Friday, September 09, 2005

Community News

NCLR ESTABLISHES KATRINA RELIEF FUND

Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today announced the establishment of the NCLR Katrina Relief Fund for NCLR affiliates to provide short-term emergency financial assistance to Katrina evacuees in their service area. It is estimated that many of the 100,000 Latinos who live in the affected areas have been displaced by the hurricane. NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguia will be traveling with the American Red Cross to Louisiana and Texas on Saturday.

"We know from these affiliates and from other organizations which work closely with the Latino population in the affected areas that many in our community have been unable to obtain emergency cash assistance or are reluctant to ask for help due to language barriers and fear. NCLR will supply funds to meet the immediate and specific need for short-term urgent assistance that evacuees are unable to get otherwise. This will help them pay for emergencies such as plane or bus tickets or temporary housing," continued Murguia.

"Along with relief agencies, other nonprofit organizations, and the faith-based community including the network of Black churches throughout the country, NCLR affiliates have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help those whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We will work with these organizations to do whatever we can to support those extraordinary efforts, and we want to provide an opportunity for others to do so as well," stated Murguia.

NCLR and the American Jewish Committee have made a combined initial commitment of $35,000 to the Fund. All proceeds from the Fund will be distributed to NCLR affiliates serving those affected by the storm. Anyone interested can make a tax-deductible contribution to:

National Council of La Raza
Raul Yzaguirre Building
1126 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Attn: NCLR Katrina Relief Fund
or log on to the NCLR website,
www.nclr.org

Source: press release from NCLR

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