688 Donors Honored for their Collaborative Response to the Tsunami Disaster
May 13, 2005

On Saturday, May 14, 2005, The International Community Foundation (ICF) will celebrate its annual gala and its 15th year anniversary by recognizing the collaborative efforts of over 688 donors that collectively came together to support the UN Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund at ICF. The fund was established in partnership with the United Nations Foundation to respond to the tragic earthquake and tsunami that hit the region on December 26, 2004, and resulted in the loss of over 280,00 lives and left over 5 million people homeless across 11 countries.

While the loss of life and devastation were tragic, the groundswell of giving was truly remarkable. A unique nationwide collaboration of 11 community foundations, five corporations, four employee matching gift programs, and a dozen school groups all came together with a humanitarian spirit under ICF and helped raise a total of $634,000 dollars with these monies matched on a 1:2 basis by the UN Foundation.

At its gala, ICF will be recognizing all the donors that made a difference in support of the UN Tsunami Relief efforts, in particular highlighting local organizations that stepped up to the plate, such as Pacific Athletic Club, The San Diego Foundation, Orange County Community Foundation, Amylin Pharmaceutical, Accredited Home Lenders, Del Mar Union School District and Sweetwater Union High School District.

To date, ICF has granted out a total of $500,000 dollars; $200,000 for immediate disaster relief coordination region wide, and $300,000 for housing construction, replacement and improvements in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. A pending third grant will support the World Health Organization/ UNICEF for measles immunization throughout the tsunami-affected areas.

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ICF is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to providing leadership and strategically focused guidance to U.S. donors who want to contribute to worthwhile non-profit groups and other charitable organizations throughout the Americas and Asia in the areas of education, health, human services, community development, the environment and arts and culture. Established in 1990 through the vision of the San Diego Foundation (TSDF), ICF is now an independent entity, which maintains a strong relationship with its founder. For more information visit: www.icfdn.org
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The United Nations Foundation was created in 1998 with businessman and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic gift to support United Nations causes. The UN Foundation promotes a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world through the support of the UN. Through its grant making and by building new and innovative public-private partnerships, the UN Foundation acts to meet the most pressing health, humanitarian, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Contact:
Julieta Mendez
Office: 858-677-2913
Julieta@icfdn.org