Aid for Haiti

There are so many reasons to contribute, not the least of which is the fact that we are all truly blessed and the Haitian people are suffering. The employee-owners at Clima-Tech support the relief efforts in Haiti. We would ask each of you to consider contributing to one of the many organizations listed below to assist in meeting the needs of these poor, desperate people.

This list was copy/paste from the Wednesday edition of The Oregonian but the organizations are not all specific to Oregon. We initially considered an internal fund raising campaign – Clima-Tech Cares, but reconsidered as we believe this is a private decision for each of us to make individually and would like to pass along the opportunity to everyone in our communities to participate.

Do what you can if you can.

Medical Teams International accepts donations through its Web sitewww.medicalteams.org.

Mercy Corps takes donations through its Web site at www.mercycorps.org or call 888-256-1900.

Operation Blessingcommunity.ob.org Providing water, food, clothing, medicine and manpower to Haitians in need.

World Vision, a Christian relief organization based in Federal Way, Wash., has a staff of more than 370 people in Haiti. The group, which works on development projects, is moving to emergency relief.
The group is asking for donations online at www.worldvision.org or call 866-280-6587.

World Concern, based in Seattle has more than 100 staff members in Haiti. Many of them are nationals involved in development work in the region. To contribute, visit www.worldconcern.org or call 866-530-5433.

Forward Edge International, a Vancouver-based Christian relief group, is sending an eight-member team to Haiti, including three nurses. The group, which has worked in Nicaragua, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, takes up where other groups leave off. “We really specialize in Phase 2 work,” said Joseph Anfuso, president. “After it’s out of the headlines, people are still trying to put their lives back together. It’s not sexy but the demand is huge.” To contribute, go to www.worldconcern.org.

Mangrove Fund, a Portland-based charity that works on development projects in Haiti, is raising money for relief projects through its Web site at www.mangrovefund.org to help an orphanage in Port-au-Prince that collapsed. The group was started by a Portland couple, Bill and Mary Pierznik, who adopted their son Richelor in December 2008 from that orphanage. When Richelor, 4, heard that the kids were in trouble, he started a coin drive at his school, Class Academy, in Northwest Portland. The couple hopes to gather $100,000 for the orphanage.

Partners in Health, a Boston-based group that's been working in Haiti for more than 20 years, is working with Mercy Corps on the ground. To donate, go to www.pih.org.

Catholic Relief Services is collecting money to help victims in Haiti. For more information, go to www.archdpdx.org or www.catholicidaho.org

American Red Cross, which has pledged an initial $1 million toward the relief effort, is accepting donations via text message (text "Haiti" to 90999), on its Web site, redcross.org and via its hot line, 800-733-2767.
The text applies a $10 charge to the consumer's next phone bill. All funds go to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

Physicians for Peace, which works with two groups in Haiti is soliciting donations for immediate trauma relief and long-term assistance for amputees. To donate go to www.physiciansforpeace.org.

Project Hope is providing medical and surgical care in Haiti through the hospital ship, USNS Comfort. Donate through www.projecthope.org.

Yele, an area relief organization founded by singer and producer Wyclef Jean, a Haitian native, is accepting $5 donations via text message (text "yele" to 501501).

UNICEF, which provides emergency food and health care to children, is accepting donations at www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or over the phone at 800-367-5437.

World Food Program under the United Nations which started distributing food in Haiti plans to distribute emergency food assistance to 2 million people in the country over the next six months. To donate, go to www.wfp.org.

Doctors Without Borders, the French-based group that works worldwide, is accepting donations through its Web site, www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

CARE, which is sending extra emergency relief workers to Haiti, asks for contributions through www.care.org or by calling 800-521-2273.

The Salvation Army is also organizing a relief effort in Haiti. To contribute, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 800-725-2769.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express have agreed to waive so called “swipe fees” on donations made to Haiti relief funds using credit cards.

The Oregon attorney general's office warning consumers about potential scams. Before donating, visit the state Department of Justice Web site at doj.state.or.us.

Note: On January 20, 2010 the House has approved a 2009 tax year deduction for donations made to Haiti in 2010.

UPDATE: source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34982439/ns/business-personal_finance/

2:32 p.m. PT, Thurs., Jan. 21, 2010
WASHINGTON - Taxpayers will be able to write off charitable donations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts when they file their 2009 taxes this spring, under a bill that received final congressional approval Thursday.

The Senate passed the bill on a voice vote Thursday, sending it to President Barack Obama for his expected signature. Obama has enlisted two former presidents — George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — to help raise money for quake victims.

Under current law, donors would have to wait until they file their 2010 returns next year to take the deductions. The bill would allow donations made by the end of February to be deducted from 2009 returns.