American Heritage Credit Union’s President & CEO, Bruce K. Foulke, alongside retired President & CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions Dr. Brian Branch, will be performing a humanitarian trip to Eastern Europe during the week of October 24, 2022, to deliver ambulances, generators, medical equipment and first aid supplies to Ukrainian children’s hospitals and medical facilities. In addition, they will be providing advisory support to the Polish credit union relief and assistance program for Ukraine.

The ambulances and goods were purchased through the result of $400,000 fundraising effort led by Foulke. The genesis of the ambulance fundraising drive came about during a visit to Eastern Europe by Foulke and Branch during the week of March 14, 2022, at the onset of the war in Ukraine. There, they met with government and credit union leaders from Poland and Ukraine, as well as with refugees, to identify ways for the global credit union movement to provide immediate relief and support to move displaced, sick, and injured Ukrainian refugees and to provide refugees with safe housing and employment.

The ambulances and transportation vehicles are being used to evacuate ill and injured citizens from Ukraine and to transport them from Ukraine to Polish hospitals and medical facilities so they can receive safe and urgent medical attention. To date, through the efforts of Foulke and his team, five ambulances are being delivered to the war-torn regions of Ukraine. 

“Dr. Branch and I met with government officials and Polish and Ukrainian government officials and with Polish credit union leaders to understand how and whom we could help. Among the numerous requests was the need for ambulances to move wounded and sick refugees out of the war area and to Polish hospitals. I am grateful for the members of the credit union movement who have stepped up to support this cause, and we are humbled to have this opportunity to help save the lives of children, pregnant mothers, and military personnel,” stated Foulke. “With our efforts, we anticipate that we will be able to deliver a total of at least ten medical transportation vehicles to the Ukrainian people.”