| Foundation receives $32,000 from International Brotherhood of Electrical workers
Kathy Reeg and Rick Hohlt, president and vice president of the Katrina Foundation for Recovery, receive a check for $32,000 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Katrina Relief Fund.
By Rindy Swafford
rindy@rustonleader.com
Kathy Reeg, president of the Katrina Foundation for Recovery, received a phone call last week that could change the lives of hundreds of people affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The call was from Judy McCoy, chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Katrina Relief Fund, with some good news for the foundation.
"The IBEW had a relief fund and had dispersed it to all of their workers in the Gulf who had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and they had some left over," Reeg said. "The remainder was a little over $32,000, and they wanted to give it to an organization that would continue the recovery efforts."
The Katrina Foundation for Recovery was created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to help provide monetary support for people in the Gulf Coast who need to rebuild or relocate, with its greatest single donation coming from The Ruston Daily Leader — until now.
Reeg said the donation, which pushes the foundation's total raised amount to more than $82,000, was like an answered prayer after the board had numerous applications from those still in need of funding to aid with rebuilding projects from churches and other non-profit organizations.
"We have received numerous applications from places that range from north Louisiana to Mississippi that need everything from structural supplies to help housing workers," Reeg said.
Reeg said the funds will not go to individuals, but will go to non-profit organizations who facilitate rebuilding efforts.
McCoy said the Katrina Foundation for Recovery was chosen to receive the donation because of its locality and the likelihood of the organization getting the money to people who really needed it.
"We had our law firm research various organizations that were set up specifically to aid and assist people devastated by hurricane Katrina," McCoy said. "If you give it to the Red Cross or another big organization, they're obviously going to give it to a charity, but we wanted to make sure the funds would go to people we had raised them for."
Originally the organization was set up to raise money for IBEW members who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and needed assistance. But after all the money was given out, there were funds still available.
McCoy said the organization began about 30 days ago looking for an organization that was — a year after Hurricane Katrina hit — still interested in continuing to help people in need of relief.
"We were trying to find somebody that we thought fit what we were looking for," McCoy said. "In looking at their Web site, it very much followed what we did. It was a group of ordinary people who were just trying to help other ordinary people."
Those interested in donating to the Katrina Foundation for Recovery can go to www.bandforkatrina.org, purchase a "blue band" from any area Community Trust Bank for $5, or contact Reeg at 243-0005.
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