2008 Iowa Disaster Fund Kicks off Campaign with Nearly $3 Million in Pledges for Victims of Iowa Weather Disasters.Central Iowa Business Leaders Meet With Their Eastern Iowa Counterparts To Donate Money To Local Organizations Aiding In Disaster Relief CEDAR RAPIDS Cedar Rapids, city (1990 pop. 108,751), seat of Linn co., E central Iowa, on the Cedar River; inc. as a city 1856. The second largest city in Iowa, it is named for the surging rapids in the river. , Iowa -- Today, Des Moines Des Moines, city, United States Des Moines (dĭ moin`), city (1990 pop. 193,187), state capital and seat of Polk co., S central Iowa, at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers; inc. civic leaders Barry Griswell and Fred Hubbell, representing the 2008 Iowa Disaster Collaborative, met with Eastern Iowa business and community organization leaders to kick-off a fundraising
"The initial response from individuals and companies here in Iowa has been phenomenal," said Barry Griswell. "In a very basic way, it's Iowans helping Iowans. The purpose of our group is to coordinate and direct the donations that are pouring in from generous individuals and companies in order to maximize the relief effort and to direct financial help where it is needed most. The key is working with groups like community foundations, the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. , United Way and the Salvation Army Salvation Army, Protestant denomination and international nonsectarian Christian organization for evangelical and philanthropic work. Organization and Beliefs The Salvation Army has established branches in 100 countries throughout the world. to help us identify local needs." "We want to fill any gaps in assistance that may come up and we want to make sure not one Iowan in need falls through the cracks," said Fred Hubbell. "It's important for people to know this money is coming directly from Iowans and it will stay here with the decisions on where the money goes being made by local groups on the ground dealing with the reality and challenges of re-building." "This is a tremendous example of jurisdictions and boundaries falling by the wayside," said Pat Baird, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of AEGON USA. "On one hand, we're overwhelmed o·ver·whelm tr.v. o·ver·whelmed, o·ver·whelm·ing, o·ver·whelms 1. To surge over and submerge; engulf: waves overwhelming the rocky shoreline. 2. a. with the generosity of our fellow Iowans. On the other hand, we're not surprised. We'll be dealing with the impact of the recent weather disasters for some time to come. It's gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. to know that business leaders and generous individuals from all over Iowa are stepping up to help. We'll never forget that." Tax-deductible contributions may be made on-line at www.embraceiowa.org. If paying by check, make it payable to 2008 Iowa Disaster fund and send to: 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund PO Box 310239 Des Moines, IA 50331-0239 All donations received will be collected and processed by the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation. Pat Baird is president and chief executive officer of AEGON USA, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of the AEGON Insurance Group, a leading multinational insurance organization. AEGON is recognized as one of the five largest life insurance groups in the U.S. and provides insurance, investment, pension, reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract. and supplementary health insurance products through a family of member insurance companies. Mr. Griswell currently serves as Chairman of the Principal Financial Group, Inc., one of Iowa's largest employers, and is the incoming president of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, which works with nearly 80 other community foundations across the state. Fred Hubbell, the former Chairman, President, and CEO of Equitable of Iowa Companies, currently serves as the Chairman of the Iowa Power Fund Board. Mr. Hubbell has a long history of civic participation in Des Moines and throughout Iowa, and has most recently served on the Executive Board and as Chairman of Insurance and Asset Management Americas for the ING Group ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING, Euronext: INGA) (known as ING Group) is a financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management services. ING once stood for Internationale Nederlanden Groep. . The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation is a donor-driven charitable public foundation whose purpose is to improve the quality of life in Greater Des Moines through philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. . The Community Foundation currently manages assets in excess of $184 million, administers more than 520 charitable funds created by Iowans, and distributed more than $26 million in grants in 2007. Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion