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United Way Tsunami Relief
Focused on Long-Term Response
UWA Supports Grassley-Baucus Tsunami Relief Law
United Way International, United Way
of America, and local United Way affiliates in affected areas
are working together with disaster response partners to assess
and address the wide range long-term response and recovery needs
of communities in southern Asia severely impacted by tsunami
waves in recent weeks.
"The sweeping and long term impact
of this disaster will require assistance for years to come,"
said Christine James-Brown, president and CEO of United Way
International. "Although some of the immediate attention
of local United Ways will be on supporting urgent needs like
clean water, food and shelter, our collective focal point as
a United Way system will be on long-term response and recovery."
Locally, United Way of Atlantic County
is fully supporting these efforts, but assures the public that
contributions to the ongoing annual campaign will remain focused
on the issues that are vital to the local community.
“We know that the caring citizens
in our region are moved to help those in need, wherever in the
world they might be,” said John Emge, executive director
of United Way of Atlantic County. “Our hope is that these
contributions are over and above the generous support afforded
this community by so many through the United Way annual campaign.”
United Way of America also strongly supported
the Baucus/Grassley legislation, passed January 7, which permits
taxpayers to claim a tax deduction in tax year 2004 for donations
made before January 31, 2005 for tsunami disaster relief.
Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of
United Way of America, offered his support for the legislation.
“I applaud this effort by Senators Baucus and Grassley
since it provides extra and immediate incentive for concerned
individuals to act on their desire to help their neighbors --
whether the individuals reside in their own communities or around
the world,” said Gallagher. “As a representative
of the global United Way system, which has banded together to
support local United Way affiliates and community partners in
the affected areas, I hope that after the initial rush to provide
emergency aid and relief, there will also be generous support
for the rebuilding of the infrastructure on which the fragile
fishing and tourist economies rely.”
Not only are roads, and harbors and hotels
in need of repair, but there have been disastrous losses of
homes, schools, health clinics, and even the official computer
files and records on which stability depends. Long-term recovery,
United Way's focus area, supports rebuilding lives, homes, businesses,
and communities and takes time, care, and support.
The United Way South Asia Response Fund
has been created to support these long-term recovery efforts
and will be administered by United Way International. Individuals
and corporations interested in donating funds for long-term
recovery can make an online contribution at http://national.unitedway.org/tsunamiresponse
or mail a check or money order to:
United Way South Asia Response Fund
c/o United Way International
P.O. Box 9193
Uniondale, NY 11555-9193
For stock gift or bank wire transfer
instructions please call +1-703-519-0092, x113. Note: All donations
to the United Way South Asia Response Fund are subject to a
2% administrative fee. Additionally, American bank credit card
donations are subject to a $1.50 plus 2.25% transaction processing
fee. The complete donation is U.S. tax deductible.
For those interested in providing immediate
relief assistance, United Way of America strongly encourages
cash donations to responding disaster agencies (versus material
donations) as the most expedient and direct way to provide needed
assistance to disaster victims.
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