Dear Friends,

I am writing to invite you to join us at Tides in contributing to an emergency response fund for our friends in New Orleans and the surrounding region.

As many of you know, Wade Rathke, the founder and chief organizer of ACORN, was also a founding member of the Tides Foundation Board nearly thirty years ago. He now also chairs the Tides Center Board. He has been a good and lasting friend to all that we have done here, and, without him, Tides would not have become what it has become.

As perhaps fewer of you know, Wade has made his home in New Orleans for all of these thirty years. ACORN's national office has been headquartered in a building at 1024 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans - now partly under water. Wade's home on Burgundy Street has likely faired no better. We have all read that the city is likely to remain closed to habitation for months to come. ACORN, its sister organization SEIU Local 100, and all of their members are facing huge losses and enormous challenges. They need our help, and lots of it. For those who are wondering, ACORN is setting up temporary headquarters in Baton Rouge so they can process payroll and expenses for their 1200 organizers nationwide. Lord knows what computers they will use. Wade's daily blog over the past week (http://www.chieforganizer.org/) captures much of the confusion and pathos of the situation.

So, what to do? In the past, Tides has established Rapid Response Funds for emergencies (Hurricane Mitch, September 11th, and the recent Tsunami). In each case, we have used the funds to fill in the gaps where progressive organizations, community groups or underserved populations are left marginalized by the larger relief programs. This is our intent here. We expect that the bulk of the funds will be used to support the recovery of nonprofits that have served the Gulf States for years. Once on their feet, these groups will be one of the best ways to aid displaced people in dire straights. Second, we will be looking for ways to help undocumented immigrants and others often left outside government and Red Cross sponsored programs.

Tides Rapid Response Fund for Hurricane Katrina Relief and Rebuilding has been established for our friends to easily make contributions. You can make an instant online donation to the fund by clicking the DonateNow button at www.tidesfoundation.org/RR_0905.cfm.

For current Tides Foundation donors, you can immediately transfer funds to this effort by calling Tides at 415.561.6400 or logging onto your account at www.tidespartners.org

Liza and I will be contributing $20,000 immediately and more in the future. I hope you will join us. Tides Foundation will be sending out a more formal appeal that some of you may also receive. Feel free to forward my email or the upcoming appeal on to your colleagues.

With prayers for the people of New Orleans and the Gulf States,

Tides Organization

Tides Organization

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