CU Aid Activated for Credit Unions to Help Victims of California Wildfires

LOS ANGELES (September 2009) - The National Credit Union Foundation has activated the online disaster relief system CUAid.coop to raise money for credit union employees, volunteers and members affected by the wildfires raging in California.

All donations via CUAid will be forwarded to credit union organizations in affected areas through the National Credit Union Foundation, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The huge wildfires have already burned an area the size of Chicago in the mountains north of Los Angeles. So far, the blaze has destroyed more than 60 structures, killed two firefighters, and forced thousands of people from their homes.

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CU Aid Completes $133,000 in Grants to California Wildfire Victims

"Loyal Credit Union Members for Life!"

San Diego, California - Credit union members who lost their homes in Southern California wildfires are receiving grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 through CU Aid—the centralized disaster relief fund-raising system activated during the fires by the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) and the California Credit Union League.

“This is unbelievable!” said Great American Credit Union member September Katje of the CU Aid grant program, which was made possible by donations to the NCUF Disaster Relief Fund. She found out soon after the fires that she was pregnant with the couple’s third child. “This (disaster relief) will definitely help in getting on with our lives.”

The Katje family (pictured here in the center), who lived in a mobile home in Fallbrook, Calif., recalled taking a bag of clothes for each family member, with just a few photos and videos once they received the word to evacuate. They thought they would soon return to their home. But, their home was one of hundreds in the area completely destroyed. “There was nothing left to save,” father Daniel Katje recalled. “Everything was completely melted. It was very shocking.”

Great American Credit Union member Jacqui Olmos and her 16-year-old daughter, former residents of Ramona, Calif., also lost everything. “Everything burned. Everything was ash. It was all gone,” Olmos recalled.

Olmos called the support she has received—including the grant from CU Aid—a blessing. “I have insurance and there are other organizations that have helped, but it isn’t enough, unfortunately. This (grant) is proof that there’s sunshine behind all the shadows.”

Former NCUF Chairman Mary Cunningham, CEO of USA Federal Credit Union in San Diego, volunteered to help present grant checks. Cunningham found that thanks to CU Aid, grant recipients now “realize they are part of a larger credit union community. They will be loyal credit union members for life!”

Cunningham saw first-hand that donating through CU Aid “is a good thing to do and a good thing to be a part of. I would like to thank every single member who has given to this fund.”

Thanks to the generosity of CU Aid donors, grant dollars are still available for credit union employees, volunteers and members who suffered unrecoverable losses from tornadoes in the south and wildfires in the west.

NCUF, state credit union foundations and leagues are encouraging credit union supporters to donate now to prepare in advance of the next disaster.

Three Ways to Help

Credit unions and other organizations that want to help are encouraged to take three steps:

1. Go to www.cuaid.coop and make a donation via credit card, wire transfer, or check.

2. Download any of the CUAid.coop buttons and banners, located under the "campaign materials" button, then place a button and or banner with a link to www.cuaid.coop on your Internet and Intranet homepages.

3. Use the sample letters, statement stuffer and point-of-sale materials to encourage your employees, volunteers, and members to make donations that will help survivors recover from this disaster and future disasters.

"We are calling on credit union leaders and communicators to promote CUAid.coop to help the credit union community help itself," urges NCUF Executive Director Steve Delfin. "When credit union organizations link to CUAid.coop, we can collect donations more efficiently and distribute funds much faster to credit unions, employees, volunteers and members in affected areas."

During past disasters, Delfin pointed out, "Millions of dollars left credit unions for Red Cross, Salvation Army and other outside relief groups. Those organizations do great work for the general population - and we would not discourage donations to them - but we believe many credit union employees, volunteers and members will want to donate to help fellow credit union the credit union people once they are given the opportunity via CUAid.coop."

Disaster relief funds raised through CUAid.coop may be used for a broad range of disaster-related needs as identified by credit union organizations in the affected areas and approved by NCUF. These needs include, but are not limited to:

• Critical Needs - Credit union employees and volunteers can receive financial assistance for items for daily living such as, but not limited to food, water, ice, batteries, clothing, diapers, temporary shelter, housing, gas and transportation.
• Longer-term Recovery Needs - After surviving the initial emergency, credit union employees may still face long-term needs related to the disaster. Even after they recover what they can from insurance payouts, victims may need assistance rebuilding or relocating to a new home, replacing lost vehicles and household items. As long as funds remain in the NCUF Disaster Relief Fund, NCUF in concert with its agent(s) managing the recovery efforts may expand the grant criteria to include these and other longer-term recovery needs that are not fully covered by insurance.
• Reasonable Operational Needs - While NCUF’s first priority in disaster relief grant-making is to assist credit union employees and volunteers, assistance may also be provided directly to credit unions and their support organizations in order to help them become and remain operational. Operational expenses related to disaster recovery may include items such as relocating, setting up temporary service facilities, joining shared service networks, hiring temporary staff, mentoring and counseling traumatized staff, repairing building damage, replacing destroyed computer software/hardware, office furniture, office supplies, and other needs that are not fully covered by insurance. All purchases must be reasonable and of the same standards as being replaced.
• Assisting Credit Union Members - NCUF recognizes that credit union members and their families may also be victims of disaster. So while NCUF’s guidelines focus on providing support to assist credit union organizations, their employees and families, some funds may be used to provide disaster-related services to members.

DONOR MESSAGES View a video message from NCUF Executive Director Steve Delfin