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 Community 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 organizationssuch as 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:

• The 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
Chief Operating Officer
(202) 263-4778
kwhelpley@cfncr.org