Skip to main content

Because of you, we can make a difference!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friend,

 

On behalf of First Responders Children’s Foundation, we look forward to your support of our organization's mission to provide transformational programs and services to the children and families of first responders.

 

Now, more than ever, the job of a first responder is becoming increasingly dangerous and uncertain. Through our year-round programs, we are there for their children, especially in situations where the unimaginable happens.

 

 

In 2023, we made significant strides but our job is not done yet. The following is a recap of our key successes:

 

·     Scholarships: Provided over $1.1 million in scholarships to 415 children.

 

·     Mental Health: Offered over 1,300 hours of free and confidential mental health counseling to children of first responders since the program’s inception in 2022. We achieved this by onboarding new partners to provide services and collaborating with first responder agencies across the country. We are actively providing support to children in six states.

 

·     Bereavement & Line of Duty Death: Provided over $275,000 in Bereavement or Line Of Duty Death Emergency Financial Assistance Grants benefiting families with children who lost a first responder parent in the line of duty and families experiencing financial hardship.

 

·     Community Engagement Events: Brought joy to more than 120,000 children through our Toy Express toy distribution events in over 145 communities with over 200 first responder agencies.  

 

In addition, we expanded our programmatic footprint in Dallas, New Mexico and Oklahoma and strengthened our Board by adding engaged partners who believe in what we do. In 2024, we hope to continue our growth and focus on deepening our impact.

 

None of this would have been possible without generous donors and the first responder agencies that stand behind our mission. 

 

Every dollar counts. If you would like to make a year-end donation in 2023, there is still time. Simply click here to support first responders across the country.

 

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a safe and happy New Year!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Jillian Crane

President & CEO

 

 

 

 

 

Visit us online at www.1stRCF.org

Scholarships | Grants | Mental Health | First Responder Community Engagement

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political 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...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

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

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

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

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 :
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Is it a ‘skip’ or a ‘pause’? Federal Reserve won’t likely raise rates next week but maybe next month

WASHINGTON — Don’t call it a “pause.” When the Federal Reserve meets next week, it is widely expected to leave interest rates alone — after 10 straight meetings in which it has jacked up its key rate to fight inflation. But what might otherwise be seen as a “pause” will likely be characterized instead as a “skip.” The difference? A “pause” might suggest that the Fed may not raise its benchmark rate again. A “skip” implies that it probably will — just not now. The purpose of suspending its rate hikes is to give the Fed’s policymakers time to look around and assess how much higher borrowing rates are slowing inflation. Calling next week’s decision a “skip” is also a way for Chair Jerome Powell to forge a consensus among an increasingly fractious committee of Fed policymakers. One group of Fed officials would like to pause their hikes and decide, over time, whether to increase rates any further. But a second group worries that inflation is still too high and would prefer tha...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

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

If these cuts in salaries catch on, is your credit union ready?

NEW ORLEANS — The first New Orleans firefighters were furloughed on Sunday under a plan requiring six unpaid days off by the end of the year to help stem a precipitous decline in city sales tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s furlough requires almost all 4,700 employees to take the six unpaid days, including police, firefighters and other safety workers, reducing their salaries by about 10% and saving the city $6 million. New Orleans' firefighters' union says the city's furloughs have had an impact on service. The city has required nearly all of its public employees to take at least six unpaid days off before the end of the year in order to offset COVID-19-related budget issues. ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Dolphin Debit Access ATMs Made Simple

Dolphin Debit is the largest “pure play” provider of ATM outsourcing for credit unions in the United States.  We currently operate over 2,000 ATMs for our clients.  Dolphin has been providing ATM outsourcing services to financial institutions across the U.S. for over 16 years. Our entire staff is solely dedicated to our core focus of ATM outsourcing.  Our internal departments are designed specifically for the execution of optimal results for your ATM program.  Whether you have 2 or 200 ATMs, outsourcing will save your credit union time & money, relieve your staff of the heavy burden of ATM management and assure there is a plan in place for future enhancements and technology upgrades.   Let the experts at Dolphin become your ATM department. CONTACT: URL:  www.dolphindebit.com Address: 1340 Rayford Park Road Spring, TX 77386 ph: 877-247-4182 Email:  Dolphininfo@dolphindebit.com Email:  jwoods@dolphindebit.com
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Syracuse Fire Department Credit Union

 Congrats, Tonia, on your promotion! ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»