Tzu Chi Foundation Gives $1.4 Million
in Financial Assistance to 7,800 Families of Hurricane Katrina
Disaster
HOUSTON, Texas (SEPTEMBER 17, 2005) - Relief
efforts continue as Tzu Chi provides financial assistance
in the form of checks or gift cards to evacuees in Houston,
Beaumont, Dallas, Kansas City and Phoenix. More than 7,800
families-18,000 people-have received assistance so far.
Relief work began on Sept. 4 in Beaumont, a city about
ninety minutes by car, east of Houston at the Louisiana border.
Although Sept. 14 was the last day Tzu Chi volunteers were
stationed inside Beaumont Ford Park, Tzu Chi's Mobile Clinic
was stationed outside the evacuation center until yesterday,
Sept. 15. For 12 days, Tzu Chi distributed nearly $500,000
in the form of gift cards to 2,657 families-6,356 people-with
financial assistance in the form of gift cards. Families received
an average of $200 each. The gift cards allow families to
purchase daily necessities. Tzu Chi's Mobile Clinic served
157 patients with emergency dental treatments.
In Houston, Tzu Chi started providing financial assistance
to evacuee on Sept. 9. So far, Tzu Chi has assisted more
than 3,200 families-9,000 people-in the city of Houston.
Inside Houston's largest sheltering locations, the Astrodome,
Reliant Center and the convention center, Tzu Chi has issued
more than 2,600 checks-about $650,000-to families.
As residents depart from the temporary shelters and move to
more permanent residences, Tzu Chi has provided each family
with emergency cash gifts. Each family received an average
of $200.
Houston's locations have included the Astrodome, Reliant Center,
the George R. Brown Convention Center, Reliant Arena, Chinese
Culture Center, the Hong Kong Mall, Chinese Community Center,
Freeway Manor Baptist Church, St. Francis Cabrini Church,
and Spring Tabernacle. This weekend, Tzu Chi will continue
assisting evacuees at the Reliant Center, Reliant Arena, and
will also be at the First Baptist Church in Katy and the First
Baptist Church in South Houston.
On Sept. 9 and 10 in Dallas, Tzu Chi provided financial
assistance to 1,151 families in the form of gift cards.
Today, Dallas volunteers will be in Richardson to continue
giving assistance to evacuees.
Kansas City evacuees have also received financial assistance
from Tzu Chi volunteers. Emergency cash gifts have been given
to more than 230 families. In Phoenix, volunteers
helped more than 230 families. Yesterday, in Indianapolis,
local Tzu Chi volunteers also started giving financial assistance
to evacuees.
"In addition to providing immediate financial assistance,
the Tzu Chi emergency cash gift lets families know that there
are many people in this country and all over the world who
really care. In 30 countries, Tzu Chi volunteers have been
taking to the streets to ask the public to give. Our volunteers
deliver Tzu Chi's emergency cash gifts personally to clients.
In times like these, we must reach out and give hope. It is
about compassion and respect," says Austin Tsao, Chief
Executive Officer of Tzu Chi Foundation, U.S.A.
Since Sept. 4, nearly 1,000 Tzu Chi volunteers have
pitched in to make sure evacuees receive the Tzu Chi emergency
cash gift. Volunteers are from Houston, Austin, Dallas, Miami,
Orlando, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas, New York, Connecticut, New
Jersey and Vancouver, Canada.
To help those impacted by Hurricane Katrina, please call 1-888-9-TZUCHI
(1-888-989-8244) to give by credit card or mail checks
to Tzu Chi at 1100 S. Valley Center Avenue, San Dimas,
CA 91773 OR 6200 Corporate Drive, Houston, TX 77036.
For more information, please call (909) 447-7799 or (713)981-8966
