Words of wisdom: Bruce Foulke (left), president and CEO of American Heritage Federal Credit Union, met for several hours with Elkanah Odembo, vice president of the Africa region of the World Council of Credit Unions Inc. The meeting took place in the offices of AHFCU on Red Lion Road. MICHELLE ALTON / FOR THE TIMES
American Heritage Federal Credit Union President and CEO Bruce Foulke recently hosted former Kenyan ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo, at AHFCU’s Bustleton headquarters to discuss the expansion of the credit union model into Africa and AHFCU’s ongoing support of an orphanage in Odembo’s home nation.
Odembo, who studied biology, sociology and public health at American universities, is also a former Kenyan ambassador to France. On Oct. 2, the World Council of Credit Unions presented him as its vice president of the African region, overseeing the council’s strategic initiatives for its organizational members and the donor community in the region.
Foulke was appointed to the World Council’s board of directors in August 2012 as a result of his leadership in community involvement at home and abroad, particularly his support of credit union development in Kenya.
Under his leadership, AHFCU continues to collect funding and supplies to support the Busia Compassionate Centre in rural Western Kenya. Employees collected backpacks, notebooks, crayons, markers and other items that were packaged and sent to the East African nation by the World Council. In 2013, American Heritage employees have collected $4,335 in monetary donations for the orphanage, following $6,000 in donations in 2012. ••
