Fire Family Foundation Hires First Executive Director

The Fire Family Foundation has hired its first Executive Director Robin McCarthy began work in October as the organization’s first staff member.

McCarthy is an alum of Loyola Marymount University, bringing to the Fire Family Foundation an extensive knowledge of and passion for the nonprofit world, having worked for two of the nation’s largest, the American Red Cross and the YMCA, along with most recently serving for nearly seven years as the Executive Director of Pasadena–based Women At Work.

Her knowledge of nonprofit operations includes development, marketing, along with service delivery and meeting client needs. She has raised millions to help disaster victims, unemployed people and those getting healthy.

A firm believer in giving back, McCarthy is a board member of the Pasadena Chamber, committee member for Pasadena City College Technology Committee, and Executive Director’s Roundtable.

The Fire Family Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization, was founded in 2007 by Los Angeles Firemen’s Credit Union to assist firefighters and their families, victims of fire-related incidents, and fire departments within the state of California.

The Fire Family Foundation is a statewide organization, responding to requests from throughout the state, wherever a firefighter or victim is in need. Often both the firefighter and fire victims have exhausted other help. Each year the Fire Family Foundation comes to the aid of countless victims and firefighters, supporting the community overall and helping individuals regain their lives following loss. Victims of home fires reach out to the Foundation for assistance with temporary lodging, utility fees for new accommodations, and the basics, food and clothing for families left with nothing. Financial aid may be provided to a firefighter whose family has been devastated by a major illness or death. Fire departments across the state seek funds for additional safety equipment that cannot be accommodated in their jurisdictional budgets. The Foundation responds as the needs are broad.

There are some recent examples. A firefighter needed airfare costs to fly himself and his children from Northern California to see his wife who was receiving cancer treatment in Southern California. The most recent fire victim lost all clothing for her 6’4 son; clothing was donated for her 3 daughters, but because her son wore a size 13 shoe she was lost about getting him new shoes, complicating this, their temporary shelter assistance from another nonprofit did not cover the water shut-off notice she received after her home in Victorville was completely uninhabitable. A local fire department needed new radio headsets but city funds were unavailable.

McCarthy explains the work of the Foundation very simply, “We believe tragedy strikes need begins.” To learn more and to make a donation, visit www.firefamilyfoundation.org.