United Way Operation Helping Hands grants $500,000 to nonprofits

 

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Today, United Way of Miami-Dade announced initial grants totaling $500,000 to four nonprofits providing emergency relief in Haiti.  Funding for these grants comes through Operation Helping Hands, a joint disaster relief fund created by United Way of Miami-Dade, The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald, Univision 23 and Univision Radio.

The grants will be used to provide critically needed emergency supplies to people in Haiti.  The organizations receiving the grants are World Vision, University of Miami’s Project Medishare, Food for the Poor and the Pan American Development Foundation.

“We are pleased to be able to make these grants on behalf of hundreds of individuals and organizations who made donations this week to Operation Helping Hands,” Harve A. Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade, said. “We selected these organizations because they have a long and successful history of working in Haiti, providing services to the Haitian people.  We’ve also worked with many of these organizations after other disasters and know they are effective and accountable.”

“It's gratifying to see how this community has responded to the urgency of Haiti's need.   We're glad that our assistance will have such an immediate impact," said David Landsberg, publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald.
World Vision has been operating programs in Haiti for more than 30 years.  A grant of $325,000 will be used to purchase and distribute relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets, and tents to children and families impacted by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

University of Miami’s Project Medishare has been working in Haiti since 1995, providing medical care and community development assistance in the country.  A $100,000 grant will fund medical supplies and medical care. 

Food for the Poor is an interdenominational ministry that not only provides food assistance, but also builds small houses, digs water wells, provides medicine and medical equipment for the sick and elderly, and supports orphanages and education for children in numerous countries around the world.  This agency has worked in Haiti for years and has a strong distribution network among churches in the country.  A $25,000 grant will be used to transport and deliver urgently needed water, rice and canned food. 

Pan American Development Foundation has a disaster expert team in Port-au-Prince and is sending additional experts from the Dominican Republic to assist in the relief efforts. A $50,000 grant will be used for shelter kits with tents, tarps, water purification tables; food; and medical supplies.
“We have all been moved by the tragic events in Haiti this past week,” Sheldon Anderson, board chair, United Way of Miami-Dade, said. “This is just a first step in what will be a long and difficult recovery process.  The Haitian people need our help and I am grateful to the many generous, caring people who have extended a helping hand to our neighbors in need.”

United Way and The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald activated Operation Helping Hands immediately following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.  100% of funds raised through Operation Helping Hands will go to support relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.  Monetary donations made to Operation Helping Hands will go directly to help the people of Haiti through nonprofit organizations working on the ground.

To make a donation:

• log on to www.iwant2help.org
• send a check payable to Operation Helping Hands, c/o United Way of Miami-Dade, P.O. Box # 459007, Miami, Florida 33245-9007.
• call 1-800-226-3320

Operation Helping Hands was created in 1998 in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes Mitch and Georges, and has been reactivated several times since to help Floridians extend a helping hand to help those involved in emergency situations.