The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has approved a $250,000deposit into $117 million-Hope Community Credit Union. The JacksonMississippi based community development credit union, and itssponsor the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, have become acommunity development force in the region.

“Increasingly, individuals and institutions are investing insocially responsible financial institutions, like HOPE, thatgenerate both financial and community development returns,” saidDr. Sherece West, president/CEO of the Winthrop RockefellerFoundation.

“Investing in HOPE is a responsible way to complement our'Moving the Needle' strategy, designed to help close the economicand educational gaps that leave too many Arkansas families inpersistent poverty. The board is committed to moving low-incomeArkansans from poverty to prosperity and knows that HOPE will putour money to work supporting affordable housing, businessdevelopment, and other services in distressed areas. At the sametime, our funds are safe and earning market interest rates.”

Mission-related investing allows private foundations to use agreater portion of their assets to achieve their charitablepurposes. HOPE will use the deposit to increase its provision ofcommercial loans, mortgages, and consumer financial services tolow-wealth people and communities. HOPE and ECD have offices inCollege Station and West Memphis, as well as loan productionoffices in Forrest City, Little Rock, and Stuttgart.

“For decades, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has been atthe forefront of developing Arkansas communities,” said HOPE CEOBill Bynum. “Not only will this deposit enable us to help moreArkansans weather this economic crisis, but we hope others willfollow the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation's lead and consider howthey, too, can invest in making our communities stronger.”

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