HOUSTON, Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven weeks after
Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas Gulf Coast and inundated the
Houston area with flooding, the
United Way of Greater Houston Relief Fund has grown to
$44 million thanks to generous
companies, organizations and individuals who continue to answer the
call for help for those most affected by the storm. Among the
largest contributors is Lilly Endowment Inc., a private
philanthropic foundation that recently made a $5 million grant to support the fund.
"We are inspired by and so grateful for the generosity of Lilly
Endowment," said Anna M. Babin,
president and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston. "Their incredible gift,
combined with the outpouring of support from individuals and
businesses across the country and the world, will allow us to help
so many of our neighbors recover and rebuild their lives in the
wake of Hurricane Harvey."
The relief fund was established by United Way of Greater Houston in response to the widespread
destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. All of the money raised by
United Way's Relief Fund will be used to help individuals and
families with both immediate, basic needs and long-term recovery
services such as case management, minor home repair and, as the
recovery progresses, a wide range of unmet needs for which no other
help is available.
"Lilly Endowment has supported United Ways in the wake of
disasters because they work effectively within the local
communities they know so well," said Ace
Yakey, Lilly Endowment's vice president of community
development. "United Way of Greater
Houston understands the needs of the people affected by
Hurricane Harvey and has the capacity with its affiliate agencies
and other partners to help the communities in the region
rebuild."
Additional major gifts previously announced to the relief fund
include $3 million from the McNair
family and The Houston Texans, $2.5
million from ConocoPhillips, and $1 million each from Anadarko Petroleum
Corporation, Baltimore Ravens, Kinder Foundation,
Lennar Foundation, Macy's, NFL Foundation,
Phillips 66 and TechnipFMC. Gifts of $500,000 each were received from Amegy
Bank, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Encap Investments
L.P., ExxonMobil, The Friedkin Group, 21st
Century Fox and Williams.
Featuring a celebrity-packed line up, additional Harvey
assistance came from the nationally broadcast "Hand in Hand: A
Benefit for Hurricane Relief" telethon, which contributed
$2.5 million to United Way of
Greater Houston.
Babin noted that, in times of disaster like Harvey, United Way
serves as the convening organization to bring together non-profit
and community partners, as well as civic and government
stakeholders from across the Greater
Houston area, to coordinate recovery efforts, both assessing
the needs and providing support where it is needed most. In the
weeks after the storm hit, the United Way Harvey Task Force
approved $5.7 million in
investments from the relief fund to support immediate basic
needs and disaster case management. A select group of
assistance ministries and agencies from Harris, Fort
Bend, Waller and
Montgomery counties, all with
experience in meeting basic needs and coordinating disaster case
management, are receiving the initial investment. The Harvey Task
Force also approved an additional $2,050,000 to establish the Unmet Needs Fund for
impacted households to be administered by BakerRipley, Inc.
In addition, United Way operates the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE, which is the
community's key information source before, during and after a
storm. 2-1-1 is answered 24/7 and HELPLINE specialists access
a comprehensive database of disaster resources that is continuously
updated. To date, the 2-1-1 network has answered 260,000 calls for
disaster assistance. Babin anticipates that a significant volume of
2-1-1 calls for Harvey-related help will continue as the community
moves forward in the recovery process.
About United Way of Greater
Houston
For more than 95 years, United Way of
Greater Houston has been a leader
and trusted partner in improving lives, tackling key community
social issues, and making a lasting difference. Last year, United
Way of Greater Houston touched the
lives of nearly 2 million of our neighbors in the Bay Area and in
Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, and Waller counties. United Way focuses on
strengthening our community by developing children and youth to
their full potential, creating strong families and safe
neighborhoods, sustaining senior independence and rebuilding
people's lives in times of crisis. United Way of Greater Houston is the best way to make the
biggest difference in our community. For more information, please
visit, www.unitedwayhouston.org.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic
foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family --
J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and
Eli -- through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli
Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock
of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the
company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In
keeping with the founders' wishes, the Endowment supports the
causes of community development, education and religion and
maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis and home state, Indiana.
CONTACT:
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Hannah Payne
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Carbonara
Group
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OFFICE:
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713-524-8170
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CELL:
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713-819-1320
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EMAIL:
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hannah@carbonaragroup.com
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SOURCE United Way of Greater
Houston