Checks are being sent out to thousands of AFT members affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma as the national union processes nearly 10,000 applications for grants from the AFT Disaster Relief Fund.

Below are just a few of the messages of thanks from AFT members who were victims of the hurricanes and who have received checks from the AFT Disaster Relief Fund. As of this date, nearly 6,000 checks have been sent out to AFT members who qualified for the grants. A big thank-you goes to all those who have made contributions.

• "This money is going to help me get my life back. EVERYTHING has been taken from me, including my spirit of hope. This kind of gesture is greatly appreciated." —”New Orleans

• "I am very grateful for the assistance you have provided for me and my family. May God bring a special blessing upon our union family." —”Pineville, La.

• "My house needs to be gutted to the studs. Every penny of what you sent will be put to good use." —”Metairie, La.

• "I wanted to contact you and let you know how grateful we are for the $500. I also wanted to attach a picture of our house (right) so you could see that the money was definitely needed and will be used in the search for our new home. Again, we appreciate the help." —”Port Arthur, Texas

These messages from members "provide both poignant testimony to their plight and the special value of the work you are doing to collect funds for disaster relief effort," said AFT vice president and fundraising chairman Herb Magidson in an e-mail to state federations on Jan. 20 (click here to read more messages). The disaster relief effort has now raised more than $913,000 (an additional $1 million has been pledged by the national AFT) toward our goal of at least $3 million and possibly up to $5 million.

A special thanks goes to ING Financial Services for a generous $20,000 donation to the disaster relief fund as well as three separate $10,000 contributions to AFT affiliates in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany Parish. Pictured at left are Mike Tusa (with red tie), ING Financial Services regional manager for Louisiana, presenting checks to United Teachers of New Orleans president Brenda Mitchell (left), St. Tammany Federation of Teachers and School Employees president Elsie Burkhalter and Jefferson Federation of Teachers president Joe Potts.

At its meeting in October 2004, the AFT executive council authorized a major campaign to raise funds for the AFT Disaster Relief Fund to help AFT members who had suffered losses in the hurricanes. The union then sent a letter to every state federation asking affiliates to meet minimum fund-raising goals based on membership in each state. Seven state federations have now met or exceeded their minimum fundraising goal toward the disaster relief fund: Alaska, Arizona, Indian Educators Federation, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Overseas Federation and Rhode Island.

States reaching 50 percent or more of their goal include: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virgin Islands and West Virginia.

All money collected by the disaster fund is used to provide direct assistance to AFT members; no funds are used for administrative purposes. To make your tax-deductible contribution, go to http://www.aft.org/katrina. All online donations from members will be credited to the appropriate state's contribution totals.

January 24, 2006