Skip to main content

Help 30 Impacted Firefighters Who Lost Homes


Fire Family Foundation, Oakland Firefighters Random Acts Create Unique Partnership
To Help 30 Impacted Firefighters Who Lost Homes;
Public Can Help Support Firefighters in Need

Pasadena, Oakland, October  19, 2015:   While they were out fighting the devastating wild land fires in Northern California, 30 firefighters returned to find their own homes  gone, destroyed by the Valley Fire, Middletown Fire, Jerusalem Fire, Butte Fire and many more.  

Now fire charities and departments are coming to the aid of these homeless firefighters in a unique, creative and unprecedented way. 

Fire Family Foundation is partnering with Oakland Firefighters Random Acts to connect 30 fire departments to the 30 firefighters who lost their homes.  The Foundation is providing $1,000 initial money to each participating fire department (a total of $30,000).  After learning their adopted firefighter’s immediate short term needs, fire departments will create a list, shop and deliver necessary items. The overall process encourages fire department members to take on the role of Big Brother and Big Sister to their fellow firefighters in need.
“These 30 firefighter lost their homes while simply out doing their job, to protect the homes of others,” says Larry Hendricks, Executive Director, Oakland Firefighters Random Acts. “We are asking both the firefighters of other departments and the community as a whole, to thank our firefighters by supporting Helping Firefighters Heal Fund with a donation.  Before the ashes go cold, they need a helping hand.”

“We are starting with $30,000 to help these firefighters,” explains Robin McCarthy, Executive Director, Fire Family Foundation. “The Foundation recently raised funds for the residents of Middletown and surrounding communities, pledging 100% of those funds for fire victims.  But now it’s our firefighters who need help.  Helping Firefighters Heal offers a unique opportunity to thank those people who give so much of their lives to saving others and others things.  Lend a hand to someone who answers the call so often. And all gifts are tax deductible.”  

Mike Mastro, Chair of Fire Family Foundation and CEO/President of Firefighters First Credit Union, states, “Fire Family Foundation, our charitable hand of Firefighters First Credit Union, has challenged our  more than 32,000 members to come to the aid of their fellow firefighters. The Foundation pledges that 100% of the donations will be directed to the 30 firefighters in need.”
ABOUT FIRE FAMILY FOUNDATION 
 Fire Family Foundation responds when tragedy affects firefighters and fire victims.  A nonprofit founded by 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.  For more info, go to: https://firefamilyfoundation.org/ 


ABOUT OAKLAND FIREFIGHTERS RANDOM ACTS 
"Random Acts" is a nonprofit organization that provides a central location where Oakland Firefighters can request funds and resources to help people in need in the community and on their 911 emergency calls.  Their mission statement is "Creating a positive difference in the lives of individuals through Random Acts of Kindness".  Their motto is "No Egos, No Badges, No Resume Builders".  There are no paid positions.  Everyone involved serves voluntarily and from their hearts.  For more info, go to:  www.OFRandomActs.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:   
Robin McCarthy,  Fire Family Foundation  (323) 550-2208
Larry Hendricks,  Oakland Firefighters Random Acts   (707) 328-4356 c    (707) 823-3582 h


Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

NCUA Board Approves Final Rule on Dependent Care and Board Member Reimbursement

Alexandria, VA (June 8, 2026) ― The National Credit Union Administration today issued a final rule for Dependent Care and Board Member Reimbursement. The NCUA Board amended its regulations concerning the reimbursement of reasonable expenses for federal credit union officials to remove potential barriers to volunteer service. This final rule provides flexibility for a federal credit union’s board to adopt more family-friendly policies tailored to its size, region, and operations. Previously, dependent care costs had not been considered reasonable expenses under NCUA regulation 12 C.F.R. 701.33.  The final rule applies to all federal credit unions, including corporate federal credit unions. It will not apply to federally insured, state-chartered credit unions, which remain subject to state law. The final rule is effective 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register and takes into consideration public comments received from the proposed rule that was issued on Januar...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Update from TruStage - Forecast for CU, Economic Performance for Remainder of 2026, 2027

MADISON, Wis. — Credit unions are expected to post stronger loan, deposit , and asset growth in 2026 despite a slowing economy, persistent inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and continued pressure on consumers, according to TruStage’s latest  Credit Union Trends Report . The report, prepared by TruStage Chief Economist Steve Rick and based on December 2025 data, forecasts credit union loan growth will accelerate to 5.5% in 2026 from 4.6% in 2025, while savings growth is projected to increase to 6.5% from 5.5%. Asset growth is expected to improve to 6.2% in 2026 from 5.4% in 2025. Credit union membership growth is forecast to reach 1.8% in 2026 and 2.0% in 2027. The CU Daily has separate reporting on credit union performance by category here .  According to TruStage, a changing global economic environment has altered its outlook for both the U.S. economy and the credit union system. The report noted disruptions stemming from the closing of the Strait of Hormuz have created su...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

The Widely Cited Mortgage Lending Benchmark 45% DTI May No Longer Reflect How Lenders Evaluate Borrowers, Says Fed Bank

In an analysis of more than 30 million home-purchase mortgage applications filed between 2018 and 2024, researchers found that the long-discussed 43% debt-to-income ratio threshold has little apparent impact on mortgage approval decisions. Instead, denial rates begin to rise sharply once applicants exceed a debt-to-income ratio of 50%. The findings were published as part of a four-part series examining barriers facing prospective homebuyers. ‘Practical Lesson is Clear’ “For borrowers, the practical lesson is clear: A debt-to-income ratio of 45% is treated by lenders much like a ratio of 35%,” the researchers wrote. “But crossing 50% changes the game entirely.” The 43% debt-to-income ratio gained prominence under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which established it as a key threshold for so-called qualified mortgages. Loans meeting that standard provided lenders with legal protections against ability-to-repay lawsuits. However, in 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau replaced the rat...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Boston Firefighters Credit Union Becomes First Responders Credit Union

New name reflects nearly 80 years of service and a growing commitment to first responders across Massachusetts BOSTON, MA, June 15, 2026 — Boston Firefighters Credit Union today announced that it has officially changed its name to First Responders Credit Union , reflecting the broader first responder community the organization serves while honoring the firefighters who founded it nearly 80 years ago. Founded in 1947 by members of the Boston Fire Department, the credit union was established to serve the financial needs of firefighters and their families. Over the decades, it has grown into a trusted financial institution serving firefighters, law enforcement professionals, EMS personnel, civilian employees of first responder agencies, and their families throughout Massachusetts. Today, more than 12,000 members rely on the credit union for banking, lending, and financial guidance tailored to the unique demands of first responder life. While the name is new, the mission is not. ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Just Out! - NCUA Stablecoin Plan Opens Door To Credit Union-Backed Digital Dollar Issuers

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—A sweeping new NCUA proposal to implement the GENIUS Act could open the door for credit union-backed stablecoin issuance, but only through separately licensed subsidiaries operating under an extensive new federal regulatory framework that limits risks to the Share Insurance Fund. The 269-page supplemental proposed rule issued Friday lays out how “permitted payment stablecoin issuers” affiliated with federally insured credit unions would be supervised, examined and regulated by the NCUA, while also establishing rules covering reserves, liquidity, custody, operational risk, cybersecurity, anti-money laundering compliance and disclosure standards. The proposal supplements an earlier February 2026 proposal by the agency focused primarily on licensing and investments in stablecoin issuers. Federally insured credit unions themselves would still be prohibited from directly issuing payment stablecoins under the GENIUS Act. Instead, issuance would have to occur through a separa...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

47-Second Loan Décisions. Underwriting in Minutes. How AI is Revolutionizing Turnaround Time in Mortgage Lending

May 27, 2026 CU Today TORONTO–While AI has been deployed across a host of back office functions, on the consumer-facing side its promise is increasingly being seen in mortgage lending, where lenders are promising mortgage approval decisions in as little as 47 seconds, reporting that up to a third of inquiries are now being handled by chatbots, and slashing underwriting time to just minutes. Toronto-based TD Bank Group said it has also deployed its first agentic artificial intelligence system in mortgage lending, reducing the time required to prepare applications for underwriting from an average of roughly 15 hours to less than three minutes. According to a statement from TD Bank, the new AI model automates mortgage pre-adjudication — the process that occurs before a human underwriter reviews an application. The bank said the system classifies borrower documents, extracts and validates financial information, calculates income, performs policy and consent checks, identifies discrepancie...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

NCUA Issues Final Rule to Revise Record Preservation Requirements

ALEXANDRIA, Va. ― The National Credit Union Administration has issued a final rule revising record preservation requirements for credit unions in the event of a catastrophic act. This rule is codified at 12 CFR 749.   “Maintaining vital records is essential to the safety and soundness of any federally insured credit union’s operations and its ability to best serve members,” NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman said in a statement. “But NCUA, unlike other regulators, didn’t have a limit on how long records had to be kept. This led to unnecessary cost, hassle and uncertainty. This final rule will ease unnecessary and overly prescriptive preservation requirements, while ensuring that credit unions retain the critical documents needed in instances of disaster”  According to the agency, the vital records preservation program rule was first created in 1972 to ensure that federally insured credit unions keep duplicate records that can be used for reconstruction purposes in the event of ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Hood: Credit unions are safe and sound

Hood’s term on the NCUA Board will expire in August.  NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood appeared via live stream with Brad Barnes, Air Academy Credit Union, and Amy McGraw, Tropical Financial Credit Union. The regulator lauds strong membership, asset, and loan growth. Despite recent headwinds, including high-profile bank failures, the credit union movement is still safe and sound, says Rodney Hood, NCUA board member, and immediate past chairman. “We’re not seeing the contagion like at other financial institutions,” says Hood, who addressed the 2023 CUNA Finance Council Conference Monday via live stream. The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crisis was one of confidence, he says. Ninety percent of SVB’s deposits were uninsured. In comparison, more than 91% of credit union deposits are insured. “We don’t have those entanglements,” Hood says. “That bodes well for our future.”  He lauded America’s 4,800 credit unions for growing membership to 135 million, assets to $2.2 trill...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

CEOs of CUNA, NAFCU Offer First Public Remarks Since Announcing Merger Plan; Numerous Issues Discussed

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.–The CEOs of CUNA and NAFCU made their first joint appearance  since the two trade groups announced plans to merge, addressing reasons for the proposed merger and what those who may oppose the merger should do, and further speaking to the concerns of smaller CUs and what will happen with conferences, as well as stressing the combination is not being driven by problems at either group. During a 45-minute Q&A at the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) annual meeting, CUNA CEO Jim Nussle and NAFCU CEO Dan Berger answered questions posed by DCUC CEO Tony Hernandez, as well as from CUToday.info and members of the audience. As CUToday.info reported here , the two trade groups are proposing to merge and create a new organization called America’s Credit Unions that will be led by Nussle—who was appearing at the DCUC meeting on the 89 th anniversary of CUNA’s creation--with Berger departing NAFCU at year-end. At one point Berger received a standing ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Court Rules Bank’s Extended Overdraft Fee is Not ‘Interest’

CUT0day DENVER–A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10 th Circuit has ruled that one national bank’s extended overdraft fee is not “interest” under the National Bank Act (NBA). The court ruled in  Walker v. BOKF, National Association  that the extended overdraft fees charged by BOKF were not “interest” under the National Bank Act (NBA).  The Tenth Circuit’s ruling on what it called “an issue of first impression in this circuit” follows similar rulings by the First and Fifth Circuits, Consumer Finance Monitor reported. “The plaintiff had a checking account with BOKF.  When presented with an item that overdrew the plaintiff’s account, BOKF elected to pay the item and charged the plaintiff an initial overdraft fe...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»