SAN DIEGO — Thanks to the new online network activated lastAugust by the National Credit Union Foundation for disaster relief,CU donations and pledges have now soared past $144,000 to help CUmembers who suffered losses in the California wildfires duringOctober, NCUF officials reported today.

“Today NCUF received a $1,500 donation from the Florida CreditUnion Foundation as well as several more donations and so we'rehoping that by Thanksgiving, we hope the CUAid relief effort forthe California wildfires will reach $150,000,” forecast SteveBosack, deputy director of NCUF in Washington.

So far contributions and pledges have come from 27 states tohelp CU employees, volunteers and members who lost property in theCalifornia fires. Funds are routed through CUAid, which was startedas a vehicle to provide a centralized location for donations toensure contributions go directly to help impacted CUs.