Skip to main content

Credit Unions Donate to Aid Lake County Fire Survivors

Generous Donation to Aid Rebuilding of Homes and Provide Local Childcare Services

From left:  Diana Dykstra (California Credit Union League), Brett Martinez (Redwood Credit Union), Richard Cooper (Mendo Lakes Credit Union) and Robin McCarthy (Fire Family Foundation). 
MIDDLETOWN, CA — Fire survivors who lost homes in the devastating Lake County fires and residents struggling with local childcare will benefit from a generous donation of $80,000 from Fire Family Foundation. A contribution of $60,000 was made in mid-February at the Middletown Fire Station to Hope City/Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN), a disaster relief agency rebuilding several homes destroyed by the fires, and a donation of over $20,000 went to the Lake Family Resource Center (LFRC) for much-needed childcare in the community.

Fire Family Foundation (FFF) provides assistance to individuals and families affected by fire-related disasters throughout California and is the charitable hand of Firefighters First Credit Union. FFF worked with both Redwood Credit Union (RCU) and Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) along with the California Credit Union League (CCUL) to identify the greatest needs of the fire survivors and provide the funding. Foundation Executive Director Robin McCarthy along with credit union and league representatives presented the check to Hope City Chief Executive Officer Kevin Cox and Team Lake County Chair Shelly Mascari in mid February.

Hope City has identified several homeowners who lost their residences in the Valley Fire to be beneficiaries of the $60,000 gift, according to Cox. He noted Hope City matches the gift with volunteer labor, so the initial amount becomes a $120,000 donation. The selection of families for receipt of HCRN’s assistance is needs-based, with aid going to individuals who had little or no insurance and may have other extenuating circumstances.

“Our organization thanks Fire Family Foundation and the credit unions who have been so amazing in helping Lake County, and we thank the community for rallying to get families back into homes,” said Cox.

Another key service needing support is the Lake Family Resource Center (LFRC), which provides before and after school childcare in Lake County. “We are grateful for the focus on childcare needs for those impacted by the fire,” said Jennifer Dodd, LFRC’s Executive Director. “The grant will be used to help families with childcare services so residents can get back to work knowing their children are cared for,” Dodd added. She shared many fire survivors have had challenges with transportation, changed school schedules, and the disappearance of off-site daycares in the area. “It is wonderful the grant was provided to Lake Family Resource Center because it will help reduce the stress impacting the families with childcare needs,” Dodd shared.
Noting the “heartwarming” actions coming from outside Lake County to assist with recovery efforts, MLCU Chief Executive Officer Richard Cooper said, “MLCU is thankful for the donations from credit unions across the state and beyond. We appreciate the assistance of RCU and the California Credit Union League for their efforts in getting the word out about the tremendous need.”

RCU’s President & CEO Brett Martinez, who also participated in the Friday evening check presentation, shared, “It’s exciting to see how so many organizations and people coming together to support Lake County is helping the community move forward.”

Team Lake County Chair Shelly Mascari expressed her appreciation for the combined efforts of credit unions. “Team Lake County is so grateful for this contribution to the infrastructure of our community. With this support, Lake County will have the opportunity to recover and thrive in the future.”

Fire Family Foundation Executive Director Robin McCarthy explained, “These fires shattered communities and families. Our foundation answers the need when tragedy strikes. Our commitment to firefighters and fire survivors like this, enables us to offer a helping hand in times of grief. We hope our $80,000 donation will provide a better future for this community.”

Diana Dykstra, President/CEO of the California Credit Union League, said. “I’m so proud of the credit union community for coming together to raise these funds to support families and individuals who endured losses in these devastating fires. Our partnership with Fire Family Foundation amplified the call to action nationally.”

Donations are still being accepted via the Lake County Wildfire Relief Fund through Mendo Lake Credit Union or North Coast Opportunities (NCO), a local nonprofit. For more information, visit mlcu.org or ncoinc.org.


ABOUT FIRE FAMILY FOUNDATION As the charitable hand of Firefighters First Credit Union, Fire Family Foundation responds when tragedy strikes, offering compassion and financial assistance to firefighters and fire survivors in need. In 2015, the Foundation provided more than $175,000 in immediate assistance to firefighters and their families, fire survivors, fire departments and charities. Support is widespread throughout the State of California; this year attention is given to Northern Californian communities and fire personnel who experienced a devastating fire season. The Foundation believes that those in need can experience comfort, healing, and support from their “Fire Family.” www.FireFamilyFoundation.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

5 Red Flags: When Boards Lean Too Heavily on Management

  The Quiet Governance Risk Credit Unions Should Talk About By Grant Sheehan, CCUE | CCUP | CEO, NCOFCU Having spent many years both serving on a credit union board and leading as a CEO , I’ve had the opportunity to see governance from both sides of the table. That perspective has given me a deep appreciation for the delicate balance that must exist between management, leadership, and board oversight. When that balance works well, credit unions thrive. But when it slowly shifts — often unintentionally — it can create governance weaknesses that regulators and examiners increasingly watch for. In conversations with governance professionals and through years of industry experience, one theme keeps emerging: most governance problems don’t begin with bad intentions or misconduct. They begin with boards that gradually become too dependent on management. This is rarely obvious at first, but in fact, it often occurs within high-performing organizations. But slight patterns ca...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

We Don't Need More Trade Groups!

This is a op-ed reference: New National Trade Group Forms To Champion Credit Unions Under $500M Grant Sheehan, CEO, NCOFCU Let’s be clear—representation for small credit unions is not something new that suddenly needs to be invented. For more than 150 years in Europe and 115 years in the US, many of us—along with numerous trade groups representing postal workers, schools, hospitals, the military, first responders, electricians, welders, auto workers, and many other sponsor employee groups—have been actively representing and supporting small credit unions. The mission has always been the same: protect these institutions and ensure they have a voice. The real challenge facing small credit unions has never been a lack of organizations claiming to represent them. The challenge has been engagement and education. Many small credit unions operate with extremely limited resources. Their boards are made up of volunteers who already have full-time careers. Even when scholarships, training ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

From Share Drafts to Stablecoin: Progress Is the Product

  From Share Drafts to Stablecoin: Progress Is the Product By  Jeff Rendel Expert Opinion March 09, 2026 at 08:00 AM Share & Print There was a time when the phrase "share draft" felt modern. It was progressive. It was distinct. It was proudly credit union. We didn't offer checking accounts; we offered share drafts because members owned shares in a cooperative, not deposits in a bank. It was an important distinction. It meant something philosophically and structurally. And when share drafts were introduced, they were new. Innovative. Even controversial. Somewhere along the way, however, share drafts became nostalgic. The language remained, but the behavior changed. Today, many members under 30 have never written a check. Many under 40 rarely do. Payments have migrated – steadily, predictably – from paper to plastic, from plastic to digital, from digital to embedded and real-time. This is not disruption in the dramatic sense. It is evolution. And credit unions have alwa...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Meet Spokane Firefighter Credit Union (SFCU) New President/CEO - Troy Clute

Meet SFCU's New President/CEO - Troy Clute  Troy Clute serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Spokane Firefighters Credit Union, bringing 29 years of experience in banking and finance. His career includes extensive leadership roles across the industry, with a strong foundation in consumer lending and member-focused financial services. Troy is a graduate of the renowned CUES CEO Institute Program, having earned the Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation—one of the highest leadership credentials in the credit union movement. His leadership is defined by strategic vision, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to serving Spokane’s firefighter community and their families. Beyond his professional role, Troy values family above all. He and his wife, Karri, have been married for 36 years and share two grown children, Kellen and Kennadie, as well as three grandchildren—Tyus, Izze, and Major—who keep life joyful and full of adventure. When he’s not leading the c...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Where are your children banking?

  Grant Sheehan CCUE | CCUP | CEO, NCOFCU The B reach  Between Purpose and Experience Just recently, I came across a story that has stayed with me. It wasn’t dramatic in the traditional sense. There was no scandal, no crisis, no headline-grabbing failure. In fact, it was something much quieter than that. It was simply the story of an eighteen-year-old leaving his credit union. On the surface, that might not sound remarkable. Young people move their money frequently. They open new accounts, experiment with apps, follow trends, and often make financial decisions influenced by the digital tools at their disposal. But this story was different. This young man had been a credit union member since he was a few weeks old, as many credit unions do. His mother has spent her career working inside the credit union movement as an executive. For eighteen years, his financial life was connected to a credit union. If anyone might be expected to remain a lifelong member, it wou...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Outside Credit Unions - 54th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

  Dog Sled Race Begins   The 54th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off yesterday, with hundreds of dogs amassing at the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, before moving north to the official starting line. Thirty-four mushers will compete, with the race expected to end in mid-March. The race dates back to 1973, with cofounders Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr. seeking to honor the state’s mushing tradition. The race also honors Alaska’s Iditarod Trail—a 938-mile freight and mail route forged in 1908 that was later instrumental in responding to a diphtheria outbreak ( see more , w/video). Though the first race (1,000 miles) lasted 20 days, dogs today have become faster, reaching the finish line in Nome in roughly 10 days. There are 12-16 dogs per sled to start, as some dogs exit due to injury; mushers must finish with at least five. Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke will join the fray in this year’s ra...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Stablecoins Moving from Crypto Curiosity to Payments Infrastructure

At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), credit union leaders heard a clear message: stablecoins are rapidly evolving from a niche crypto tool into a core component of modern payments infrastructure. Stablecoins are digital tokens typically pegged to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar and backed by reserves such as cash or short-term Treasury securities. Initially used mostly inside cryptocurrency markets, they are now increasingly being viewed as a faster and more efficient way to move money globally . Why Stablecoins Matter The technology offers several potential advantages over traditional payment systems: 24/7 settlement instead of banking-hour restrictions Faster cross-border payments with fewer intermediaries Lower transaction costs compared with legacy payment rails Greater transparency and programmability in how funds move These capabilities are why banks, fintechs, and large financial institutions are beginning to explore stablecoins as part o...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

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...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Letter to Federal Credit Unions (25-FCU-02) Federal Credit Union Post-Examination Survey

    Letter to Federal Credit Unions (25-FCU-02) Federal Credit Union Post-Examination Survey Dear Boards of Directors and Chief Executive Officers: The NCUA has been using a voluntary post-examination survey for examinations of federal credit unions since 2021. This feedback is very important and helps the NCUA evaluate our examination processes; credit unions have used the open-ended questions to submit numerous useful suggestions. To further improve the survey process, the NCUA has arranged to have the post-examination survey administered by an external vendor. The external vendor will begin administering the survey starti...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»