More than $26,000 has been raised by California and Nevadacredit union and their league to contribute toward an orphanageproject in rural western Kenya, the World Council of Credit Unionssaid.

Credit unions and individuals contributed more than $16,000 andthe California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues kicked in another$10,000 match in response to call for help issued last year by the World Council, which hadadopted the Busia Compassionate Centre as a project.

In the past few months, crews already have dug a septic tank,installed a clean water system and built several new buildings –including a community room, dormitories and bathrooms – at thecenter, which also started its own credit union to offer thecommunity its first-ever formal financial services, the WorldCouncil said.

The leagues said contributing CUs were:

• Greater Nevada CU (Carson City, Nev.)
• CoastHills FCU (Lompoc, Calif.)
• KeyPoint CU (Santa Clara, Calif.)
• Kinecta Federal CU (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
• Meriwest CU (San Jose, Calif.)
• Mission Federal CU (San Diego, Calif.)
• North Island CU (San Diego, Calif.)
• Redwood CU (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
• San Mateo CU (Redwood City, Calif.)
• United Health CU (Burlingame, Calif.)
• Xceed Financial CU (El Segundo, Calif.)

“The California and Nevada donations allow us to complete theconstruction of the new orphanage facilities and to bring financialservices to Busia more quickly than we imagined,” said BrianBranch, president/CEO of the World Council in Madison, Wis.

“I'm proud of our member credit unions for their generosity andsupport of this very worthy cause,” said Diana Dykstra, president/CEO of the California and Nevada CU Leagues.

Key to the campaign's success was the efforts of Taylor York,13-year-old daughter of CoastHills FCU CEO Jeffrey York. Herletter-writing campaign to credit unions around California helpedraise $5,150.

The World Council now is planning a Global Women's LeadershipNetwork engagement program in Busia in May to visit the neworphanage facilities and help the new credit union implement afinancial literacy program.