Snohomish Times Newspaper: United Way announces recovery fund for mudslide relief

Snohomish Times Newspaper: United Way announces recovery fund for mudslide relief: As the search and rescue effort in Oso, Washington continued into its fourth day, United Way of Snohomish County began the process of establishing a community-wide recovery fund to assist those affected by the mudslide.

United Way seeded its Disaster Recovery Fund for Mudslide Relief with $25,000 from its endowment. JPMorgan Chase added another $50,000 as soon as they heard the fund had been set up

2013 disasters 'consistent' with human-made climate change –UN

2013 disasters 'consistent' with human-made climate change –UN: he Philippines' devastating Typhoon Haiyan and drought in Australia were among recent weather extremes consistent with man-made climate change, the UN's weather agency said Monday, March 24. (INFOGRAPHIC: What UN reports say about climate change)

Victims of Typhoon Haiyan to receive lights from 'Party in the Dark' event - Local News - ET Mobile

Victims of Typhoon Haiyan to receive lights from 'Party in the Dark' event - Local News - ET Mobile: Victims of Typhoon Haiyan to receive lights from 'Party in the Dark' event

by Roger Adkins, Staff Writer | Posted 15 hours ago

PHILIPPI — Volunteers are being sought to “Party in the Dark” for a good cause.

Several community organizations are partnering with Alderson Broaddus University for an event in which volunteers will assemble solar-powered lights for typhoon victims in the Philippines, said Ashley Mittelmeier, director of marketing and communications.

The free event is being held at 8 p.m. Saturday at Heiner Hall located on the top level of the campus center.

“University students and community members will turn out the lights for an hour and assemble solar-powered lights,” she said.

Aid Charities’ Syria Worries Grow as Donors Steer Clear – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Aid Charities’ Syria Worries Grow as Donors Steer Clear – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Organizations such as Mercy Corps and World Vision have collected a tenth as much money for Syrian relief as for the 2010 Haiti earthquake or last fall’s Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, despite a comparable toll in death and displacement. Aid experts said the complexity and seeming intractability of the Syria crisis, public wariness about Middle East conflicts, and a widespread perception that all players in the war are bad actors have served as drags on giving.

Community foundations raise over �1m to help flood relief effort

Community foundations raise over �1m to help flood relief effort: Over �1m has been raised for flood relief by eight local community foundations in flood-affected areas, and by the umbrella body for the community foundations network.

Community foundations in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk, Somerset, Surrey and Wales set up relief funds to respond to the devastation brought by extreme weather in recent months.

Fundraising, Part 5: International affairs groups refine message � Philanthropy North Carolina

Fundraising, Part 5: International affairs groups refine message � Philanthropy North Carolina: With serious disasters abroad in 2013 eclipsing those in the U.S., international aid organizations showed a sharper focus on disaster planning and preparation before disasters, says Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

International aid groups also have focused more attention on post-disaster recovery and rebuilding, and turned increasingly to social media to help educate donors about disaster needs, he says.

New England Fishermen To Receive Nearly $33 Million In Disaster Relief | Rhode Island Public Radio

New England Fishermen To Receive Nearly $33 Million In Disaster Relief | Rhode Island Public Radio: early $33 million in disaster relief money will soon flow to help New England fishermen hurting from declining fish stocks and tighter fishing limits. The federal government declared a fisheries disaster last year in Rhode Island. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Reps. Jim Langevin and David Cicilline joined other congressional leaders to include $74 million in fisheries disaster in the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill.

Red Cross responds to 407 disasters in region in 2013 - MessAge Media: Aitkin Independent Age

Red Cross responds to 407 disasters in region in 2013 - MessAge Media: Aitkin Independent Age: In a year that had deadly tornadoes, fierce wildfires and destructive floods in many states, the Northern Minnesota Region of the American Red Cross responded to 407 disasters, including one of the 146 large disaster relief efforts led by the American Red Cross in 42 states and territories in 2013.

Teen Japanese folk star serenades Victoria city hall in thanks for support during 2011 tsunami

Teen Japanese folk star serenades Victoria city hall in thanks for support during 2011 tsunami: Teen Japanese folk star serenades Victoria city hall in thanks for support during 2011 tsunami



Teen Japanese folk star serenades Victoria city hall in thanks for support during 2011 tsunami

VICTORIA, B.C.: February 21, 2014 - Misaki Usuzawa, a junior high student from one of the coastal towns that was devastated in 2011 by Japan�s most powerful earthquake and the following tsunamis, performs to a crowd at Victoria City Hall. Usuzawa was recently celebrated as one of Japan�s up and coming musicians and sings to show gratitude for the support Victoria offered to Japan in 2011.
Photograph by: ADRIAN LAM , TIMES COLONIST

A teenage folksinging sensation from Japan had the Victoria mayor, councillors and guests clapping along in city chambers Friday as she sang about her homeland.

Misaki Usuzawa’s performance was a thank-you to B.C.’s capital after it supported her hometown following its destruction in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

David Beckham urges help for kids in disaster zones | Business Standard

David Beckham urges help for kids in disaster zones | Business Standard: ollowing his visit to the Philippines earlier this month, former football star David Beckham has launched a global appeal to help children caught up in disaster zones.

World Records Broken at Walkathon for Philippine Typhoon Survivors - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

World Records Broken at Walkathon for Philippine Typhoon Survivors - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Among the Filipinos worldwide responding to the continuing crisis in their homeland are followers of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), an independent and indigenous Christian group. Members participated in a walkathon staged in the Philippines and 55 other sites in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States, and in the process broke a couple of Guinness World Records.

Guinness adjudicator Kirsty Bennett certified that 175,509 congregants marched in Manila on Saturday, breaking the record set 14 years ago in Singapore when 77,500 people walked to promote healthy living. Bennett also confirmed that 519,221 Iglesia ni Cristo members worldwide set a new record for the largest

Thomson Reuters Foundation | News, Information and Connections for Action

Thomson Reuters Foundation | News, Information and Connections for Action:  A World Vision staff member scans the barcode on a piece of paper given to the people affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Taken on Jan 23 in the municipality of Dagami, Leyte Province. THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION/Thin Lei Win

US$100,000 worth assistance to Indonesians displaced by Sinabung eruptions | The Jakarta Post

US$100,000 worth assistance to Indonesians displaced by Sinabung eruptions | The Jakarta Post: S Ambassador Robert Blake has offered US$100,000 to support the Indonesian government’s disaster relief in response to the ongoing Mount Sinabung eruptions in North Sumatra.

Pomeroy students raise money for relief in Philippines | Community Spirit | LC Valley News

Pomeroy students raise money for relief in Philippines | Community Spirit | LC Valley News: As of Thursday morning, the students have raised over $700. That means the students have successfully raised enough money shave the heads of the Principal/Superintendent and also pie their two counselors and lead teachers in the face. But the students are hoping to reach their other goals:

4,500 still without electricity and heat; more crews arrive to help restore power - LancasterOnline: Local News

4,500 still without electricity and heat; more crews arrive to help restore power - LancasterOnline: Local News: With thousands still without power, President Barack Obama on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Lancaster and six other Pennsylvania counties.

As Haiyan hits 3-month mark, World Vision to help survivors rebuild, recover for long term

As Haiyan hits 3-month mark, World Vision to help survivors rebuild, recover for long term: Cebu - With more than half a million people provided with survival goods during the first three months of World Vision’s response to Typhoon Haiyan, the response team is now focusing on helping families and communities rebuild.

Knights of Columbus to donate more than $750,000 for relief efforts in Philippines | Church Executive

Knights of Columbus to donate more than $750,000 for relief efforts in Philippines | Church Executive: n the aftermath of the Philippines’ Typhoon Haiyan — considered the strongest recorded storm ever to make landfall — the Knights of Columbus will donate more than $750,000 to assist in relief efforts.

N.J. Outlines Plans for Next $1.46 Billion in Sandy Aid

N.J. Outlines Plans for Next $1.46 Billion in Sandy Aid: Gov. Chris Christie outlined his spending plan Monday for $1.46 billion set to come to New Jersey in the second wave of last-resort federal funds approved by the Obama administration in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The proposal calls for about half of the money to be directed toward homeowner assistance,

Effective giving - Emporia Gazette: Editorials

Effective giving - Emporia Gazette: Editorials: People want to help; it is human nature to want to help. And many aid agencies offer just that opportunity as they fundraise for relief efforts. But if we give to them, does it actually make a difference?

This isn’t about deceitful and fraudulent charities. Scams are easy to avoid with a modest amount of due diligence. I’m talking about the legitimate charities trying to do good. Do they actually improve conditions at the disaster sites?

The answer is yes, but disaster relief is notably less effective than many other forms of aid.

Philippine typhoon victims receive HK$2 million in aid from Hong Kong | South China Morning Post

Philippine typhoon victims receive HK$2 million in aid from Hong Kong | South China Morning Post: More than HK$2 million worth of aid, financed by Hong Kong’s Disaster Relief Fund, is being distributed in Philippine towns hit by Typhoon Haiyan.

Relief packs featuring essential food stuffs, survival items and sanitary supplies are being handed out to about 5,000 families in the remote central Philippine towns of Ajuy, Batad and San Dionisio in Iloilo province.