| The Asian Pacific American Society (APAS) and United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area, in conjunction with Hibernia Bank, has collected more than $300,000 to assist in disaster relief efforts for the southern Asia communities affected by the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis last month.
United Way will partner with APAS, The House of Blues and Keating Magee Advertising in a special benefits concert with Irma Thomas, Charmaine Neville and other top name artists on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 . All proceeds will benefit the APAS Tsunami Relief Fund.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. provided a lead corporate contribution of $50,000 to help initiate this Greater New Orleans Area effort to assist affected countries recover and rebuild. James Moffett, Chairman of the Board and CEO— New Orleans , La also contributed a personal gift of $10,000. Additionally, Freeport-McMoRan’s mining affiliate - - P.T. Freeport Indonesia - - has already contributed in excess of $500,000 directly to the Indonesia Relief Fund, according to Richard Adkerson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
“It is our hope that working with the local United Way and APAS, our contributions will jumpstart a community-wide giving effort,” Adkerson said. “We know that the local United Way and APAS will ensure that 100 percent of the funds raised will go directly to alleviate the suffering and agony of the millions affected by this catastrophe. It will also help in the critical recovery and rebuilding efforts.”
Decisions regarding the distribution of funds raised will be made by the Board of Directors of APAS, under the guidance of its executive committee, who will assess the urgency of needs.100% of the funds collected by United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area and APAS will be forwarded to and administered by United Way International. United Way International has affiliates in India , Indonesia , Malaysia , Thailand and East Africa . Funds will go directly to the cities and villages of every Asian country that has been affected by this tragedy .
Individuals interested in helping can contribute to the APAS Tsunami Relief Fund at any Hibernia Bank or designate to the Tsunami Relief Fund through their United Way workplace campaign. Contributions can also be dropped off at the local United Way at 2515 Canal Street , its St. Tammany office at 325 N. New Hampshire Street in Covington , or its Tangipahoa Office at 411 W Coleman Avenue in Hammond . Individuals may also make a secure contribution online here .
“United Way International is working with its affiliates and disaster response partners in and around the impacted region to assess the range of needs,” Ostroske said. “They will then fittingly distribute resources in the early days when the most urgent needs are clean water, food and shelter through to the long term reconstruction and recovery.”
“United Way and its partners will rebuild homes, schools, and health facilities, restore destroyed farms, replant crops, provide mental health support and more,” Ostroske said. “Full recovery will take time, care, focus, and support.”
Other community partners joining together to support the fundraising effort of APAS and United Way include the Indian Association of New Orleans (IANO) who will hold a benefit international dance and music festival on January 22 at Tulane University ’s McAlister Auditorium at 7 p.m.
Additionally, the New Orleans Hornets will donate proceeds of its January 26 th game versus the Houston Rockets toward the relief effort; while more than 50 local schools and rotary and lions clubs have also joined forces to raise additional funds throughout the Greater New Orleans Area.
APAS Chair-elect Raj Pannu strongly encourages individuals to make monetary versus material donations to responding disaster agencies in order to provide efficient and expedient relief to disaster victims.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will allow all January 2005 cash/check donations to be deducted for the 2004 calendar year as governed by a new law enacted on January 7, 2005 .
For additional information, please click to contact Raj
Pannu or Barbara
Kaplinsky or call Barbara at 957-1274.
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