A new year-end gift from a donor advised fund has pushed the Disaster Response Fund for St. Clair County to the $100,000 level. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County launched the Fund a year ago in response to growing natural and man-made disasters around the country.
“We are so very proud of this accomplishment and the continued generosity of our donors,” said Patti Manley, Board Chair of the Community Foundation. The latest gift of $50,000 came from the Kusch Family Donor Advised Fund and matches the initial gift of $50,000 which came from the Acheson Fund.
“Although we hope to never have to dip into this fund, knowing we have it ready to go is one of our most important accomplishments in recent years,” Manley added. “Geof and Jenifer Kusch continue to be so supportive of the Foundation’s projects and initiatives.”
To create and launch the Disaster Response Fund, the Foundation benchmarked and learned from other community foundations in Michigan and around the country who had faced disasters. The Foundation also worked closely with Justin Westmiller, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for St. Clair County.
“I think I can speak for the County and all first-responding agencies when I say how much we appreciate our Community Foundation for their leadership in this new Disaster Response Fund,” said Westmiller. “Knowing that we have immediate and flexible dollars available if and when a disaster strikes, will give us resources to help people on day #1.”
The Community Foundation’s Disaster Response Fund (SCCStrong.Org) provides a map for both short and long-term financial support and is structured closely from the Community Foundation in Maui and their response to the disasters they faced a few years ago.
Randy Maiers is the President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Our model allows for immediate financial support on the very first day to any first responding agency,” he said. “Our support would only be triggered in consultation with Justin Westmiller, and the way we structure it we can support first responders, other local nonprofits and even the people directly impacted by the disaster.”
Maiers added that the Foundation will continue to accept new gifts of any size into the Disaster Response Fund so that it continues to grow over time. Gifts may be made online at: sccstrong.org