FAWCO Activates Haiti Emerg. Relief Fund

As you know, a major earthquake has struck Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince. It is a catastrophe of major proportions in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Multiple buildings have collapsed including Parliament, many hospitals, hotels, churches and the UN building, with estimates of more than 50,000 people killed and thousands more missing.

The FAWCO Board has activated the FAWCO Emergency Relief Fund for the victims iun Haiti. Having recently voted to permit speedy activation of the ERF at the Board's initiative, we want to act quickly so that funds will be available for immediate relief.

The FAWCO Board voted to send all donations to Oxfam America, a highly respected and recognized charity based in Boston, with over three decades of experience in Haiti. They are on the ground now and have the logistics in place to put our funds to work immediately, and have already started to provide clean water, shelter, and sanitation to the victims. Oxfam America is given a top 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, ensuring that every penny will be used wisely.

As in the past in catastrophic situations, while people may choose to donate to their usual charities, the FAWCO ERF offers our members and clubs the opportunity to make an emergency donation alongside other FAWCO members, joining forces in a FAWCO-wide humanitarian effort. With great regret that it should be needed, and this time so close to American shores, we invite individuals, clubs and friends to send their contributions immediately to:

For contributions by credit card go to: www.fawcofoundation.org

Then please click on "Donations" in the top navigation bar, click on the "How Can I Donate." On the right side of that page, click on the "Donate" button for the General Fund. This will take you to the PayPal page. Once you have completed that transaction, the next page gives you a box for special notes. Please type in "ERF" here. This is very important in expediting your donation to the Emergency Relief Fund.

For non-credit card donations in U.S. dollars:
check payable to FAWCO, mailed to:
FAWCO Treasurer Carol Kamphuis
61 rue d'Ernster
L-6977 Oberanven
Luxembourg

For non-credit card donations in euros or another currency:
bank transfer
Bank: UBS
Account Name: The Federation of American Women's Clubs
Overseas Account No.: 276-814313.40B
Swift/BIC Code: UBSWCHZH80A IBAN: CH 13 0027 6276 8143 1340 B

Many thanks,
Kathleen Simon, President
on behalf of the FAWCO Board

See also FAWCO Boston Conference article.