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

Without President’s Signature, ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law; Includes CU Board Modernization Act

WASHINGTON — The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law Friday without President Donald Trump’s signature after the president allowed the measure to take effect while Congress remained in session, choosing not to sign it in protest over the Senate’s failure to advance separate voter identification legislation.  The legislation includes the Credit Union Board Modernization Act, which reduces the frequency with which credit unions must meet and which had strong support from the credit union trade groups.  Trump announced on social media that he would not sign the housing package because the Senate had not passed the SAVE America Act, a measure he has championed requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Under the Constitution, a bill becomes law if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress is in session.  Scott Simpson ‘Steadfast in Commitment’ “America’s Credit Unions, our league partners, and cr...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Inflation Cools in June Report, But One CU Economist Says There’s One Reason–And it Could Change

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June, offering relief after several months of elevated price pressures, though economists cautioned the improvement could prove temporary as renewed geopolitical tensions threaten to push energy prices higher. The Consumer Price Index fell 0.4% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the largest monthly decline since April 2020, after rising 0.5% in May, according to data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Compared with a year earlier, consumer prices rose 3.5%, down from 4.2% in May.  Foot off the Gas Dawit Kebede “Falling gas prices led June’s decline and pulled headline inflation lower year-over-year. Renewed hostilities could complicate the energy picture ahead, and a reversal in gasoline costs would be the most likely channel for that pressure to show up,” said America’s Credit Unions Senior Economist Dawit Kebede. “But softening core prices point to broader-based moderation, suggesting the ea...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Invest in Education - Invest in Tomorrow

 
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

More Consumers Turning to Digital Wallets to Manage Finances

BOSTON — Consumers facing financial pressure are increasingly turning to digital wallets not only for convenience, but also as a way to better manage their household finances, according to a new report from PYMNTS Intelligence . The report, titled “ The New Checkout: Crimped Consumers Lean Into Online Retail and Digital Wallets, ” is based on a survey of 2,108 U.S. adults and found digital wallet adoption is growing fastest among younger consumers and those experiencing financial stress. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, digital wallets are evolving beyond simple payment tools by offering features such as buy now, pay later options, real-time balance information and spending management tools that help consumers monitor their finances. Source: PYMNTS Intelligence Among consumers experiencing high financial stress, 28% said they used a digital wallet for their most recent retail purchase, compared with 11% of consumers reporting low financial stress. For grocery purchases, 21% of financi...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

What You Might Not Know About July 4th.

Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

White Paper from WOCCU Examines How Stablecoins are Reshaping Financial Infrastructure

WASHINGTON– World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has released a new white paper that examines how stablecoins are reshaping the financial infrastructure that credit unions and other cooperative financial institutions rely on to serve their members.  According to WOCCU, the white paper, How Digital Money Is Impacting Credit Unions, Part 1: Focus on Stablecoins , is the first in a planned three-part series exploring how emerging forms of digital money are affecting the global credit union movement.  “The report begins by noting that stablecoins are no longer a niche fintech development, but part of a broader structural shift in how money is stored, moved and regulated,” WOCCU explained. “As commercial banks, payment networks, technology firms and retailers build stablecoin offerings or integrate stablecoin rails into their platforms, credit unions must consider how these changes could affect deposits, payments, member relationships and long-term institutional relevance.” For ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

New GDP Data is ‘Positive,’ Clouds Clearing, Says NAFCU Economist

WASHINGTON–Although discussion and forecasts continue to focus on a recession in the U.S. economy, economic growth remained solid at the end of 2022, according to new federal data. Curt Long The Commerce Department said U.S. gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, increased at an annual rate of 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2022, down slightly from a 3.2% growth rate in the Q3. Consumer spending grew at a 2.1% rate, according to the Commerce Department data, which will be revised at a later date. “The big picture view of economic growth in the fourth quarter is a positive one,” said NAFCU Chief Economist and VP-Research Curt Long. “Much of that grow...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

The FedNow Service will launch in 2023 "Are you ready?"

The FedNow Service is a new instant payment service that the Federal Reserve Banks are developing to enable financial institutions of every size, and in every community across the U.S., to provide safe and efficient instant payment services in real-time, around the clock, every day of the year. Through financial institutions participating in the FedNow Service, businesses and individuals will be able to send and receive instant payments conveniently, and recipients will have full access to funds immediately, giving them greater flexibility to manage their money and make time-sensitive payments. Consistent with the Federal Reserve’s historical role of providing payment services alongside private-sector providers, the FedNow Service will provide choice in the market for clearing and settling instant payments as well as promote resiliency through redundancy. Financial institutions and their service providers will be able to use the service as a springboard to provide innovative instant p...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed Chair Says Inflation To Hang Around a Bit Longer; New Beige Book Data Show Why

WASHINGTON–The chairman of the Federal Reserve told the House the current increase in inflation is temporary, although it will remain elevated in the months ahead before moderating. Fed Chairman Jay Powell’s comments before Congress came on the same day the Fed released its Beige Book analysis, which found an economy showing increasing strength, but also suffering shortages of many materials and manpower. During his testimony before House Financial Services Committee as part of his semiannual monetary policy report to Congress, which he will repeat today before the Senate, Powell said asset valuations have generally risen as the economy has improved and investor risk appetite has grown. “Household balance sheets are, on average, quite strong, business leverage has been declining from high levels, and the institutions at the core of the financial system remain resilient,” Powell said. What About Inflation? As for inflation, which is of conce...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Auto Lease Volume Should Steadily Increase This Year

By Ray Birch CINCINNATI—Credit unions should expect a U-turn in leasing penetration in 2024, as volume steadily increases, according to one analyst, who is crediting muted economic “turmoil” and consumers’ changing their perspective on car ownership for the shift. “First, I am predicting a relatively turmoil-free year,” Scot Hall, EVP at Swapalease.com , told CUToday.info. “Said differently, no pandemics, no supply chain issues, no strikes, and better general economic factors—lower inflation and improving interest rates. Moreover, dealerships seem to be able to get inventory in most cases.” Hall said leasing, much like the overalll economy itself, just had hurdle after hurdle to overcome during the last several years. “One of those, o...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»