long association with the international development program of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) has proven that time and time again through hundreds of projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are excited that Affinity is supporting this important initiative in such a big way and joining us as we work to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of the world's poorest people. The funds raised from this campaign will allow the CCA to more aggressively pursue innovation and excellence in co-operative poverty reduction."
Affinity Credit Union is the 10th largest union in Canada with $2.8 billion in managed assets and a network of 44 branches across the province. It offers access to a complete range of accounts and services including insurance, and wealth management products and is a leader in delivering investment and consulting services to First Nations. Affinity Credit Union is 100% owned by more than 95,000 members, all of whom have a voice in the way Affinity does business. For more information, go to: www.affinitycu.ca
The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) is a registered charitable organization. It raises money, mostly from Canadian co-operatives and co-op members, to help alleviate poverty by building and strengthening financial and non-financial co-ops in developing countries. Working with the Canadian
Co-operative Association and other partners, it helps poor communities fight poverty and create more secure lives through community-owned co-ops. For more information, please visit www.cdfcanada.coop.
For more information, contact:
Tina Merrifield
Corporate Communications Manager
Affinity Credit Union
306.934.4083
tina.merrifield@affinitycu.ca
Julie Breuer
Director, Fundraising & Operations
Co-operative Development Foundation
613.238.6711 ext. 215
julie.breuer@coopscanada.coop