UNFCU Foundation Launched

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) today announced the introduction of UNFCU Foundation Inc., a non-profit entity. The Foundation's purpose is to reduce poverty through education and healthcare programs, especially among women and children in developing countries and in New York City. The causes that the Foundation is already supporting are grassroots projects that align with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and post-2015 Development Agenda.

"UNFCU has long supported United Nations and local community-based programs and we are proud to continue this involvement to improve literacy rates, protect human rights and provide access to entrepreneurial skills training for women and young girls with UNFCU Foundation as the centerpiece," said Pamela Agnone, president of UNFCU Foundation. "Doing good is an extension of the UNFCU mission whose members' vocation and advocacy are sources of inspiration."

UNFCU Foundation supports the UNFPA-led global Campaign to End Fistula in Nigeria through Campaign partner, the Africa Fistula Foundation. "The medical treatment and social reintegration provided through vocational training funded by UNFCU Foundation literally help to heal and restore the lives, hope, and dignity of women and girls suffering from obstetric fistula," said Erin Anastasi, Interim Coordinator of the Campaign.

"We share an important goal of empowering women of all ages," said Melissa Hillebrenner, Director of Girl Up whose campaign to educate refugee girls in Ethiopia is being supported by the UNFCU Foundation. "Our collaboration with UNFCU Foundation will benefit many more adolescent girl refugees in UNHCR programs, changing their outlook on life and their role in the world."

UNFCU Foundation is also providing funding to support UNESCO's Better Life, Better Future Global Partnership for the Malala Fund for Girls Education project that aims to benefit 1,050 students in Tanzania.  "UNFCU Foundation's intervention will help create 30 Safe Spaces for learning, including 15 additional ones from the existing pilot schools to make a bigger impact," said Jaya Conhye-Soobrayen, Programme Specialist, Section for Programming, Monitoring and Coordination, Executive Office Education Sector, UNESCO. "This will also give, among others, Maasai girls the opportunity to realize their educational dreams."

"Women for Women International is excited to partner with UNFCU Foundation to enable 50 women in Afghanistan to enroll in a comprehensive training program that provides a strong foundation for women to learn skills, earn an income and access networks of support," shared Jennifer L. Windsor, CEO of Women for Women International. "These are life-changing resources."

Visit www.unfcufoundation.org to view all the causes currently being supported by the UNFCU Foundation.

About UNFCU Foundation
UNFCU Foundation is a New York-based, non-profit corporation established in 2014. The foundation is overseen by an independent board of directors who work with an advisory council comprised of volunteers with specialized expertise in a variety of disciplines to evaluate grant requests and project sponsorships. To learn more, visit www.unfcufoundation.org and follow UNFCU Foundation's progress on Twitter at @UNFCUFoundation and on Facebook at Facebook.com/unfcufoundation.

About UNFCU
UNFCU, founded in 1947, offers a wide range of flexible savings, loan, investment and insurance products, as well as advisory services and as an active member of the United Nations Global Compact supports causes important to the United Nations worldwide.  Headquartered and with branches in New York City and an office in Washington, D.C., UNFCU has representative offices in Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Nairobi, Kenya, and Rome, Italy. For more information, visit www.unfcu.org.

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SOURCE United Nations Federal Credit Union