The $950 million Elevations Credit Union proved its fundraising and public service mettle this week.

The Colorado CU said it has now brought in more than $85,000 to aid victims of two devastating wildfires near Boulder and Loveland early last month.

Elevations management credits "very generous" donations from employees, members and board members directed toward individuals who lost their homes and other property during the Labor Day four-mile fire in the Boulder foothills and the Reservoir Road fire near Loveland a week later.

Elevations was one of the first civic groups in the Boulder area to set up a compensation fund through its foundation and since then numerous business and charity agencies have contributed, a spokesman said. Among the biggest donors were local Realtors and the Boulder Area Realtors Association.

"We also had a football game pitting Loveland County High School against neighboring Berthoud County High School with funds collected going to our fund," the spokesman said.

In disbursing the funds, Elevations officials have been working with a separate community foundation as well as Boulder County Community Services and Foothills United Way.

"As the largest credit union serving Boulder, and for the fact that we just recently entered the Loveland market, we wanted to show our support although admittedly this was a rushed start for our Elevations Foundation," the spokesman said.

The public, he said, "really rallied around this cause and it was very heartwarming to see people donating money to those they've never met, people who were literally chased out of their homes on a moment's notice, with fire ravaging the mountainside, destroying about 170 houses."

In addition to those who lost their homes, Elevations also sought to pay tribute to the firefighters, police and other emergency personnel "who literally risked their lives in dangerous conditions," the CU said.