Audit Faults Nonprofit’s Handling of Millions in Katrina Aid – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Audit Faults Nonprofit’s Handling of Millions in Katrina Aid – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Federal auditors say a nonprofit University of New Orleans research organization failed to account for most of the more than $19-million it received from the U.S. government to repair damage it sustained during Hurricane Katrina, The Times-Picayune writes. The University of New Orleans Research and Technology Foundation is disputing findings that it did not follow federal contracting guidelines on holding an “open and free competition” for repair projects and allotting work to women- and minority-owned small firms, the newspaper also reports."



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In slow economy, churches budget carefully : Spirituality : Abilene Reporter-News

In slow economy, churches budget carefully : Spirituality : Abilene Reporter-News: "NEW ORLEANS -- Bishop J. Douglas Wiley has just a tent for a church and a fraction of his congregants, more than two years after Hurricane Katrina.
But, he says, God's been good, and his parishioners, faithful."

OPINION: The hurricane of coverage is no more, but New Orleans remains - Opinions

OPINION: The hurricane of coverage is no more, but New Orleans remains - Opinions: "Maybe it's because the average American has an attention span of eight seconds.

Whatever the reason, 'out of sight, out of mind' is probably a fair assessment of the state of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina.

While media coverage and promises to rebuild were rampant in the first months following the storm, nearly three years later, those promises are still unfulfilled and we've all but forgotten - we being America at large."

Ball State Student Walks 820 Miles for Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts | Muncie Free Press

Ball State Student Walks 820 Miles for Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts | Muncie Free Press: "MUNCIE, INDIANA - Arriving in New Orleans was a feeling of accomplishment like none other. Ball State junior Ben Poor could not compare anything to the challenge he had undertaken, as more than 100 supporters and a brass band greeted him at the end of his journey. After walking for 45 days, Poor reached his final destination with 820 miles behind him, raising more than $11,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief. Poor, a business student, hopes his journey will lead to other philanthropic opportunities possibly within the military, the Peace Corps, politics or public speaking."

Report Tracks Corporate Katrina Giving | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

AFP posts additional stories on Disaster Relief on the Disaster Relief Blog

Report Tracks Corporate Katrina Giving | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "NEW ORLEANS — Corporations and nonprofits have donated more than $1 billion in cash and services to the Gulf Coast since the 2005 hurricanes, a new report shows. The report, being released Monday by the Foundation Center, is billed as the most comprehensive look at disaster-related giving. It is based on gifts and pledges reported by more than 850 donors, from August 2005 to June 2007."

SunHerald.com : 14 million hours

SunHerald.com : 14 million hours: "BILOXI -- More than 1 million volunteers have logged 14 million hours on Hurricane Katrina recovery, with an estimated half of those lending a hand in Mississippi. Volunteer numbers actually increased over the last year - September 2006 through August 2007 - to 600,000, up from about 550,000 the year after Katrina."

Red Cross Faces Criticism Over Aid Program for Hurricane Victims

National

Red Cross Faces Criticism Over Aid Program for Hurricane Victims

By SHAILA DEWAN and STEPHANIE STROM

Published: August 10, 2007

A program intended to help Hurricane Katrina victims is too secretive and strict, say critics, and its money is too limited.

Portland charity ends Katrina relief efforts - OregonLive.com: Breaking News Updates

Portland charity ends Katrina relief efforts - OregonLive.com: Breaking News Updates: "Portland charity ends Katrina relief efforts
Posted by The Oregonian July 25, 2007 22:35PM
Categories: Breaking News

Catholic Charities has ended Portland's longest-running large-scale program to support Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees, leaving at least 100 transplants still in need of assistance nearly two years after the hurricanes struck.

The move brings to a close the area-wide effort to aid hurricane evacuees who came to Portland for jobs, school and housing. At one point, the city and Multnomah county operated a welcome center at the old Washington-Monroe High School in Southeast Portland with the support of the Red Cross and other agencies."

Katrina ice going down drain - USATODAY.com

Katrina ice going down drain - USATODAY.com: "GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) — After nearly two years, thousands of truck miles and $12.5 million in storage costs, a cold relic of the flawed Hurricane Katrina relief effort is going down the drain.

The federal government is getting rid of thousands of pounds of ice it had sent south to help Katrina victims, then north when it determined much of the ice wasn't needed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency had been hanging on to the ice in case it was needed for another disaster, but decided to get rid of it because it couldn't determine whether it was still safe for human consumption."