The Co-operators donates $100,000 to rebuild Japanese Co-ops

The Co-operators is donating $100,000 to the International Co-operative Alliance’s (ICA) “Japan Disaster Recovery Fund.”

The Fund was established by the ICA to support the rebuilding of co-operatives in the earthquake and tsunami stricken regions of Japan. Numerous co-operatives in the country, particularly in the Miyaagi and Iwate prefectures, suffered severe damage caused by the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan and the subsequent tsunami. The ICA estimates that one in three families in Japan is a member of a co-operative.

“As a co-operative, our organization is guided by the seven universal co-operative principles, one of which is ‘co-operation among co-operatives,’” said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators, and a member of the ICA board of directors. “Through this fund, the international co-operative community will help support the recovery of these organizations, which contribute so much to the health and vitality of Japanese communities.”

The ICA is an independent, non-governmental organization which unites, represents and supports co-operatives worldwide. The Co-operators is involved with the ICA through its membership in the Canadian Co-operative Association.

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