Giving Adds Up

[HARDCORE]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...10katlist.html

San Diego Union Tribune Local News

Giving adds up

October 10, 2005

A sampling of local assistance for hurricane evacuees includes:

The local chapter of the American Red Cross has collected nearly $1.95 million, with $1.56 million headed to the group's national fund. The group has spent $751,177 on local evacuees, including direct assistance in travelers checks and debit cards of $693,908; response call network operations of $4,164; family assistance center operations of $8,738; and administration costs, including salaries and fundraising, of $19,251. It has provided 3,691 hotel room nights, at an unknown cost paid mostly by the organization's national fund.

The 2 Life 18 Foundation of businessman David Perez and his coalition of religious groups, businesses and friends airlifted at least 384 people from the Gulf Coast region to five states, including California. At least 126 people came to San Diego on three flights. The coalition sent planes and trailers with 490 tons of food and medical supplies to the Gulf Coast. Efforts have cost at least $590,000. The estimated value of the goods delivered to Louisiana and Mississippi is in the millions, the Perez group said.

Jimsair at Lindbergh Field donated about $60,000 to help fuel planes, organize donations and reserve hangar space to distribute more than 40,000 pounds of goods in trucks to people in the Gulf Coast states, plus several planeloads of items. The value of the goods would be millions, organizers said.

The Salvation Army raised at least $2.5 million in the division that includes San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties. Most of it went to the organization's national fund, although the division retains $100,000 in local funds for emergencies. About $490,000 has been spent here on Wal-Mart debit cards for evacuees and to pay for at least 30,000 hot meals, volunteer support, staffing and canteen vehicle maintenance.

The Hurricane Katrina Unmet Needs Committee has amassed $55,000 to distribute to evacuees for special needs, such as housing deposits. San Diego Councilman Tony Young gave $50,000 from his district's Community Development Block Grant fund, and Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins did the same, contributing $5,000.

San Diego County estimates it has spent about $165,000 to provide services, including mental and public health doctors, and staff to verify eligibility for food stamps and medical assistance.

The San Diego Legal Assistance Coalition provided about 50 hours of pro bono work to evacuees, worth some $10,000.

The All Congregations Together group donated transportation, worth about $1,040.

The San Diego Chargers and the Spanos family donated $322,407 to the American Red Cross.

The San Diego Padres raised $318,198 for evacuees, and also donated 1,000 tickets to the Red Cross to distribute to evacuees. The tickets were worth $18,000.

Dream Hair Design Salon organized a day of beauty for evacuees worth $1,200.

The United Jewish Federation raised $272,000, most of it headed to a national fund.

Horizon USA, which includes Horizon Christian Fellowship in Clairemont and 20 other San Diego churches, is feeding up to 3,000 people daily in Mississippi, including rescue workers, at a cost of $50,000.

The San Diego Food Bank has distributed 39,716 pounds of food out of a conference room converted into a pantry for evacuees, serving 647 people.

San Diego Head Start enrolled 50 children from evacuee families, and the cost of their education, plus emergency needs such as transportation for families ? about $20,000 ? will come out of the agency's $89 million budget.

About 52 Church of God in Christ congregations in San Diego helped raise $30,000 for churches in the Gulf states, and St. Stephen's Cathedral in Encanto has collected tons of goods that have been dispersed to evacuees in the hurricane-hit zone.

The San Diego Humane Society raised about $250,000 and has spent about $112,000 to send teams to care for animals on the Gulf Coast.

Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens, his wife Madeleine, owner of the Del Mar Country Club, and her sister Christine Penrod have, along with some friends, paid for at least eight flights out of Louisiana to get hundreds of rescued animals to safety in several U.S. cities, including three flights to San Diego. The estimated cost of the flights is $440,000.

About 100 volunteers in the Escondido area helped outfit a four-bedroom house for a family of 16 from New Orleans within 48 hours. Continental Airlines slashed the price of tickets to fly the family sponsored by Escondido residents Bob and Arlene Shuster, who paid $2,000 for the tickets.

Friends and Family Community Connection has helped move 16 families into homes for a year, a value of about $576,000. Up to 60 families will be helped.

St. Stephen's Interdenominational Alliance raised $4,200 to help families move out of hotels into homes.

The San Diego Zoo donated about 300 tickets to evacuees, worth about $9,600, and 1,000 T-shirts with an unknown value.

The San Diego Symphony donated 100 tickets for evacuees worth $2,000.

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church sent truckloads of donated goods to Leesville, La.

Catholic Charities collected about $170,000 for evacuees, most of it headed to the group's national fund. They have spent at least $7,500 in staffing and materials to organize a relocation program to help local faith-based groups sponsor evacuee families.

Legoland California and its employees donated nearly $40,000 to storm victims, most of it to the Red Cross national fund. About 300 theme park tickets, worth $14,000, were given to evacuees.

The San Diego Union-Tribune contributed $25,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief. Union-Tribune employees separately raised $13,500 for donation to the Red Cross, which was matched by the company.

Interfaith Community Services has helped 24 families move into homes with some $1,500 in cash, and donated goods and services.

The United Jewish Federation of San Diego County has raised $272,000, much of it headed to the Gulf Coast, although some was distributed to local evacuees.

Southwestern College's Political Science Club raised about $5,000 for a hurricane-displaced family who relocated to San Diego.

Rescue Task Force members Andrea Stone and Sally Shidler helped distribute $100 Wal-Mart gift cards to 100 families in Louisiana. The task force also sent volunteers to the Gulf Coast states to help with relief efforts.

The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club gave more than $10,000 to a Rotary club in Louisiana.

The Coronado Rotary Club Foundation sent $11,000 to a Rotary foundation in Louisiana.

San Diego Habitat for Humanity has raised about $50,000 for rebuilding efforts, with most of it headed to the Gulf Coast.

North County Kiwanis Club members raised $20,000 for people in Wiggins, Miss., and sent two truckloads of goods.

Cities in the county have contributed to hurricane victims. Carlsbad donated $25,000 to The Salvation Army and $25,000 to the American Red Cross; Poway contributed $50,000 to the American Red Cross; Santee sent $15,000 to the Gulf Coast; Vista will send $20,000 to Wiggins, Miss.