BELLINGHAM (December 10, 2021) — WECU provided a $20,000 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Whatcom County which will be used as a part of their Building Blocks for the Future capital campaign to purchase day care facilities Bellingham.

In 2019, Kids’ World ended its operations in Whatcom County which included three centers in Bellingham and one in Ferndale. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County stepped in to operate facilities, preventing the loss of 532 licensed openings. The nonprofit completed fundraising in October of 2021 to purchase the Ferndale facility and is now raising funds to purchase the three remaining Bellingham facilities.

“Finding affordable childcare is a challenge for many families in our community,” said Jennifer Kutcher, President & CEO at WECU. “The Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County stepped in during a time of great need. We want to show our support of the important work they’re doing.”

The donation comes at a time when the childcare industry locally is facing challenges. According to a 2021 study by Western Washington University’s Center for Economic and Business Research, 60% of survey respondents stated that cost was a significant factor in their willingness or ability to utilize childcare service. Availability of childcare was also a factor. Two large contributors to the increased cost are the lack of day care facilities and the challenge of finding and retaining staff.

About WECU

WECU is a credit union based in Bellingham, Washington. Founded in 1936 as Bellingham Teachers Credit Union, WECU serves individuals and businesses located throughout the state of Washington. With more than $2.2 billion in assets, WECU serves approximately 142,000 members and employs more than 410 people.

Media Contact:
Keith Mader, Program Manager PR & Content at WECU, 360-756-7694, keith.mader@wecu.com