Mayors create fire relief fund

A special Fire Victims Relief Fund has been established in the Inland Empire that will aid fire victims in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The announcement was made Friday during a press conference outside City Hall.
The Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties will be in charge of distributing the fund.
“I want to assure you all of the funds will go to fire victims of our two counties,” said Jim Erickson, president and CEO of the foundation. “There will be no administrative fees.”
The foundation has set up a special ad-hoc committee composed of local charity leaders who will decide how the fund will be dispersed, said Erickson.
The committee is expected to meet next week to decide how the money will be spent.
“There’s a sense of urgency ... ” said Michael Tracey, vice president of development for the foundation. “The decision will come quickly but we’re also going to have to raise funds quickly.”
The foundation will be accepting donations from anyone interested in contributing to the fund.
For donation information call (951) 684-4194.

The following organizations have made donations or have committed to make donations to the Fire Victims Relief Fund:
— San Manuel Band of Mission Indians: $100,000
— Stater Bros. Markets: $20,000
— Arrowhead Credit Union: $20,000
— Altura Credit Union (Riverside County): $20,000
— American Collective Counseling Services: $20,000
— City of Riverside: $20,000
— County of Riverside: $20,000
— City of San Bernardino: $20,000
— Matich Corporation: $10,000
— SE Corporation: $5,000
— JJC Project Management: $4,000
— Supervisor Dennis Hansberger has said San Bernardino County will make a donation similar to Riverside County, according to Mayor Pat Morris.