Skip to main content

Fire Family Foundation Establishes Middleton Relief Fund to Support Local NoCal Communities Devastated by Fire

MEDIA CONTACT: Robin McCarthy
323 550 2208

Fire Family Foundation Establishes Middleton Relief Fund to Support Local NoCal Communities Devastated by Fire

September 14, 2015 – Los Angeles/Middleton, CA: Responding to the emergency of deadly wildfires that are currently blazing through Northern California, the California Credit Union League and Fire Family Foundation (www.FireFamilyFoundation.org), the charitable hand of Firefighters First Credit Union, have partnered to create the Middletown Relief Fund.

Located in Lake County, Middletown was devastated by a fast-moving wildfire that erupted Saturday afternoon; thousands have left their homes and four firefighters were critically injured with second degree burns.

The Middletown Relief Fund will dedicate 100% of the funds raised to those in these areas from Napa to Sacramento. As it has done for other firefighters and fire victims, the funds will be used to pay expenses for everything from food to mortgages/rent.

"Our firefighters are facing immense obstacles and frankly, awful conditions in this tremendous heat, while the fire continues to rage and spread," explains Mike Mastro, Chair, Fire Family Foundation Board, and CEO/President, Firefighters First Credit Union. "Our commitment is to firefighters. We have always been there to help our firefighters and now those injured need our help even more."

Diana Dykstra, President/CEO of the California Credit Union League, comments on the unique partnership, "Credit Unions are part of the community. We are marshaling credit unions across California to aid in helping those affected by this destruction. When one suffers we believe in banding together to help and serve. Some of our member credit unions are in these local communities, and yes, they truly need us now. Working through Fire Family Foundation, we can serve those affected.”

The Foundation is a nonprofit organization currently helping Firefighter Damien Pereira who was critically injured earlier this year fighting a wild land fire. A limb fell on him and the 27-year old is paralyzed from the waist down.

All donations to the Middleton Relief Fund are tax deductible. To make a donation, visit www.FireFamilyFoundation.org and enter Middleton Relief Fund for tribute gift or make checks payable to Fire Family Foundation, 815 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041 with a notation: Middleton Relief Fund.

ABOUT FIRE FAMILY FOUNDATION

Fire Family Foundation responds when tragedy affects firefighters and fire victims. A nonprofit founded by the respected Firefighters First Credit Union, Fire Family Foundation offers immediate assistance to firefighters and their families, fire victims, fire departments, and charities. The Foundation believes that by coming together as a “Fire Family,” assistance can be provided to those impacted by fire. Learn more at www.FireFamilyFoundation.org.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

TruStage To Launch TSDA, Bringing Stablecoin Infrastructure To Community FIs

MADISON, Wis.— TruStage Tuesday today announced the planned launch of TruStage Stablecoin (TSDA), a fully reserved U.S. dollar stablecoin. At its core, TSDA is designed to broaden access to digital payment infrastructure for community-based financial institutions, TruStage explained. “A trusted partner of credit unions for more than 90 years, TruStage currently works with more than 93% of 4,300+ credit unions nationwide, which collectively hold more than $2 trillion in assets. TruStage Stablecoin will be among the very first stablecoins specific to community based financial institutions and is supported by decades of industry relationships, financial strength, and operational excellence,” TruStage said. “In my career working with credit unions, I’ve never witnessed the level of engagement surrounding any technology advancement similar to what I’m seeing with stablecoin solutions right now,” said Brian Kaas, president and managing director of TruStage Ventures, the venture capital arm o...

Sunday Reading - Where Beatniks Come From

  Where Beatniks Come From       An introduction to the Beat Generation The Beat Generation   was an American literary movement that rose to prominence in the 1950s. A loosely affiliated collection of poets, novelists, playwrights, publishers, and other artists reacted to what they considered an anti-intellectual and homogeneous social order following World War II.   The writing of the Beat Generation used experimental forms, surreal imagery, and vernacular language, and emphasized the importance of " spontaneous prose " to mimic the improvisation of jazz. Although the Beats praised canonical poets like William Blake, Arthur Rimbaud, and Walt Whitman, much of their work sought to rebel against literary tradition.   The Beats' radical politics and nonconformity influenced several subsequent countercultural ...

GAC 2026: In Debut GAC Speech, Simpson Calls On Movement To Protect Cooperative Model

WASHINGTON—America’s Credit Unions President and CEO Scott Simpson told attendees at the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference that what’s truly at stake in Washington isn’t just policy — it’s the “transformational experiences” credit unions create in people’s lives every day. Scott Simpson addresses the meeting. Credit unions exist—Simpson reminded the record crowd as he delivered his first GAC address as ACU’s leader—because Congress chose nearly a century ago to expand access to financial services for Americans who were being left behind. The Federal Credit Union Act wasn’t about creating another financial institution model — it was about ensuring middle America could be served. That mission remains intact, but Simpson warned it cannot be taken for granted. For years, Simpson said he has asked credit union leaders a simple question: Why do credit unions exist? The typical answer — that they are not-for-profit financial cooperatives — is true, but incomplete. Credit unions and their t...

Economic and Industry Issues

Weekly News Summary -  July 30, 2020 Press Release For Immediate Release Weekly News Summary Hello NCOFCU Members, Here are some things that were in the news last week. Please share these articles with your Supervisory Committee and Board of Directors. If you missed previous editions of the weekly news, summaries of those can be viewed at our  archive .  Have a great week! Mike Richards, CPA         The Callahan Credit Union A...

As Expected, Fed Opts Not to Raise Rates--But Says It May in Future

WASHINGTON–As expected, the Federal Reserve has adjourned its meeting here without raising rates, but it also indicated it could again do so in the future. The decision means rates remain at a two-decade high. The adjournment without action marks the second consecutive meetings at which the Fed has not raised rates, it the longest period without an increase since it began to lift rates from near 0% in March 2022. In announcing it would maintain the Fed Funds rate at a range of 5.25% to 5.50%, the Fed said in a statement that recent indicators suggest economic activity expanded at a strong pace in the third quarter, job gains have moderated since earlier in the year but remain strong, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated. ...

CU Board Modernization Act Passes House

Backed by NAFCU and CUNA, the legislation would reduce the number of times CU boards must meet each year. By Michael Ogden | September 30, 2022 at 01:00 PM U.S. Capitol building, Washington, D.C. (Source: Shutterstock) The House of Representatives passed the Credit Union Board Modernization Act on Thursday, the fate of which goes to the Senate, where a similar version was introduced in May. The bill would alter the Federal Credit Union Act’s requirement that federally charted credit unions meet 12 times each year and reduce that number to a minimum of six times each year. For months, CUNA and NAFCU officials have backed the bill , along with representatives from the California and Ohio Credit Union Leagues. “This bill would provide a needed update to credit union board meeting requirements, freeing up time and resources that can be dedicated to meeting members’ needs,” CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said. “We thank Reps. Var...

The NCUA just published its stablecoin playbook: Here’s what credit unions need to know

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has begun answering a key question for credit unions since the GENIUS Act became law last July: What is the stablecoin licensing process? On February 11, 2026, the NCUA published a  22-page proposed rule , "Investments in and Licensing of Permitted Payment Stablecoins Issuers," in the Federal Register. This document outlines the framework for credit union participation under the new Act. The NCUA has a deadline of July 18, 2026, to finalize this rule. Here’s what credit unions need to know now. Quick background: The GENIUS Act and the NCUA’s role The GENIUS Act designated the NCUA as a primary federal regulator of stablecoin, alongside the FDIC, the OCC, and the Federal Reserve. Credit unions can't issue stablecoins directly; they must operate through subsidiaries, typically CUSOs, that apply for and obtain an NCUA-issued Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuer (PPSI) license. The newly proposed rule covers the application and l...

James Hunter, Executive Director of Credit Union Development for New Orleans Firemen’s CU, knows too well how expensive it is to be poor.

  NEW ORLEANS FIREMEN’S FCU 􀀁 METAIRIE, L   A passion for empowerment James Hunter knows too well how expensive it is to be poor. It’s what he sees every day as mortgage director and executive director of credit union development for $182 million asset New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union, Metairie, La., and executive director of The Faith Fund, a nonprofit partnership that seeks to provide a financial hand-up to the undeserved. It’s what inspires him to come to work every day and drives his passion of empowering people and setting them on the path to financial security. “Too many people are too far away from the starting line,” Hunter says. “Payday loans are a big business in Louisiana. Exorbitant fees and interest from payday loans drain more than a quarter of a billion dollars a year. Baton Rouge supports one of the top three pay-day loan markets in the U.S.” The Faith Fund was formed to counteract that. It’s a unique cooperative relationship between like-minded busi...

LA County firefighters help each other cope with toughest part of the job

This is an excellent program, and no matter what size your department is, you should be prepared. Scott Ross  talks over issues with Firefighter Richard Conejo who was recently affected by the death of a fellow firefighter . They meet under the auspices of the LA County Fire Department's Peer Support Program. **** Read More ; LA County <b>firefighters</b> help each other cope with toughest part of the job :

IRS Rules Turn ‘Simple’ Auto Loan Tax Break Into Compliance Challenge

  PLANO, Texas— A new federal tax deduction allowing consumers to deduct interest on qualifying auto loans is being billed as a borrower benefit, but newly issued regulations from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service show the program will impose significant compliance and reporting obligations on credit unions and other auto lenders. That’s the assessment of Brian Turner, president and chief economist with Meridian Economics, who said the rules governing the so-called auto loan interest deduction are “far more technical” than initially described and will require system and process changes for many finance providers, including credit unions active in indirect and direct auto lending. Deduction Comes With Detailed Conditions Brian Turner Under the proposed regulations, interest is deductible only if the loan and vehicle meet strict criteria. The vehicle must weigh less than 14,000 pounds, be designed for public road use, be newly placed in service by t...