ABA Foundation Launches National Fundraising Effort to Aid Disaster Recovery Efforts in California, ABA Donates $25,000

As the devastating wildfires continue to threaten Los Angeles County, the ABA Foundation will immediately begin accepting donations from across the country through its Disaster Relief Fund, with all funds directed to the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region and the California Community Foundation. To lead fundraising efforts, the American Bankers Association will donate $25,000.

"Our hearts go out to all those who have suffered from the unimaginable destruction caused by these fires, including members of our banking family," said ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols. "Banks across the country have already stepped up to aid recovery efforts, and we hope that by standing up our Disaster Relief Fund we can make it even easier for others in our industry to provide meaningful financial support."

Bank branches are among the thousands of structures that have been destroyed, and bank employees are among those directly affected. Some bankers have lost their homes in the fires, according to the California Bankers Association. 

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The total scope of destruction is still unclear, but more than 40 thousand acres have burned and more than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in the fires.

"We are grateful for the support of the ABA Foundation and our banking industry colleagues across the country," said California Bankers Association President and CEO, Kevin Gould. "While the total damage is not yet known, we do know that too many people have lost everything, including bank employees. Contributions to the ABA Foundation's Disaster Relief Program will help in the effort to rebuild and restore the greater Los Angeles community."

ABA encourages banking industry employees and members of the public to contribute tax-exempt donations to this critical fundraising effort. Please consider donating through the ABA Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund to help those directly affected by the fires.

As they always do, banks have already stepped up on their own to aid in the recovery efforts. ABA is compiling a list of actions by individual institutions to help employees, customers and nonprofits affected by the wildfires.

The ABA Foundation Disaster Relief Program was created to efficiently and quickly raise funds to aid recovery efforts after a presidentially designated federal disaster. The program allows state bankers associations to request activation of the ABA Foundation's fundraising platform when specific criteria have been met. The requesting state association chooses where all funds will be distributed.

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