ROCHESTER, N.Y. – As a credit union and a member-owned financial cooperative, Ukrainian Federal Credit Union (UFCU) is uniquely positioned to provide financial products and services that suit the communities in which it serves. UFCU’s actions as a credit union are rooted in the philosophy of “people helping people” and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 is no different when it comes to supporting local community organizations and churches.
As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY), whose primary mission is to advance community development and housing opportunities in states such as New York, UFCU applied for and received $200,000 in grant funding for distribution to organizations and churches in New York.
The CFO of UFCU, Roman Omecinskyj, said, “With the rapid onset of this uncertain, deep-seated COVID-19 crisis, the true nature of the credit union’s cooperative spirit was further underscored when it soundly rose to the occasion with the timely substantive grant program. As a result, UFCU provided a much-needed and welcome bright ray of hope and resiliency to our community members during this historic time of unprecedented needs.”
At the presentation of a grant to First Ukrainian Pentecostal Church in Syracuse, N.Y.
UFCU distributed funds to 47 different grantees across nine counties in New York, including various cultural centers, churches, museums, art foundations, youth associations and other volunteer organizations.
The CEO of UFCU, Oleg Lebedko, stated that, “At the beginning of the pandemic we told our members that we are here for them, and we will get through this together. The distribution of these funds is one example of many as to how we’re acting on our word.”
UFCU was founded in 1953 by Ukrainian Americans in Rochester, N.Y.; it provides service in the Ukrainian and English languages to meet the needs of over 22,000 members. The credit union has assets exceeding $300 million and 13 full-service branch offices nationwide, and it employs more than 80 individuals. Branches are located in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina, California, Oregon and Washington.
During the grant presentation to the Ukrainian Cultural Center of Rochester.