ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Ways in Southern California are responding to the devastating wildfires in two key ways: ensuring the strength of the 2-1-1 phone number for people who need help and launching the regional United Way Southern California Wildfires Recovery Fund.
The United Way Southern California Wildfires Recovery Fund is unique in the following ways:
1. This Fund represents a collaboration of several United Ways across the region. United Way of San Diego is leading the way with United Ways throughout Southern California actively participating, including: United Way of Great Los Angeles, Inland Empire United Way, Orange County United Way, United Way of the Inland Valleys, Arrowhead United Way, United Way of Santa Barbara County, United Way of Ventura County and United Way of California.
Miriam Krehbiel, Chair for United Ways of California, comments, "We are delighted to see this unprecedented funding collaboration among the United Ways in Southern California. Our unity on issues like 2-1-1 and in times of crisis demonstrates how powerful we can be when we organize for the greater good."
2. The Fund will focus primarily on community-wide healing. United Ways will activate local volunteer committees of community leaders to review applications from support agencies and develop strategies to address the long term needs of the communities affected.
Doug Sawyer, President & CEO for United Way of San Diego County, in the hardest hit area of the region, states," As we turn to the long term recovery and rebuilding of the residents and communities affected by the wildfires, the involved United Ways will work closely with local and national agencies to address the issues that matter most to the Southern California region's residents. We are facing a long haul in recovering from the wildfires, and this fund will support our residents and communities for years to come."
Another crucial role United Way is playing in the response to the wildfires it to ensure the strength of 2-1-1, an easy-to-remember phone number that can be dialed for people who need services or for those who want to offer help. As we saw with the 2004 hurricanes in Florida and with Gulf Coast Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, 2-1-1 provides an invaluable service in times of crisis, providing maximum community access to critical resources and information to help reduce the harmful effects of the disaster. With the Southern California wildfires, 2-1-1 has again demonstrated its powerful role. Tens of thousands of people in the region are getting connected with the services they need, such as finding temporary shelter. As call volumes in the area continue to soar, United Way of America has committed the funds to bring in extra 211 operators to staff the busy lines.
Community partnerships will be critical to the long term recovery efforts. United Way is a member of both the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN), formed to coordinate relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters, and the Major Relief Agency Consortium (M-RAC) co-chaired by America Red Cross and UWA. Within this network, the initial response to disasters is led by the American Red Cross while United Way takes the lead in long term recovery. Red Cross and United Way are joined by partners such as Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Salvation Army, AIRS, FEMA and many others in this critical work.
Brian Gallagher, President and CEO for United Way of America, ensures that, "United Way of America will stand by the 11 local United Ways in the affected Southern California counties for the duration of the long term recovery. Working together, we will be here as long as it takes to rebuild the lives, homes and communities of people who have lost so much in this tragedy."
How People Can Help
-- Financial donations can be made to the Fund at: http://www.unitedway.org/.
-- Questions can be directed to Carol Williams at 858-636-4177, or by email to, socalfund@uwsd.org.
-- If people are interested in volunteering or making in-kind donations: Dial 2-1-1.
About United Way of America
United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in every community across America by focusing on the root causes of the most serious problems. The United Way movement includes over 1,300 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers. For more information about United Way of America, please visit: http://www.unitedway.org/.
2-1-1: United Way is a partner in 2-1-1, an easy-to-remember number that can be dialed for people who need services, or for those who want to offer help. Visit: http://www.211.org/.
United Way of America
