Freddie Mac Foundation Announces $1 Million Fund for Foster Children Affected by Hurricane Katrina
22 September 2005 - 9:43PM
PR Newswire (US)
Donation to Help Nearly 4,000 Foster Children, Support Foster
Parents, Rebuild Foster Care Non-profits MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 22
/PRNewswire/ -- The Freddie Mac Foundation is continuing its work
in support of the nation's foster children by committing $1 million
to help foster children who are victims of Hurricane Katrina along
the gulf coast. The Katrina Fund for Foster Children is part of the
Foundation's $5 million donation to help ease the burden for the
thousands of families affected by Hurricane Katrina. "Hurricane
Katrina has made the lives of many foster children, who often
already live with displacement, uncertainty and instability, even
more difficult. The Freddie Mac Foundation continues its commitment
to helping children in America's foster care system through the
establishment of the Katrina Fund for Foster Children for foster
children affected by this disaster," said Freddie Mac Foundation
Chairman Ralph F. Boyd, Jr. Hurricane Katrina has affected nearly
4,000 foster children. In the New Orleans area alone, 1,000 foster
families have lost their homes. Most of the children affected have
remained with their foster families, but have been displaced around
the country. The foster parents are now struggling to find
stability and the sense of home that they once offered to these
children in need. In addition, many of the community-based
organizations that work to ensure that foster children and their
foster families have the support and services they need, are now
struggling to fulfill their mission. The Katrina Fund for Foster
Children will be devoted to helping meet the needs of foster
children, foster parents, and the organizations that support them.
The Foundation has chosen to work with two of their national
partners, the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) and the
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), which will receive funds to
meet immediate and long-term needs as these are identified. Both
organizations have state agencies located in the affected areas as
well as throughout the country so they can serve displaced families
and children. NFPA, a member organization comprised of state foster
parent associations across the country, will receive funds to
provide for the needs of foster families who have been affected by
Katrina, and will serve as intermediaries in identifying the needs
of foster children and families affected by Katrina. Despite losing
their homes, most foster parents have remained committed to the
children in their care. NFPA will use the Foundation's donation to
help these parents meet their families' basic needs, as well as any
special needs that government subsidies are not able to cover.
Significant funding will also be directed to CWLA, a member
organization that includes public and private service providers
focused on helping children and families in need, so it can offer
immediate support to the private community-based organizations that
assist foster children. The need for these organizations' help is
now tremendous, but their capacity to respond cannot keep up with
demand. Many of the organizations located in the affected areas
have lost their facilities, as well as staff members who have been
displaced. CWLA's 1,000-member network will help to identify
non-profits affected by Katrina and in need of help to maintain
their operations. "The Katrina Fund for Foster Children will
initially serve the immediate needs of foster children affected by
the hurricane, their foster families, and the organizations that
support them. However, the Foundation will continue to seek out
other opportunities in the months and years to come that will help
strengthen and stabilize these children's lives and brighten their
futures through the Katrina Fund for Foster Children," said Boyd.
The Freddie Mac Foundation's $5 million commitment to provide
relief to Hurricane Katrina victims is part of Freddie Mac and the
Freddie Mac Foundation's $10 million combined donation made earlier
this month. Employees are also committed to helping, and the
Freddie Mac Foundation is matching their contributions as well as
doubling the match for their donations to support Habitat for
Humanity's hurricane relief efforts. To date, employee donations
and donation matches total more than $700,000. Created by Freddie
Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac Foundation is dedicated to opening the
doors to hope and opportunity for children and their families. As
one of the largest corporate funders in the Washington, DC
metropolitan area, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have
invested $250 million in organizations serving the community.
DATASOURCE: Freddie Mac Foundation CONTACT: Patricia Fuentes,
+1-703-903-3504 or Shawn Flaherty, +1-703-903-4284, both of Freddie
Mac Web site: http://www.freddiemac.com/
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