Disaster Relief
When disaster strikes, your Charitable Gift Account can be a quick and easy way to provide support for those in need.
If you'd like to designate a grant for a specific disaster, you may do so in the "Special Notes" field on the Recommend a Grant form. You may want to consider making a grant to the organization's general disaster relief fund, which provides the flexibility to use the funds where they are most in need--for a current disaster, ongoing efforts related to a previous disaster, or to prepare so that they can respond quickly to the next disaster.
Hurricane Ike Lands in Texas
Hurricane Ike struck Texas in early September as a Category 2 hurricane with winds well over a hundred miles per hour. The storm did billions of dollars worth of damage in the United States, killing at least 64 people. The following organizations provide disaster relief to the impacted areas:
American Red Cross: National Headquarters
PO Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
AmeriCares Foundation, Inc.
88 Hamilton Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
SPCA of Texas
2400 Lone Star Drive
Dallas, TX 75212
Massive Earthquake In China
A powerful earthquake has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands of others injured or homeless in western China. Sichuan province is the most heavily affected, but five adjacent provinces have also reported casualties and infrastructure damage. Chinese officials welcome foreign assistance. The following organizations have international affiliates providing aid on the ground:
American Red Cross: National Headquarters
PO Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
U. S. Fund for UNICEF
125 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
Give2Asia
465 California St, 9th Fl
San Francisco, CA 94104
Myanmar Cyclone
Some officials are estimating over 100,000 deaths in the region in the wake of a devastating cyclone in Myanmar (also known as Burma). It is unknown how many are suffering from a lack of shelter and drinking water. The ruling military junta restricts the flow of information in and out of Myanmar, but the following international aid organizations are in Myanmar, providing key support on the ground:
Save the Children
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
World Vision, Inc.
P.O. Box 70200
Tacoma, WA 98481-0200
CARE
P.O. Box 1870
Merrifield, VA 22116
Foundation for the People of Burma
225 Bush Street, Suite 590
San Francisco, CA 94104
Give2Asia
465 California St, 9th Fl
San Francisco, CA 94104
Conflict in Darfur
Background
The conflict in Darfur is arguably the most pressing humanitarian crisis in the world. While the violence has continued for less than four years, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced. (Recent estimates range from 180,000-400,000 people killed; over 2.2 million refugees.) The situation has spilled over the Sudanese border into Chad, where camps that ‘house’ 200,000 Sudanese refugees have been attacked by militias believed to be supported by the Sudanese government.
How you can help
While many governments have been slow to respond to this growing crisis, hundreds of aid agencies have been providing care and support since the conflict started and their efforts have increased significantly in response to the worsening nature of the conflict and a rise in gifts from individual donors.
Many of these organizations have banded together under the flag of InterAction—agreeing to abide by a set of standards to ensure accountability, professional competence and quality of service.
1400 16th Street, N.W., Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 667-8227
fax: (202) 667-8236
http://www.interaction.org/sudan
InterAction is a coalition of more than 160 US-based private relief, international development and refugee assistance organizations.
While InterAction does not accept donations, InterAction members are accepting contributions for assistance they or their affiliates are providing to those affected by the crisis in Darfur. For a complete list of InterAction members—which include World Reflief, the Red Cross, the International Refugee Fund and many other well-known organizations--see www.interaction.org/sudan.
Support for our Soldiers,
Veterans and their Families
The following are some of the key organizations assisting American troops (including those serving in Iraq) and their families. Services range from emergency financial assistance to educational grants and scholarships:
- Air Force Aid Society
Army Emergency Relief
Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society
Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation
United Service Organization (USO)
Helping the People of Iraq
The following are just a few of the U.S.-based charitable organizations providing Iraq-related relief:
- American Red Cross
- Humanitarian aid to Iraq and services for military members and their families.
- CARE USA
- Emergency food, assistance in maintaining clean water systems, including clean water to hospitals.
- Save the Children
- Food, water, and other emergency supplies to children and their families.
- UNICEF
- Humanitarian aid in health, nutrition, water, and sanitation for children and women.
If we can be of any assistance, please call our Donor Relations Specialists at (800) 746 6216. |
