Support

Want to help with the disaster relief from Hurricane Katrina?  Our peers in those states are coordinating support. Please consider helping them:

Louisiana: Donate to the Community Response Fund for Nonprofits - The Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) is spearheading the effort to support the rebuilding of Louisiana nonprofits affected by the storm.  Please visit  www.lano.org to make a tax deductible donation to the Community Response Fund for Nonprofits.  Contributions to the fund will be used to assist displaced nonprofit organizations. 

Mississippi: The Mississippi Center for Nonprofits (MCN) is preparing a resource guide for direct donations to nonprofits in Mississippi. In the meantime, if you would like to support the infrastructure of Mississippi nonprofits, please make a donation to MCN. Please indicate the area or service that you wish to aid, and MCN will direct your donation to a nonprofit that serves those issues. Make checks payable to: Mississippi Center for Nonprofits 612 North State Street, Suite B Jackson, MS 39202

December 27, 2005. Statement of Audrey Alvarado, PhD. Executive Director, National Council of Nonprofit Associations on behalf of the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations and the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight of the House Committee on Ways and Means

12/05 Congressional Hearing Announced to Review Charities' Response to Hurricane Katrina. Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN), Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing to review the response by charities to Hurricane Katrina.  The hearing will take place at 3 pm Tuesday, December 13, in the main Committee hearing room, 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning.  Due to the limited time available, oral testimony will be heard from invited witnesses only.  These invited witnesses will include members of Congress and witnesses representing the US Government Accountability Office, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and certain other groups involved with the response to Hurricane Katrina.

The hearing will focus on relief services provided by charitable organizations, and will explore areas where service delivery, preparedness, and coordination could be improved. The Subcommittee feels that it has a responsibility to examine the lessons learned so that charities can improve their efforts to prepare for and respond to disasters in the future.  The subcommittee also wants to ensure that charitable donations are used effectively to help people in need.  The subcommittee mentions little about how best to use public monies.

The subcommittee is also accepting written comments.  All written comments must be delivered in compliance with all requirements by close of business Tuesday, December 27, 2005.  Details explaining how to submit written comments are posted at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=4549.  For additional information please David Ross, PANO Policy Analyst at david@pano.org.

10/05 PANO Endorses Petition to Extend Medicaid Coverage to Katrina Survivors PANO endorses Independent Sector’s petition urging Congress to extend Medicaid coverage to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Emergency Health Care Relief Act (S. 1716) provides immediate but temporary Medicaid coverage to low-income survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The bill also provides that survivors with private heath insurance will maintain their coverage. On October 6, the letter was sent to Congressional Leaders and to the White House. The President has threatened to veto the bill because of its high cost. The signatures of Independent Sector, NCNA, PANO and the other statewide nonprofits underscore our support for this bill to the Bush Administration. For more information, please contact David Ross, PANO Policy Analyst at david@pano.org.