Giving USA Foundation Press Releases

Statement from Giving USA Foundation on Giving in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina:

National disasters bring out the best in the character of America’s citizens, as they rush to the aid of victims of such catastrophes as Hurricane Katrina. But the Giving USA Foundation cautions generous donors to ensure their donations go to the right place at the right time.

When disasters strike, Americans react immediately to bring aid and comfort to those most in need, said Henry Hank Goldstein, CFRE and chairman of Giving USA Foundation. We find this to be one of the major reasons to be proud of America’s giving nature. At the same time, the Giving USA Foundation wants to ensure that those generous donated dollars have the most impact possible.

• To ensure maximum impact of any donations made during a time of disaster, Giving USA Foundation recommends taking the following steps before writing out a check and sending it off:
• Check out the charity through groups such as Guidestar, www.guidestar.org, and the Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org, to ensure they are legitimate
• Donate to such reputable organizations as the Red Cross (www.redcross.org) and the Salvation Army, www.salvationarmyusa.org, which are known for their expertise in times of disaster
• Investigate to ensure that a high percentage (if not all) of your donation goes to a direct need vs. to administrative costs
• Read the guidelines published by the Federal Emergency Management Association at www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm to find out the best ways to help victims and groups that are helping those affected by the hurricane
• Resist the urge to go to the damaged areas to provide help watch for news of requests for volunteers. Often, untrained volunteers can unintentionally hinder the rescue and recovery process

For other tips, feel free to contact Giving USA Foundation at info@givingusa.org.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the hundreds of thousands of people and their families that have been devastated by this natural disaster of once-in-a-lifetime proportions,added Goldstein. We hope these guidelines will help ensure that aid gets quickly to the victims who need it most.