CoBank Launches Fund to Match Customer Tornado Relief Donations
$100,000 fund with help support long-term recovery efforts in communities impacted by December tornadoes
DENVER (January 19, 2022) — Recently, CoBank joined its Farm Credit partners and Land O’Lakes to provide immediate disaster relief following the series of devastating tornadoes and severe weather that swept the South and Midwest on December 11. Today, the bank announced the launch of a $100,000 fund to match the charitable contributions of its customers to support ongoing relief efforts and long-term recovery of impacted communities.
More than 90 people died in a series of tornadoes that left unprecedented damage in multiple states. Residents in Kentucky and Tennessee were among those most severely impacted by the severe weather. More than a month later, recovery efforts are ongoing and may continue for years to come.
CoBank was proud to join AgFirst, American AgCredit, Farm Credit East, Farm Credit Illinois, Farm Credit Mid-America, Farm Credit Services of America, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, and Land O’Lakes, Inc. to provide more than $700,000 in immediate relief contributions. Recipient organizations included the American Red Cross, the Kentucky Rural Electric Disaster Fund, the Tennessee Farm Disaster Response Fund, and the Mayfield Tornado Relief Fund.
“The impact of this disaster can’t be overstated,” said Derrick Waggoner, regional president, CoBank. “In the past month, people and organizations from across the country have come together to help these communities as they work to rebuild their homes, businesses and lives, but there is still much more to be done.”
CoBank is accepting requests to match the relief contributions of its customers. Participating customers should return matching request forms, along with verification of their own contributions to Sherry Johnson, CoBank’s director of Corporate Social Responsibility at sjohnson@cobank.com. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis through March 1, or the point at which the fund is exhausted.
About CoBank
CoBank is a $155 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 75,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and maintains an international representative office in Singapore.