Baja California Sur takes steps toward recovery after widespread destruction from Hurricane Odile
(PRWEB) September 24, 2014 -- Hurricane Odile, one of the strongest tropical cyclones to ever hit Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, wreaked havoc as it made landfall near Cabo San Lucas on Sunday night, September 14, 2014, and as it made its way north up the state, until it finally dissipated over the mountains of northwest Mexico on Wednesday afternoon, September 17.
While many may think of southern Baja California, and especially Los Cabos, as simply a tourist destination, there are many small communities of poor and working class residents, whose homes and livelihoods have been devastated by the recent natural disaster. To date, thousands are living in temporary shelters and there remains a lack of electricity and clean running water in much of the area.
Over the past week, the International Community Foundation (ICF), a philanthropic organization based in San Diego, CA, has been collecting donations for its Baja California Disaster Relief Fund, with plans to support local relief and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the hurricane. Over $283,000 in individual gifts have already come in from many generous donors throughout the U.S. Additionally, ICF encouraged its partner, the Inter-American Development Bank, to commit $200,000 for immediate disaster relief efforts through the Mexican Red Cross.
ICF is actively reaching out to local grantee organizations in the affected communities in Baja California Sur, assessing local needs, and determining the most appropriate groups to lead the response to ensure that donated funds have a maximum impact on the ground. Small grants are being issued this week to Amigos de los Niños, a Los Cabos children’s health charity, to supply food packages and medicines to local sick children in the aftermath of the hurricane; and Waves for Water, who will work with the Waterkeeper Alliance to provide clean water and water filtration equipment to affected communities. One of ICF’s donors, Christy Walton, is supporting Fundación Ayuda Niños La Paz, which is providing basic food and water for 200 families in need in La Paz. In the coming weeks, ICF will announce new grants and updated information on how to support hurricane-related recovery efforts in the region.
Charitable donations in support of relief efforts can be made to the Baja California Disaster Relief Fund at ICF:
Contributions by mail: Checks payable to the International Community Foundation, with Baja California Disaster Relief Fund in the memo line, can be sent to:
Baja California Disaster Relief Fund
c/o International Community Foundation
2505 N Avenue
National City, CA 91950
Online contributions to the Baja California Disaster Relief Fund at the International Community Foundation may be made at: http://bit.ly/hurricaneodile
About the International Community Foundation (ICF):
The International Community Foundation’s mission is to increase charitable giving across U.S. borders to benefit communities and non-profit organizations internationally with an emphasis on Mexico and Latin America. Established in 1990, the foundation’s grantmaking totaled over $6 million during fiscal year 2014. ICF has remained actively involved in providing community based leadership in responding to disaster relief efforts along the Baja California peninsula since 2001. For more information visit: http://www.icfdn.org
Alana Ortez, International Community Foundation, http://www.icfdn.org, +1 (619) 336-2255, [email protected]
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