The National Credit Union Foundation has been working closely with state credit union foundations and leagues, specifically with the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues, Louisiana Credit Union League, and the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation to evaluate the disaster relief needs of credit union employees and volunteers In response to the California Wildfires and Hurricane Laura.

One of the three pillars of the Foundation’s work is responding and providing aid in the wake of a natural disaster. Due to the significant damage of the wildfires and Hurricane Laura, the Foundation has been connecting with the states affected to gain an understanding of their individual needs and has made available funds from the Foundation’s disaster relief fund. 

“We are working closely with the leagues and foundation’s aforementioned to ensure that the immediate needs of credit union employees and volunteers impacted by these disasters are being met,” said Hannibal L. Brumskine, CFOO at the Foundation. “From our conversations, California and Louisiana have the greatest need for financial assistance and we are able to meet that need through cash reserves currently held in the Foundation’s disaster relief fund. We are working with the leagues and state foundations to get credit union employees back on their feet so they can continue serving members when they need it most.” 

The Foundation has an established disaster relief fund through the CUAid national online fundraising platform that enables the ability to quickly disburse funds to credit union employees and volunteers in need.

Because of the collective generosity from the credit union movement in the past, the Foundation’s disaster relief fund is able to support the current needs of those impacted by the recent disasters, and we have collectively as a group decided not to activate CUAid for the purpose of soliciting additional donations to fund the needs associated with the current disasters.  

“The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues are extremely grateful for our partnership with the National Credit Union Foundation and its CUAid Program,” said Larry Palochik, senior vice president of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. “Through the Foundation, the Leagues have been able to fund thousands of dollars in grants to credit union staff and volunteers that have fallen victims to devastating wildfires and earthquakes over the past few years. The donations from the credit union system have been critical in helping to ensure those impacted by natural disasters get the assistance they need.”  

“Hurricane Laura made landfall last week as a category 4, leaving Southwest Louisiana completely devastated,” said Bob Gallman, president/CEO of the Louisiana Credit Union League. “Now more than ever the support of the Foundation is so vital. These funds allow us to provide relief to our credit union employees as they navigate their own personal losses as well as assist their members through this difficult time. As we have experienced before, disasters such as this take an economic and emotional toll. By donating to the Foundation, you are truly impacting someone’s life. For that, the Louisiana credit union community is forever grateful.”  

CUAid is always open for support  to assist with future needs as credit unions continue to weather through natural disaster season.