NCIL Disaster Relief Fund

Dear Independent Living Advocate:

Three years ago, many of you generously contributed to the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund to rebuild and stabilize Centers for Independent Living damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  These CILs very much appreciated the tens of thousands of dollars you contributed to the fund.  Since the tragedy of Katrina, the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund has been used on several occasions, most recently for the Black Hawk CIL destroyed this past June by the horrendous floods in Iowa.  Ken Schuman, Executive Director on the Black Hawk CIL, wrote NCIL in thankfulness: “Thank you for your generous help during our time of need following the June floods ….  During this difficult time we still provided our 4 core IL services and continued our transportation service even though it was limited ….  I cannot say enough times ‘Thank You’ for the assistance.  Having it helped our new location take shape and speed up our recovery time.  We still have a long and complicated recovery ahead of us but because of you we have been able to settle down into our new location and return to a more ‘normal’ routine.”

As a result of the support NCIL’s members have provided to CILs in need, the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund is in desperate need of replenishment.  While we have not yet received any formal requests for support in the wake of Hurricane Ike, it virtually destroyed the RISE Center for Independent Living in Beaumont, Texas and caused tremendous damage to communities and infrastructure that forced many other centers along the western Gulf coast to shut down.  As hard as Houston was hit, it’s wonderful news that the offices of the Houston Center for Independent Living and ILRU sustained only minor damages.  The staffs of RISE, HCIL, and ILRU are safe and accounted for, but many are displaced or housing family and friends, repairing damaged homes and property, and making do as clean water and power slowly return to their communities.  Limited access to telephones and the internet has made reconnecting with consumers difficult, many of whom evacuated before the storm.  As many of the evacuees have just returned home this past weekend, it is not too late to offer your support.  Please donate to NCIL’s Disaster Relief Fund.  

At your urging, the NCIL Governing Board voted in 2005 to establish a NCIL Disaster Relief fund to help those CILs damaged or destroyed by hurricanes, floods and other disasters.  Almost all of the money you donated to the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund has been used.  Please assist us today in replenishing our NCIL Disaster Relief Fund in order to be prepared for what the future may bring to one of our member CILs.

Please also know that 100% of collections will go to the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund.  I want to adamantly assure you that none of your contributions to CILs damaged or destroyed by disasters will be used for other purposes.  NCIL does not take any administration fee for the fund.  Your support of or assistance from the Fund IS NOT tied to NCIL Membership, and your donation will only support the rebuilding of damaged Centers!  Your cash donation is needed immediately to ensure that Centers damaged by future disasters will be able to resume operations as soon as possible. 

Your tax-deductible contribution to the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund can be sent to: NCIL Disaster Relief Fund / 1710 Rhode Island Ave., NW, 5th Floor / Washington, DC 20036. (Checks Payable to: NCIL Disaster Relief Fund).

Sincerely,

Kelly Buckland, President

John A. Lancaster, Executive Director