AARP Foundation Acts to Show Older Hurricane Victims They Are Not Forgotten
By: Source: AARP Policy and Research Date Posted: 2005-12-20 00:00:00-05:00
The AARP Foundation announced disaster relief and recovery grants in its ongoing efforts to provide assistance for older victims of the recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. In announcing the grants, AARP Foundation Managing Director Robin Talbert said, "While the hurricanes and their devastation are no longer the top story on the evening news, there are still many unmet human needs. The AARP Foundation is determined to help older victims and their families put their lives back together."
In a competitive process, 65 agencies applied for funds from the AARP Foundation's Disaster Relief and Discovery Fund. Seventeen organizations operating on the ground in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas were selected and will be receiving nearly $1.3 million to support health, housing and legal needs.
"These grantees were recognized because they are serve older victims who have been displaced, or have health, legal or other needs," said Jennie Chin Hansen, Chair of the AARP Foundation Board, which is AARP's charitable arm. "Since the hurricanes hit, we have had staff and volunteers on the ground, working with AARP state offices and other agencies. The AARP Foundation had previously awarded nearly $300,000 for emergency relief shortly after Katrina and Rita struck. The new grants will be used to help with both medium and longer term needs."
Grantees include state and local organizations as well as national organizations such as Rebuilding Together, Boat People SOS, and the National Housing Law Project. A complete list of grantee organizations is available.
Funding for grants of up to $100,000 each will be made from the AARP Foundation Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund to which the Foundation, AARP, its members, volunteers, employees and others have contributed. In addition, some AARP members, exhibitors and sponsors of the 2005 Life @ 50+ member event in New Orleans, which had to be cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina, contributed their refunds to the AARP Foundation's disaster relief effort.
The AARP Foundation made an initial allocation of $1 million to the fund, with AARP matching contributions up to an additional $1million.
For more information on how AARP is helping older Americans affected by the hurricanes or to make a tax deductible contribution to the AARP Foundation Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, visit www.aarp.org/katrina.
The AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated charity. Foundation programs provide security, protection and empowerment for people 50 and older at social and economic risk including job training and placement, complimentary tax preparation for low- and moderate-income individuals, legal support protecting older Americans in critical health, long-term care, consumer and employment situations and additional programs provide information, education and services to ensure that people over 50 lead lives of independence, dignity and purpose. Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/foundation.
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