Katrina Open Arms Fund
Background
In the fall of 2005, residents of the Greater Washington region joined other communities across the country to open their hearts and homes to Gulf Coast residents fleeing the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our community welcomed more than 7,000 evacuees who came by varied means to every jurisdiction. The Foundation established the Katrina Open Arms Fund to help coordinate the region’s philanthropic response. The Fund supported nonprofit organizations helping evacuees with a range of needs, from emergency food and shelter to long-term recovery. In addition, the Foundation encouraged its donors to support the efforts of organizations like the American Red Cross and our community foundation peers including the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
About Our Partners
Community Foundation donors as well as local foundations and businesses joined together to support hurricane evacuees through the Katrina Open Arms Fund. Contributors to the Fund were:
Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
Bernton Family Fund
Valerie Carter-Tarr Cancer Fund
Clein/Lemann Esperanza Fund
Creative Learning Inc.
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac Foundation
HMJS Marks Fund
Gary and Rosalyn Jonas Fund
Nancy and Jorfe Kfoury Foundation
Meltzer Group Employee Giving Fund
Robert & Dee Metz Sharing Fund
The Sallie Mae Fund
Tara C. Simans Foundation
Barry S. & Evelyn M. Strauch Foundation
Summit Fund of Washington
Benjamin Wallace Charitable Lead Trust
Weiss Fagen Fund
Whelpley Family Fund
Programs and Grants
Ten nonprofit organizations received funding from the Katrina Open Arms Fund to provide services ranging from short-term emergency assistance to long-term recovery. The Fund also convened grantees to increase the coordination of services across the region. Among the results achieved through the Fund:
- 6,997 individuals (3,973 families) received emergency assistance through the American Red Cross
- 264 families received intensive case management services coupled with direct assistance including food, clothing, housing, transportation, and furniture
- 89 individuals received mental health services
- More than 30 individuals received job training and placement as well as professional clothing
News and Publications
Our January 2007 report documents the role of the Katrina Open Arms Fund in leveraging local support for Gulf Coast evacuees to the Greater Washington Region. It includes descriptions of grants made by the fund as well as the impact of those grants. Lessons learned from those serving evacuees and helping to coordinate the region’s response are also shared. To read the report, click here.
More Resources
Click on the links below to other organizations with key information on the philanthropic response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as information on the long-term recovery of the Gulf Coast region.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/2005katrina/index.shtm
Foundation Center
http://foundationcenter.org/media/news/pr_0708.html
Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries
www.laurabushfoundation.org
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
http://www.equityandinclusion.org/?pid=7287
Nonprofit Sector Research Fund
http://www.nonprofitresearch.org/newsletter1525/newsletter_show.htm?doc_id=377736
Urban Institute
http://www.urban.org/afterkatrina/index.cfm?gclid=CMnj3ozXuY8CFQdEFQodFUL3cw
For More Information
Kathy A. Whelpley
Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning,Governance and Special Projects
(202) 263-4778
kwhelpley@cfncr.org
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