United Way Responds to Hurricane Katrina

What is the United Way System Doing?

To help the families and individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina, United Way is focusing its disaster recovery efforts in three key areas:

•  Assessing the needs and resources of communities large and small that have opened shelters and homes to displaced individuals and families, working in partnership with local governments, service providers, faith-based organizations, schools, and other community organizations.

•  Helping displaced individuals and families by coordinating the services they need such as housing, child care, transportation, healthcare, education programs, job training, mental health counseling, social services and community assistance.

•  Connecting people in need with the services that can help them begin to heal through
2-1-1 and local information and referral services

The United Way system is a leader in rebuilding lives. The work of United Way will go on long after the initial response efforts are completed. United Way is coordinating the long-term recovery planning process in many areas, with the goal of ensuring that displaced individuals are physically secure, emotionally stable, and o nce again have a community to call home.

What is our Local United Way Network Doing?

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area helped ensure a response system was in place. The relief efforts are an excellent example of the Community Capacity priority area at work. Through the Community Solutions Fund, our local United Way is providing more than $1.8 million to agencies involved in response efforts either at the local or national level, including $575,500 to the American Red Cross, Dayton Area Chapter for Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response. These vital funds help our local Red Cross not only respond to local disasters like fires, floods, and tornadoes, but also ensure the chapter can provide volunteers, supplies, and any other necessary resources to assist with a national disaster such as Katrina.

As of September 9 th , the local Red Cross chapter had provided the following services to victims of the hurricane:

•  Helped 139 clients with funds to cover food, clothing, and medications as well as assistance with lodging.

•  Deployed 19 volunteers to the hurricane sites in the gulf Coast and Florida – one of the largest contingents from an Ohio Chapter.

•  Training 250 new national disaster volunteers in the next few weeks.

This equation was multiplied several times through funding to other Partner Agencies such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, and The Foodbank who, with our local assistance, have the capacity to aid the response and recovery efforts through their national networks.

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area is also working with local government officials, churches, and nonprofit organizations to provide long-term housing, medical care, and support services for additional evacuees if needed.

United Way Hurricane Katrina Response Fund

The United Way Hurricane Katrina Response Fund will be used by United Way in supporting the communities that have opened their hearts and homes to those displaced by the hurricane, in addition to providing long-term recovery and rebuilding to the devastated areas. United Way's mission is to mobilize the caring power of communities . In light of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, that mission is now even more poignant. Annual gifts to the local United Way campaigns are more critical than ever to ensure the continuity of services for victims of the hurricane and all of our neighbors in need.

United Way greatly appreciates the outpouring of caring support in the wake of the tragedy. We encourage people to make additional special gifts, over and above their annual gift to the United Way to help with the response and recovery efforts through cash, check and credit card donations, collections, and special events.

•  Mail :   Checks or money orders made out to United Way with “ Hurricane Katrina Fund ” in the memo line to:

United Way of the Greater Dayton Area    or   United Way of America

184 Salem Avenue           P.O. Box 630568

Dayton , OH 45406           Baltimore , MD 21263-0568

•  Visit:   Web site www.dayton-unitedway.org or www.unitedway.org and click on
“ United Way Hurricane Katrina Response Fund” to make a credit card donation.

•  Call:   Credit card donations may also be made by calling 1-800-272-4630.

Neither United Way of the Greater Dayton Area nor United Way of America will charge any administrative fees to handle Hurricane Katrina Response Funds gifts. Administrative expenses will be covered by special contributions for that purpose and/or absorbed in our already lean operating budgets. While payroll deduction to the Hurricane Katrina Response Fund is available, this giving method is not optimal for disaster response. It requires United Way to absorb additional processing costs and collection of pledges will not be completed until early 2007 (based on the timing of company payments to United Way for payroll deduction in 2006.)

What is United Way Going to Do with the Money Raised?

United Way invests in communities and people for the long-term. The money raised through the Hurricane Katrina Response Fund will be directed to meet ongoing housing needs, healthcare services, education programs, job training, and community assistance. To ensure the future of the thousands of displaced people, the money raised will fund a multitude of services from mental health counseling to childcare programs for children unable to return to school . Aid will be provided through local United Ways to rebuild lives and communities from the ground up. Funds will be used for economic redevelopment, providing social services, and investing in human capital.

Oversight and Accountability

Because this unprecedented disaster requires an unprecedented level of response, United Way has activated a national task force of experienced staff and volunteers, many of whom have prior experience in dealing with the long-term recovery of communities that have suffered major catastrophes. The Task Force is developing strategies and action plans to address the long-term needs of the victims and communities affected by the enormous destruction of the hurricane. United Way is in the process of recruiting prominent, widely-respected members of the business, nonprofit, and government communities to serve as a distinguished committee that will set priorities and administer the assets of the Hurricane Katrina Response Fund.