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| P.A.T.H. | |
| Pan Asian Tsunami Healing |
The earthquake and tsunami that struck on the 26th of December affected several countries and cultures across Asia. This disaster has affected several communities and have brought together disparate groups to help out the victims of this disaster. PATH is an opportunity to bring together the Pan Asian American community to work together on providing relief for the victims of this unprecedented disaster.
Contents:
GOALS: 1. IMMEDIATE To serve as a clearinghouse of information relating to assistance, fundraising and follow-up needs via a webpage at www.path.org 2. In 2005 To promote, coordinate and assist with local, state-wide and possibly nation-wide Asian groups in a series of art, cultural and performing events for continuing fundraising efforts.
3. LONG TERM To sustain awareness and assistance via an annual event to raise funds for tsunami research, rehabilitation and rememberance purposes.
MISSION Statement: P.A.T.H. is a non-denominational, non- political and non-segregational collaborative united to advocate, coordinate and promote continuing tsunami victim needs.
Contacts:
Sishir Chang Organizing Chair 612.239.5773 sishir@msn.com
Choy Leow Events Chair 612.673.0407 Choy.Leow@allina.com
Penny Snipper Fundraising Chair 612.863.2922 psnipper@mn.rr.com
ONGOING TSUNAMI RELIEF FUNDS IN THE MINNESOTA ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Tamil Association of MN Wells Fargo Bank TAM Relief Fund 935 Prairie Center Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Acct: 3572038275 tamilians_minnesota@yahoo.com
Diaspora Flow, Sri Lanka Group The Sri Lanka Relief Fund 12134 Jonquil St. NW Coon Rapids MN 55433 srilanka-relief@diasporaflow.org
Tzu Chi Please send your donation payable to Tzu Chi Foundation. address: 420 Old Farm Road, Shoreview, Mn 55126. We will mail it to Tzu Chi USA ASAP. Li-Chun Chen, Tzu Chi Minnesota Office, 651-493-9388 www.tzuchi.org
Minnesota Indonesia Society Please send your check payable to: "Indonesian Tsunamis Relief Fund" at TCF Bank, 3380 Denmark Ave. S. Eagan, MN - 55121 If you have more question regarding this relief fund, please call Minnesota Indonesia Society at 952-882-8993
The Minnesota Chapter of The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP-MN) NAAAP has set up a Web page where anyone may donate to this cause, which can be found here: http://www.naaap.org/NAT/pymt_relief.asp
Vibha Tsunami Emergency Relief Campaign Tax ID to verify 501(c)(3) Status 22-3122761 www.vibha.org/emergencyrelief
Association of Indian Development Tsunami Survivors Relief Campaign http://survivors.aidindia.org info@aidindia.org checks can be made out to 'AID' with 'Relief and Rehabilitation Fund' mentioned in the memo line and mailed to: AID Minnesota 1042 Hague Ave Unit C, St. Paul MN 55104
American India Foundation Tsunami Relief Fund c/o McKinsey & Company 55 E 52nd Street, 29th Floor New York, NY 10022 http://e2ma.net/go/57347853/53396/1631104/goto:http://www.aifoundation.org/ site/GetInvolved/donate.html
Association of Indian Development http://survivors.aidindia.org
Contact: Sudha Nagavarapu sudhanagavarapu@yahoo.com
Indian Association of Minnesota
Contact: Dilip Mallick dilipkmallick@yahoo.com
Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation www.tzuchi.org
Contact: Li-Chun Chen tcmn1013@yahoo.com
MAPHILINDOS (Malaysian, Philipino, Indonesian, Singaporean Society)
Contact: Linda Davis MLMD613@aol.com
Vibha www.vibha.org
Contact: Sreekanth Bhaskaran sreekanth.bhaskaran@gmail.com
Asian American Pacific Islander in Philanthropy
Contact: Penelope Snipper psnipper@mn.rr.com
Chinese American Association of Minnesota
Contact: Ming Jen Chen chenx019@maroon.tc.umn.edu
CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
Contact: Le Ha Thong thongleha@gmail.com
Pan Asian American Voices for Equality
Contact: Karen Lucas LucasSKGL@aol.com
Katha Dance Company www.kathadance.org
Contact: Rita Mustaphi RITAMUSTAPHI@msn.com
UPCOMING TSUNAMI RELATED EVENTS
•Eat Out, Help Out ----------------- Thousands are left homeless by the tsunami! Vibha-MN requests your help...and YOU can help, while having a meal! Take a break from the routine, enjoy a fine buffet lunch with family and friends on Sunday, Jan. 23, 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm at Taj of India (2819 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55408) Phone: 612-871-2262/ 612-735-9150 (Jesse's cell) Free parking behind the building and on the street (Sunday) Only $6.95 per person 50 % of the proceeds from the lunch will go to Vibha's Tsunami Emergency Relief Campaign Please visit www.vibha.org/emergencyrelief Vibha is a US-based non-religious and non-political, 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization. All donations to Vibha are tax- exempt in the US. For more details about the Brunch or Vibha activities, please visit http://minnesota.vibha.org or contact Nidhi Agrawal at agrawn@hotmail.com .
•Tsunami Benefit Concerts: "Songs of Lamentation and Hope" In response to the overwhelming devastation from the tsunami, an outpouring of creativity and energy aimed to further the relief effort has been planned in the form of benefit concerts to help those who will desperately need continued support in the months ahead. A metro-area church is heading an effort to host three concerts the weekend of February 12 and the call is out for musicians to participate. Singers and instrumentalists are needed for a mass choir and chamber ensemble for the Benefit Concerts held at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville, Minnesota. Choral repertoire will include Rutter's "To Everything There Is A Season," Daley's "In Remembrance" and Mozart's "Lacrymosa (Day of Weeping)" as well as the Indian composer Victor Paranjoti's "Dravidiam Dithyramb (Hymn of Praise)."
Singers interested in participating in the mass choir should attend the following rehearsals: Sunday, January 9th 3 pm - 5 pm Sunday, January 16th 3 pm - 5 pm Sunday, January 23rd 3 pm - 5 pm Sunday, January 30th 3 pm - 5 pm Sunday, February 6th 1 pm - 3 pm Dress Rehearsal Note: Singers should bring $20 to cover costs and a black folder. It is requested that singers attend at least 3 of the rehearsals in order to be adequately prepared for the concerts. It is not required that singers attend all three concerts in order to participate. Instrumentalists who are interested in participating should contact Jennifer Anderson at North Como Church for more information.
Performances are as follows: Saturday, Feb. 12th at 7:30 pm Sunday, Feb. 13th at 3 pm and 7:30 pm We encourage all to participate. We are handicapped accessible. All donations will benefit the Church World Service's efforts for tsunami disaster relief. Rehearsals and concerts will be held at: North Como Presbyterian Church 965 Larpenteur Ave West Roseville, MN 55113 Phone: 651-488-5581 Questions? Please contact Jennifer Anderson, Director of Music Ministry, ext. 23 or email JenniferA@northcomochurch.org
•On Saturday night Jan 22, at the Varsity Cabaret, Mark Wojahn and Patrick Scully will host a WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS: TSUNAMI ARTS BENEFIT. We are asking the TWIN CITIES ARTS COMMUNITY to come together for a Gala friend-raiser for the tsunami disaster relief. Donate your art for the auction, your music, your performance and importantly your patronage. All profits from this will go to the Survivor relief efforts. Ticket prices, start time, performers and artists are still TBA. To be part of this event please call or email us! We need to know by next Monday 1/ 10 for our publicity, your participation will make this an exceptional event! This is a preview for the Varsity, so we will be promoting this as a "best kept secret" sort of event, using tons of word of mouth and e mail. Patrick is coordinating the performers and musicians, Mark Wojahn will coordinate the visual artists and film makers and we will both need volunteers!
VISUAL ARTISTS call Mark Wojahn 651/4787-5375 email him at: mark@whatamericaneeds.com MUSICIANS / PERFORMERS email Patrick Scully at patrick@patrickscully.org Patrick's phone in the usa: (612) 205-1512 Vendors wishing to sponsor the TSUNAMI ARTS BENEFIT with; Advertising, food, drinks or prizes should also contact Mark Wojahn at his home /office 651-487-5375. Our (Patrick and I) intention for this BENEFIT is for the TWIN CITIES to come together with the arts and create overflowing generosity for this tragedy. I hope you can participate... thx and affec, Mark Wojahn
• Diaspora Flow, a Sri Lankan American nonprofit arts organization, will hold a benefit show with local and national South Asian artists for their Sri Lanka Relief Fund on January 23rd at Coffman Union Theater at the U of M at 7 pm. All proceeds will go directly towards basic needs and rebuilding efforts. For detailed information on the show, how to donate, projects funded and info on the organization, please check out www.diasporaflow.org Over 47,000 dead and one million homeless in Sri Lanka. In a few hours, the tsunamis destroyed what took lifetimes to create. Help us rebuild. We have an amazing group of artists for the show! Their beautiful work shows the necessity of transforming pain and suffering into a language that communicates hope and rebirth of the spirit. Not only do you get to see some amazing performances and visual art, you're supporting socially responsible giving in Sri Lanka!!!!!
• The Walleye Kid: The Musical; A Theater Mu Musical Adaption. Theater Mu is planning on designating the preview show on March 8, 2005 at the Mixed Blood Theater near the U of MN West Bank Campus as a PATH fundraiser. They will need volunteers to help with setting up and getting the word out. They are also looking for resturaunts to donate food for the performancs.
•On Thursday, Dec. 30, American Express announced that it will donate $1 million to support the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations in the affected countries. In addition, the American Express Foundation will match all employee contributions to select relief groups providing assistance to the region. Below are some more options for individuals to make contributions to the relief efforts. Look for additional articles on AmexWeb and Connections over the coming weeks. MINNEAPOLIS Below is a list of organizations from American Express' Employee Giving Campaign that are already actively involved in providing emergency relief, including safe water, food, shelter, medicine and infrastructure needs, for the affected areas. Starting tomorrow, Jan. 5, employees will be able to donate through the Employee Giving Station, accessible through AmexWeb. If you do decide to donate, please don't forget to use the Gift Matching form for amounts over $25. https://central8.ipc.aexp.com/atexpresscontent/cd/pp/mi/gm/pdfs/gmform.pdf Americares - www.americares.org CARE - www.careusa.org Doctors Without Borders - www.doctorswithoutborders.org (or call 1-888-392-0392) Mercy Corps International - www.mercycorps.org Save the Children - www.savethechildren.org
•If you are interested in getting money to NGOs working in the respective countries rather than to international relief agencies, you may want to check out www.Give2Asia.org. It is an arm of the Asia Foundation in San Francisco which has 14 offices staffed with program officers in many of the targeted countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. Also, try the American India Foundation.
•Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans 658 Cedar Street, Suite 160 - Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155 Press Release For Immediate Release Contact: Ilean Her January 3, 2005 651-296-0538 St. Paul, MN - The board and staff of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans send our deepest sympathy to the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis that hit twelve countries in South and Southeast Asia, as well as East Africa on December 26, 2004. Our thoughts and prayers are with these communities and in the days ahead, we are ready to provide assistance to help rebuild the lives of those affected by the tsunamis. It is indeed befitting that our President has ordered that American flags fly at half-staff all this week in sympathy for "the victims of a great tragedy," particularly the many thousands of dead and orphaned children. It is proper that our Governor has followed suit and ordered that Minnesota state flags be flown at half-mast this week. We commend the actions of our two leaders in reaching out to the victims offering aid, support, and recognition. "It is heart-wrenching to see such devastation happen in such a short time, but the global response and good-will has been heart-warming and has lessen the pain and grief the community is feeling in the aftermath of the tsunamis," said Ilean Her who is the executive director for the Council. Minnesota is home to over 3,000 Asian Americans of Indonesian, Sri Lankan and Thai ancestries and over 15,000 South Asians. Many of them still have family and friends in those countries and eagerly awaited news about the fate of their loved ones. A. Srilal Liyanapathiranage, Vice-President of the Council, has family in Sri Lanka. Immediately after the tsunami Srilal and other members of the Minnesota Sri Lankan community quickly came together to offer support to each other and to figure out a relief plan. They set up a relief fund and it is their goal to sponsor a village in Sri Lanka and help with its reconstruction. This Friday Srilal will depart for Sri Lanka and will take part in the humanitarian efforts there. Likewise the Indonesian community in Minnesota quickly convened in private homes and offered each other support. They waited in deep anticipation of news from home and then they planned their response. A relief fund has been set up with TCF Bank and a cultural event with an Indonesian dinner is being planned for some time in February to raise fund to help the victims. The Thai and South Asian communities were just as affected by the events half a world away. "We were moved to do something to help the victims that were suffering so," said Kalong Sujjapunroj, a board member of the Thai Association of Minnesota. "We have a many prong response, but we are asking for monetary donations first because the need is so great." All the communities know that the work has just begun. They have long-term strategies in how to respond to the reconstruction needs in the countries affected. "We live here and are Americans, but we still have families and friends in our country of birth. We can't help but be moved by the tragic incidents there into doing something good and constructive for the victims," said Srilal.
Donations and additional information about their relief efforts may be sent to the following organizations: Sri Lankan Community: Srilal Liyanapathiranange at 651-578-1442 or Mithula Perera at 651-426-3762; Baratha Ratnayake at 651-738-2260 Sir Lankan Tsunami Relief, TFC Bank (account number 2867371922) 1800 E. Madison St., Mankato, MN 56001 or send to 8235 Marsh Creek Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
Minnesota Indonesia Society: Checks should be made payable and mailed to Indonesian Tsunamis Relief Fund, TCF Eagan Promenade, 3380 Denmark Ave., Eagan, MN 55121. For more information and questions please call Linda Scheller at 651-994-7802.
Thai Association of Minnesota - Kalong Sujjapunroj at 651-486-8286; Tsunami Relief, 869 Westview Court, Shoreview, MN 55126
Indian Association of Minnesota: Dilip K. Mallick at 763-546-9393; Tsunami Relief Fund, 2701 Brunswick Ave., Crystal, MN 55422
•Dear Friends Sri Lanka has been one of the worst affected areas and relief has been slow. Shreen is a friend from Sri Lanka who currently lives in Minneapolis and had been active for many years in the field in Sri Lanka is going back to help on the ground. We would like to take this opportunity to send some help with her. While she could carry medicines from here, it is easier and less expensive for her to buy stuff in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Thus, cash is probably the best help - it can also be used for some rebuilding activities. I am sending this mail to request donations. Given the immediacy of activities, thers is no 501c3 account - your donation will not be tax deductable. However, Shreen will send me all the bills which I will be happy to circulate among everyone who donated. Please send a check in favor of Sitara Shreen and post it to 115, 2nd Avenue South, Apt# 915, Minneapolis, MN 55401 If you have questions, you could write to me or to Shreen at qadrishreen@hotmail.com>. Regards Sanat
• GIVE WELL, GIVE WISELY! CSFH Urges Responsible Giving in the Wake of Tsunami Tragedy Friends, It is time to give and give generously. As the death toll climbs past 150,000 and the world comes to grips with the devastation caused by the deadly Indian Ocean tsunamis, numerous organizations across Asia are stepping up to organize relief and rehabilitation. We at the Campaign to Stop Funding Hate (CSFH) urge all individuals in the U.S. and elsewhere to support them by donating generously. However, our responsibility does not end with giving. It is also our combined responsibility to ensure that our funds do not end up in > sectarian hands, and that this tragedy does not turn into another > opportunity for communal groups to gain foothold in our plural society. KEEPING ACCOUNTABILITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE ON THE AGENDA The response to the tsunami tragedy in the US has been heartening, with hundreds of dedicated volunteers making enormous effort to raise > resources for relief operations in India and elsewhere. Many of these groups have a long history of carrying out grass-roots, non-sectarian development work in India, and have been able to effectively mobilize their networks at this time to administer relief. They can be counted upon for working closely with affected communities in a transparent and accountable manner. The immense loss of life in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand, makes it incumbent on us to consider giving to our suffering Asian neighbors, either through transnational organizations or through informal networks of local community-based organizations. (See below for a partial list of such organizations). Many of us are also members of a variety of linguistic, regional and cultural associations. Because of their social and cultural affinities, such organizations are well equipped to intervene in on the ground activities. Precisely because of these reasons, sectarian groups try to use them as vehicles to advance their own agendas. We therefore urge you all to not only take an active part in the fund raising activities of these organizations but also be involved in discussions on how and where > the funds are to be used. Disasters of this kind are occasions when we should be on high alert to keep social justice at the top of the agenda. STAY CLEAR OF SECTARIAN GROUPS SUCH AS IDRF, HSS, SEWA INTERNATIONAL AND VHPA Please remember the lessons of past natural calamities: Latur earthquake in 1993, Orissa cyclone in 1999 and the massive earthquake that shook Gujarat in 2001. Sectarian groups in the guise of non profits have swooped in on these areas engulfed in tragedy (funded in large part by unsuspecting donors in the US) and established their presence in the grief-stricken communities on the pretext of providing relief. Not only did this lead to unequal disbursement of relief among various communities, but it also caused further fracturing of these struggling communities along lines of caste and religion. This time too, the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Sewa International and Vishwa Hindu Parishad-America (VHPA) have all put out appeals for Tsunami relief. CSFH has done extensive research on these groups and traced their linkages to the parent organization in India: the violent and anti-minority Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). (See http://www.stopfundinghate.org for details.) Affiliates of this organization have been implicated by numerous national and international human rights groups as having engineered the anti-Muslim Gujarat pogroms in 2002 and the anti-Christian violence in 1998-2000. RSS itself is a secretive organization, openly sectarian in its operations, and is not legally permitted by the Government of India to accept funds from abroad; consequently, its US affiliates (IDRF, HSS etc.) are raising funds for organizations like Sewa Bharati, Jana Sankshema Samiti and Vivekananda Kendra in India, all of which are intrinsic parts of RSS operations in India and follow its divisive ideology. We urge everyone to make the responsible choice in favor of supporting > secular groups with a long-standing commitment to the pluralistic ethos and democratic ideals of India. On our part, we are following up on our work of the past several years some of which is documented at http://www.stopfundinghate.org . We will be happy to assist you with any information and would really appreciate it if you will alert us to the debates and discussions that you are involved in by emailing us at info@s... We are building a FAQ to be posted on our site and it will be helpful to know the kinds of questions being raised. Meanwhile, please feel free to use the list below as a starting point to identify the kind of organizations that are worthy of support. Thank you CSFH (http://www.stopfundinghate.org)
• Date January 4, 2005 To All GMAC-RFC Associates From Bruce J. Paradis Regarding GM and GMAC-RFC Tsunami Relief Efforts Message This past week we all watched in horror at the reports of human suffering and loss in the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia and Africa. A world away, millions of people are suffering. While it can be hard to imagine the devastation as we sit comfortably in our homes, there is a way we can help.To aid in the relief efforts, the GM Foundation will donate $1 million in cash to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross, as well as provide vehicles to assist in the movement of medical equipment and supplies in areas affected by the tsunami. The Foundation is also matching up to $1 million in contributions made by GM employees to the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross, UNICEF and CARE.For our part, GMAC-RFC will double match all associate donations to nonprofit organizations providing relief to the victims of the tsunami. Our goal is to raise $50,000 in associate contributions by the end of next week, Friday, January 14, 2005. Please help make a difference. Donations made during this special giving campaign are excluded from the $3,500 (USD) matching gift limit.U.S. Associates: Visit the GivingStation and select the Tsunami Relief Campaign to make a donation.Associates Outside the U.S.:Please contact your local VAN representative to request the GMAC-RFC matching gift. See attached list of VAN representatives by location. Attachment
•Not-for-Profits Tread Carefully The Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required) By Elizabeth Bernstein and Rachel Emma Silverman 1/6/2005 Even as Americans demonstrate immense generosity in helping the victims of the tsunamis in South and Southeast Asia, some not-for-profit organizations with no connection to the relief effort are worried that their donations will suffer as people redirect funds to the current crisis. Since Dec. 26, some $200 million has poured into U.S. disaster-relief organizations, much of it specifically designated for tsunami victims. Across the country charitable organizations are reassessing their fund-raising efforts to make sure they aren't overlooked. The most vulnerable nonprofit groups are ones that also focus on people in need, such as food pantries, homeless shelters, advocacy groups and child-care service providers, says Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a charity watchdog group based in Chicago. "Their backs are up against the wall now," he says. Too Early to Tell While most charitable organizations say it is too early to tell what impact the outpouring of tsunami aid will have on their fund raising, some are already seeing a slowdown in donations. At City Harvest, a hunger-relief organization in New York, direct-mail donations from individuals in the last week of December were down 21% over the same period in 2003. Now, the charity says, it is making "contingency plans," including revamping a newsletter that is set to be mailed out next week. Tuesday, the president and CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Dwayne Howell, sent a letter to his staff and board members, cautioning them to be "extraordinarily sensitive" in dealing with potential donors. Mr. Howell warned of donors "who are conflicted or questioning raising funds for the Society at this time rather than donating to the relief efforts. If this occurs, it will be important to convey that you are sensitive to their concerns but the Society's mission is still vitally important." The leukemia society says that while Internet donations in December went up, they grew at a slower pace than the same time a year earlier. In December 2004 online donations increased 38% compared with a year earlier, while in December 2003 the growth was 77% over the same period in 2002. "We're very happy with 38% growth, but I would say that we have felt an impact," says Nancy Klein, a spokeswoman, adding that there is no way to know whether the slower growth rate was directly related to the tsunami-relief donations. 'Very Deliberate Decisions' Kathleen King, vice president for development for Volunteers of America, the national social-services provider, says that soon after the disaster happened, executives at the charity "kicked into gear and got our heads together and made some very deliberate decisions around this very important issue." Ms. King says the charity plans to soon put a message on its Web site recognizing the "horrendous disaster that has taken place" but also reminding donors that "we have some very pressing and important issues in the U.S." The group has no plans to change its direct-mail appeals. Even some disaster-aid organizations say they are concerned that the outpouring of aid for tsunami victims will divert funds from their other efforts. For now, Doctors Without Borders has stopped accepting funds designated for tsunami relief. "We've asked people to give unearmarked donations so we can answer the needs in South Asia and in the 70 other countries we work in around the world," says Kris Torgeson, a spokesperson. InterAction, a consortium of international relief charities, says that it is keeping its members updated about other crises and relief efforts, including in Sudan and Northern Uganda, in addition to the tsunami disaster. "There are ongoing crises in at least 20 countries all over the world," says Mary McClymont, chief executive of InterAction. Many not-for-profit organizations are acknowledging the tsunami disaster when communicating with donors -- and some are even contributing funds. The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto is donating the proceeds of its admissions next Wednesday, which should be about $10,000, to the Canadian Red Cross. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS made a $100,000 donation to Unicef to help tsunami victims. "The good feeling and the good karma that is created by extending ourselves in this way only helps us secure fund raising in the future," says Tom Viola, the group's executive director. The concerns by non-tsunami related charities aren't without precedent. Soon after Sept. 11, a number of nonrelief-related charities reported decreased donations. But many groups made up for it by year's end. Gifts made to relief and recovery efforts after Sept. 11 were estimated to comprise less than 1% of total giving for that year, according to the annual "Giving USA" report published by the American Association of Fundraising Counsel Trust for Philanthropy. In general charitable donations are chiefly affected by the broader economy and Wall Street's performance. In addition, some not-for-profit organizations say their fund raising last year was adversely affected by the elections, because so many people made donations to political campaigns. Late December is a particularly sensitive time in the fund-raising season. The period between Thanksgiving and New Year's is a key fund-raising period for many charities. Although statistics are hard to come by, some nonprofits say they receive more than half of their contributions in December, as donors scramble for year-end tax deductions or are inspired by more spiritual or altruistic entreaties to give. Before the tsunami hit, many charities were on their way to a better year than 2003, largely thanks to the improving economy. In the first nine months of 2004, some 50% of charities surveyed said contributions had increased, according to an October poll of about 3,770 charities by GuideStar, a clearinghouse for information on nonprofit organizations. In 2003, only 39% reported that contributions had increased in the same period. Full text provided
•Finance Leaders Propose to Extend 2004 Deduction Window for Tsunami Relief Donations Tax Notes (Subscription Required) By Fred Stokeld 1/5/2005 Senate Finance Committee leaders January 4 announced a plan to extend tax benefits for charitable contributions made in 2004 to help victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in South Asia and neighboring regions. The proposal, sponsored by Finance Committee Chair Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking minority member Max Baucus, D-Mont., would permit taxpayers to claim charitable deductions in tax year 2004 for donations they make for tsunami disaster relief until January 31, 2005, instead of having to wait until next year's filing season. Only cash gifts made specifically for disaster relief would be eligible. "This proposal allows American companies and individuals to receive their deduction now rather than having to wait [until] next year to claim it," Baucus said. Although a Finance spokesperson said the Senate was expected to pass the bill by unanimous consent January 4 or 5, the Senate ended up adjourning until January 6 with no action on the proposal. Milton Cerny of Caplin & Drysdale, Washington, who has worked extensively on overseas charity issues, said the proposal is sound. "I think it probably makes good tax policy sense," he told Tax Analysts. "There's no reason it has to be limited to a calendar year. There's no reason taxwise why people should not be able to make this contribution." Cerny said the Finance proposal and President Bush's selection of former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to lead private relief efforts reflect attempts to demonstrate Americans' compassion toward the tsunami victims. Cerny pointed out that there could be problems with fraud and misuse of donations, noting that "there are people out there who will set up organizations at the drop of a hat" following a disaster. To make abuses less likely, he recommended the IRS encourage donors to give to existing public charities that know how to use and distribute funds. He also said the IRS should not enforce documentation requirements too rigidly on charities that have a solid record of providing services. "This situation does not call for documentation; it calls for implementation," Cerny said. "Known public charities that have a track record should not be held to a high standard with regard to documenting that these people are poor or in distress; it's obvious that they are." He added that he believes the IRS realizes the enormity of the situation. Janne Gallagher of the Council on Foundations (COF) also welcomed the charitable deduction proposal. She acknowledged that fraud could be a problem, remarking that "whenever there's a lot of money floating around there are people who are going to try to steal some of it." To avoid donating to fraudulent organizations, donors "need to do their homework," she advised. Donors who log on to COF's international grant-making Web site (http://www.usig.org) can obtain resources on helping the tsunami victims and can download a publication on disaster assistance, she said, adding that other umbrella groups of charities also are providing information about reliable charities that are helping victims of the disaster. Full text provided
• Tsunami Charity Scam Warnings Issued The New York Times (Free Subscription Required) By The Associated Press 1/5/2005 With private donations pouring into charities, law enforcement officials say scam artists claiming to represent tsunami relief organizations are using e-mails and telephone calls to attempt to steal donations and swipe donors' identities. Several states and consumer watchdog agencies have issued warnings in recent days, noting that an outpouring of generosity for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami has opened the door for con artists who want to prey upon American philanthropy. ...Agency officials alerted residents Tuesday after they learned of an e-mail purportedly sent by a British group called ``The Foundation for Victims of Flood and Earthquake'' and another requesting aid to the ``Tsunamis Disaster Help Funds.'' For full text article, click on headline above. Summary: Tsunami Charity Scam Tips (Free Subscription Required) By The Associated Press 1/5/2005 State officials and watchdog groups offer the following advice for potential donors to tsunami victims following reports of possible scams: -- Contact the Better Business Bureau, the White House's USA Freedom Corps, an office that encourages volunteering, or the state office that tracks charities to verify the organization you intend to make a donation. -- Do not give out personal or financial information such as Social Security, credit card and bank account numbers to anyone soliciting a donation. -- Do not give cash and ask for a receipt showing the amount of the contribution and showing it is tax-deductible. -- Ask what percentage of your donation will support the cause described in the appeal. For full text article, click on headline above. Aid agencies call cash best in aftermath of tsunami The Buffalo News By Jay Tokasz 1/4/2005 Take the blankets, shoes and clothes to the nearest Goodwill, Salvation Army or AMVETS thrift shop. Few international relief organizations are capable of collecting and shipping such items from the United States to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in south Asia. Better to give a cash gift, even if it seems less personal, aid groups say. ...The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo set up a link on its Web site to help guide contributors to a variety of credible relief efforts, including long-range reconstruction projects. It can be reached by clicking on the Tsunami Disaster Relief page at www.cfgb.org. The site links to the Council on Foundations, which in turn lists dozens of U.S.-based international relief and development organizations that adhere to a set of disaster-response guidelines. "Many people feel a desire to help by meeting both immediate and continuing needs in situations like this but are not sure their dollars will actually be used to help the victims," said Gail Johnstone, president of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Donors can be assured any funds they give through the organizations identified on the Council on Foundations' Web site will go to help the people who have been affected by this terrible event."
• Hello everyone, You may have seen me on Ch 9 TV and heard on several local radio stations appealing for medical professional volunteers to travel to Sri Lanka to help the tsunami victims. So far the response has been great and I have nearly 30 nurses and doctors and still counting. Some of the volunteers do not have the funds to pay for the airline ticket to Sri Lanka ($1,400) and I would really really appreciate if you or your friends could donate funds to pay for their air fare. Please mail the checks written to "Help Sri Lanka" to the address below. I hope to take the group within two weeks as the need in Sri Lanka is urgent Thanks a heap for all your help.
Chef Evan 'Help Sri Lanka" Evan Balasuriya 3140 Chowen Ave South #333 Minneapolis, MN 55416
• DON'T STOP AT THE TSUNAMI! The outpouring of support here in Minnesota, throughout the US and throughout the World has been amazing and heart warming but as the mudslides in California, continuing starvation and misery in Africa and crisis in almost every corner of the World shows there always is a need. When disasters strike relief groups need to respond right away and without ongoing funds and volunteers they can't. People hungry, sick and without shelter can't wait for fundraising to catch up with their immediate needs. So while there is still a huge need for relief from the tsunami don't limit your giving or volunteering to the tsunami when there's always going to be a need.
Sishir