Tzu Chi Foundation Gives $1.8 Million
in Financial Assistance to 10,000 Families of Hurricane Katrina
Disaster
HOUSTON, Texas (SEPTEMBER 21, 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, Phoenix and Indianapolis. More
than 10,000 families-24,000 people-have received assistance
so far.
In the Dallas area, relief efforts began on Sept. 9
and continued today at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort
Worth. So far, Tzu Chi has provided $520,000 in financial
assistance to 3,200 families-8,700 people-in the form
of gift cards. Each family receives the gift card personally
from Tzu Chi volunteers.
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, 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.
"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.
In Houston, Tzu Chi started providing financial assistance
to evacuee on Sept. 9. So far, Tzu Chi has assisted more
than 3,500 families in the city of Houston. Tzu Chi volunteers
have been inside Houston's largest sheltering locations, the
Astrodome, Reliant Center and the George R. Brown Convention
Center. At the large shelters, Tzu Chi volunteers personally
delivered $535,000 in checks to 2,630 families.
In the last week, Tzu Chi volunteers actively reached out
into the community to reach those who were not residing at
the major shelters. Volunteers visited local churches where
evacuees were staying at and also provided assistance to the
Asian community. Tzu Chi assists anyone in need regardless
or race or religion. Volunteers in the Houston area provided
financial assistance to families staying at the Freeway
Manor Baptist Church, St. Francis Cabrini Church, Spring Tabernacle,
First Baptist Church in Katy and St. Bartholomew's Church.
Working with the Asian community, Tzu Chi volunteers also
gave assistance at the Chinese Culture Center, the Hong
Kong Mall and Chinese Community Center.
Elsewhere in the United States, local Tzu
Chi volunteers also helped evacuees in Kansas City, Phoenix
and Indianapolis.
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, Arlington
(TX), Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas, New York, Connecticut,
New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Vancouver, Canada.
To help those impacted by Hurricane Katrina, please call 1-888-9-TZUCHI
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
Tzu
Chi volunteers at the Reliant Center in Houston personally
deliver the Tzu Chi emergency cash gifts to evacuees.
Inside
the Reliant Center in Houston, Tzu Chi volunteer thank each
family for the opportunity to help them. And, with respect,
give the financial gift with both hands to evacuees.
Tzu
Chi table is set up at the check-out area inside the Astrodome
in Houston.
