RAT Philanthropy News Digest offers great contacts for 9.11 relief & services

[BeSpecific@aol.com]

(from Jessica, Seattle)
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     PHILANTHROPY NEWS DIGEST
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  Vol. 7, Issue 38
  September 13, 2001

  The horrific events of September 11, 2001, have shocked
  and saddened people around the world. The staff of the
  Foundation Center extends its deepest sympathies to all
  those who have lost family or friends.

  We offer the following list of resources for those who
  would like to contribute to the rescue and recovery effort.


  American Red Cross
  http://www.redcross.org/
  To make a secure online donation to the relief efforts,
  visit: http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html, or call
  (800) HELP-NOW (800) 435-7669) or (800) 257-7575 (Spanish).
  Or send your donation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box
  37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call
  (800) GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543), or contact your local
  Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html.

  Catholic Charities USA
  http://www.catholiccharities.org/
  Catholic Charities agencies nationwide are mobilizing to
  help victims and their families recover from the devasta-
  tion in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. To
  contribute to the organization's disaster relief fund,
  send checks to Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 25168,
  Alexandria, VA 22313-9788, or contribute online at:
  http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/donation/donation.htm.

  Emergency Telephone Numbers — New York Times
  http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/12/national/WTC-NAVIGATOR.html#emergency
  The New York Times has posted a list of emergency resources
  on its Web site to help anyone who is trying to locate
  loved ones who may be missing or injured as a result of
  the attack on the World Trade Center. The page also
  includes a list of WTC tenant companies and relevant
  contact information.

  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): How To Help
       Victims Of The Terrorist Attacks
  The Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging those
  willing to volunteer or make donations to use the following
  numbers:

     -- to give blood: (800) 448-3543);
     -- to make financial contributions: (800) HELP-NOW and
             (800) SAL-ARMY;
     -- to volunteer general services: (800) 801-8092

  Helping.org
  http://www.helping.org/
  Helping.org has posted a list of Web sites and charities
  accepting online donations and aid for those affected by
  Tuesday's terrorist attacks. For more information, visit:
  http://helping.org/promos/cs_wtc.adp.

  National "I'm Okay" Message Center
  http://okay.prodigy.net/
  National Internet service provider Prodigy has created an
  "I'm Okay" message center that allows individuals who were
  reported missing to post their name and location, informing
  friends and family that they are safe.

  National Organization for Victim Assistance
  http://www.guidestar.org/partners/helping/index_ext.jsp?npoId=357764
  The National Organization for Victims Assistance has
  established a Fund for Terrorist Attack Victims. For more
  information on how you can help, visit:
  http://www.guidestar.org/partners/helping/index_ext.jsp?npoId=357764.

  New York Blood Center
  http://www.nybloodcenter.org/
  Thanks to the overwhelming response of New Yorkers and
  others, the New York Blood Center is urging anyone without
  an appointment or not participating in a previously
  scheduled blood drive to postpone making a donation this
  week. Those interested in making a donation over the next
  few weeks are urged to contact the New York Blood Center's
  toll-free line at (800) 933-2566.

  New York Fire Department
  The New York Fire Department is asking for the following
  assistance:

     -- if you are a doctor and would like to offer your
            assistance, please contact (518) 431-7600;
     -- if you are an EMT, paramedic, nurse, or nurse's aide
            and would like to offer your assistance, please
            call (800) 628-0193.

  The Fire Department also asks that you do not use the 911
  emergency system to seek information on missing loved ones
  and friends. To report a missing person, please call the
  number set up by the City of New York: (212) 447-2998.

  New York State Emergency Information Page
  http://www.state.ny.us/sept11/wtcframe.html
  New York Governor George Pataki has posted a list of
  emergency contact numbers on the state's Web site:
  http://www.state.ny.us/sept11/wtcframe.html.

Resources include volunteer information, blood donation
location information, and telephone numbers of concerned
family members and friends trying to locate missing persons.

New York Times Neediest Cases Fund
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/13/nyregion/13NEED.html
The New York Times Company has begun a special campaign
  to raise money for the victims of the attack on the World
Trade Center through its Neediest Cases Fund. Donations
can be made online at Charitywave.com or sent to:
The New York Times 9/11 Neediest Fund, P.O. Box 5193,
General Post Office, New York, NY 10087.

September 11th Fund
The United Way of America and the New York Community Trust
have announced the establishment of the September 11th Fund
in response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon. Anyone wishing to contribute to
the Fund may send their donations to the United Way,
2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016, or by calling 212.251.4035.
Donors may specify the community where they want their
donation to help (New York City, Washington, D.C., or other
affected areas). For more information, visit:
http://national.unitedway.org/crisis.cfm.

United Jewish Communities
http://www.uja.org/
United Jewish Communities has opened the UJC Emergency
Relief Fund to assist in the recovery, relief, and rehabil-
itation of the victims of this tragedy and their families.
Checks should be made payable to UJC Emergency Relief Fund
and sent to: UJC Emergency Relief Fund, 111 Eighth Avenue,
Suite 11E, New York, NY  10011.

Washington Post -- Important Numbers and Blood Drive
       Information
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/specials/closings/blood1.htm#numbers
  The Washington Post has set up a Web page with phone
  numbers for victims seeking assistance, people trying to
  locate family members, and area hospitals. It also has FBI
  contact numbers for those who have information related to
  the attacks.