New York State Office of the Attorney General Charities Bureau. Hurricane Sandy Relief Information

Transcription

1 New York State Office of the Attorney General Charities Bureau Hurricane Sandy Relief Information Narne of Organization: American Humane Association, th Street, NW, Suite 360, Washington DC What is the approximate dollar amount ofdonations and pledges that your organization has received to date in response to Hurricane Sandy? American Humane Association, founded in 1877, is the first national humane organization in the U.S. Our disaster response program was founded in 1916, and has been in service for our communities in times ofnatural and national disasters since the U.S. Secretary of War in WWI stated that our Red Star Animal Emergency Services program was the "American Red Cross for Animal Rescue." American Humane Association responded to Hurricane Sandy with an immediate first responder deployment prior to the storm making landfall, and then with subsequent humane relief supply caravans. Our donors were generous, and provided funding to support Red Star program activities. American Humane Association (AHA) has received approximately $163,911 for the Red Star Animal Emergency Services program in response to Hurricane Sandy. This includes donations through AHA's website, response to s about our Sandy response, text-to-give donations, offline revenue and grants from corporate partners. 2. Will these funds be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief? Ifnot, approximately what portion will be used for Hurricane Sandy reliefand what other purposes will funds be used for? These funds were utilized for Hurricane Sandy reliefto include the sheltering effort in Pennsylvania and the humane relief caravans in New Jersey and New York. Since this is an ongoing and long-term humane reliefinitiative in the Sandy impacted areas, any remaining funds will be used for additional disaster reliefand Red Star Animal Emergency Services program services in the year ahead. In addition to the actual revenue raised for Sandy relief efforts, AHA was able to increase significantly the impact ofour disaster relief efforts through the coordination ofmultiple corporate partners for humane reliefsupplies. To date, the monetary value ofthe donated goods and services provided and coordinated by AHA for Hurricane Sandy efforts far exceeds funds AHA raised, and most importantly, increased our impact for the victims and their animal companions. A sizable portion ofsuch funds came in the form ofaha trained emergency first responder volunteer hours and donated goods from corporate partners that were brought in because ofaha's relationships..because ofthe generosity ofcorporate partners, AHA was able to provide substantial relief supplies to the impacted areas, in value ofover $182,908 with our own reliefcaravans, and the coordination of

2 additional donated supplies exceeding $527,000. Again, since this is an ongoing and long-tenn humane reliefinitiative in the Sandy impacted areas, any remaining cash funds will be used for additional disaster relief and Red Star Animal Emergency Services program services in the year ahead. (Please refer to our answer to Question #7 for detailed intended use ofsuch remaining cash funds). 3. I Approximately how much has your organization spent to date on Hurricane Sandy relief? The AHA Red Star deployment expenses and emergency grants totaled $100,147 to date for Hurricane Sandy reliefreflecting the actual hard costs incurred by AHA to date. Such expenses include: $30,147 in disaster response expenses, to include fuel for our 82' Rescue Rig to travel to PA (Rescue Rig is equipped with rescue equipment and a mobile veterinary suite), flights for volunteers, supplies and equipment while setting up shelter operations and supply distributions, etc.; $1,150 in emergency reliefgrants to the Hammonton, NJ-based organization, Making of Miracle Stories (MOMS) Rescue for coordination ofrelief supplies to rescue groups; $68,850 in staffhours and indirect. Total donated goods and services are valued at $199,289 to date. In addition to the deployment expenses, AHA utilized our highly trained volunteer Red Star emergency services responders and AHA brought hundreds ofthousands ofpounds ofreliefsupplies to the impacted areas leveraging the long-tenn corporate partner relationships. Total donated goods and services to AHA include: $16,381 in volunteer hours with Red Star first responders $182,908 in donated goods and services that were requested, received and distributed by AHA, including shipments ofdog and cat food arranged through corporate partners Mars Petcare US and FreeHand, shipments ofcat litter through Oil-Dri Corporation ofamerica, trucking services through Rescue Bank, a shipment ofveterinary supplies through Pfizer Animal Health, costs to transport supplies from a hub in Atlantic City, NJ to a rescue in Staten Island, NY, etc. Additionally, but not included in the above figure, AHA leveraged its partnership with Mars Petcare US and the Rescue Bank by connecting them with the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC). Other members ofnarsc (ASPCA, Code 3, Red Rover, etc.) were responding to Sandy in other impacted areas. Through our corporate sponsor partnership, Mars Petcare US and Rescue Bank were able to distribute an additional 400,000 pounds ofpet food valued at $549,000 to victims ofsandy through NARSC members.

3 4. What services has your organization provided to those a,ffected by Hurricane Sandy? What populations or geographical areas are being served by your organization in response to Hurricane Sandy? What services does it expect to provide in the future? American Humane Association was contacted by PA State Animal Response Team (PASART) on October 26,2012 as Sandy was developing and heading for the east coast and PASART was evaluating their readiness and options. They officially requested our Red Star Animal Emergency Services Team to pre-stage in Drums, PA on October 2i h and our team mobilized and was on the ground by the evening ofsunday October 28 th We had 3 staffand 8 volunteers on the ground along with our 82' Rescue Rig, complete with full rescue equipment. The team opened animal shelters, co-located with Red Cross people shelters, in Nanticoke and Chester, PA. The team was also requested in West Chester to prepare for a "mega shelter" which the governor ofpa had offered to the states ofny and NJ, but was ultimately not needed, so our team demobilized. Shortly after demobilization, we were contacted by numerous groups and agencies in New Jersey with requests for assistance. On Monday November 5 th we received an official request for assistance from Bergen County, NJ and on Tuesday November 6 th we received an official request from Humane Society ofatlantic County in Atlantic City, NJ. Both counties were in desperate need ofsupplies as supply distribution lines had been cut off, citizens were unable to feed their pets, and shelters were out ofsupplies. AHA reached out to our corporate partners and arranged for shipments ofpet food and cat litter to both counties. Mars Petcare US, through Rescue Bank, sent 40,000 pounds ofcat and dog food to each county, and Oil-Dri Corporation ofamerica sent a tractor trailer ofcats Pride cat litter to each county as well. Additionally, AHA secured a donation ofveterinary supplies through Pfizer Animal Health, which was sent directly to a veterinarian who works with Humane Society ofatlantic County. AHA mobilized another Red Star team to travel to these areas and handle distribution ofthese assets, as county personnel were already occupied with post-storm clean-up and everyday operations. The staffpublicized the events, coordinated with county personnel and facilities, and set up distribution sites. During distribution, AHA staffassisted citizens with determining their need, loaded food for them, and in many cases even gave those on foot rides home. Our staffalso made a number ofdeliveries to rescues and shelters too far or without the means to transport supplies to their facilities, in one instance traveling as far as Ocean County from Atlantic County. At the distribution sites, AHA personnel also distributed humane education coloring books to children and other supplies that had been donated from blankets, leashes, collars, toys, etc. These distribution events in New Jersey lasted from November 8 th to November 12 th We connected the points ofcontact at both counties with the NJ Dept. ofagriculture, who asked both ifthey would serve as state collection and distribution sites for pet supplies moving forward, and both agreed. Once both facilities were set up for additional reliefdistributions, our Red Star team demobilized. During our distribution efforts, AHA had 19 staffmembers working on the ground and on logistical and operational efforts, and an additional 9 AHA-trained volunteers on the ground.

4 Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services Team volunteers are highly trained individuals. AHA trains these individuals in areas such as basic animal emergency services, disaster sheltering for companion animals, and other critical skills. Following the New Jersey humane reliefcaravans, we received requests for help from the Guardians ofrescue in Staten Island, NY who had been requesting humane reliefsupplies for their community. We had been trying to help this group but they were unable to secure Red Star an official invitation into Staten Island. [As a member ofthe National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), AHA's Red Star team policy is to not self-deploy; we only go into areas when we have received an official invitation from the local authorities.] Without the official invitation for deployment, however, we were compelled to help Guardians ofrescue with supplies. We managed the logistics for a humane reliefsupply caravan for Staten Island, which included 8 pallets ofrelief supplies which were delivered to Guardians ofrescue in Staten Island, NY on Saturday, November 17. Supplies included pet food from Freehand and Mars Petcare, and Cats Pride cat litter. These supplies were then delivered to the people ofstaten Island who were in desperate need ofsupplies for their animal companions. Additionally, we made 2 emergency grants to a rescue in Hammonton, NJ for Sandy relief efforts, which totaled $1, In the year ahead, we will continue to manage the logistics and deliver humane relief supplies to the impacted areas modeled after the humane relief caravans we delivered successfully to our partners in affected areas, such as Humane Society ofatlantic County, Bergen County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, and Guardians ofrescue in Staten Island, NY. We will also provide for additional emergency reliefgrants in the impacted area. Please see the attached.pdfwhich includes copies ofour official invitations as well as a number ofthank you notes from the organizations and local governments we helped. 5. Has your organization provided funding to other organizations for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts? Ifso, which organizations have received those funds and what is the approximate dollar amount provided to them? How does your organization determine the need for funding? Yes, we have made 2 emergency grants totaling $1, to a rescue we work with in Hammonton, NJ called Making ofmiracle Stories (MOMS) Rescue. They are a 501 (c)(3) organization, Tax ill # A majority ofthe emergency reliefaha provides is direct. We will, however, consider providing funding to other organizations in extreme situations. We determine the need for funding after talking with shelters and rescue groups we have relationships with or we are contacted by and evaluating their situation. Ifthe organization requesting assistance needs something we can't provide through our program work, and they are able to help a

5 large number ofanimals in an efficient way within our budget constraints, we work to make funds available to them. 6. Has your organization provided, or does it intend to provide, direct financial assistance to individuals, families or businesses for Hurricane Sandy relief? Ifso, what is the approximate dollar amount that your organization has provided to date and approximately how much direct financial assistance does it expect to provide in the future? How does your organization determine the need for assistance? No, direct financial assistance is not something we generally provide to individuals or businesses. As mentioned above, AHA may provide funding to nonprofits, but not typically to individuals or businesses. We provided a huge amount ofsupplies-dog food, cat food, cat litter, other donations collected-to individuals and families during our massive distribution events. 7. Does your organizationhave a planinplace on how to use any surplus funds not spent for Hurricane Sandy relief? If so, please describe that plan. American Humane Association has already provided and coordinated the provision of goods and services in excess ofthe amounts raised for our Red Star Animal Emergency Services program in response to Hurricane Sandy ifdirect services, volunteer hours and donated goods and services are considered. However, we want to make sure that all donations made to Red Star Animal Emergency Services program in response to Hurricane Sandy are used by AHA for Hurricane Sandy response (or iffunding remains, for AHA's Red Star Animal Emergency Services program). To that end, donations received less the response expenses (i.e., excluding donated goods and services and volunteer hour value), there are funds remaining totaling $63,764. AHA will use the remaining funds for continuing Hurricane Sandy response over the year ahead, to include work with agencies for humane reliefsupplies, sheltering training assistance, and emergency grants, oriffunding remains, for AHA's Red Star Animal Emergency Services program. AHA plans to continue making humane relief supply caravans of needed supplies as shelters continue to recover from Sandy during the coming year. Donations help AHA continue to cover the daily costs ofour Red Star Animal Emergency Services program and team, which stands ready to respond to disasters like Sandy at a moment's notice. When our team is not responding to emergencies, they are running a national training program during which they train communities in basic first responder animal emergency services, disaster sheltering for companion animals, and other critical skills. To date in FY13 (commencing July 1, 2012), we have trained 479 students, and in FY12 (July 1, 201 I-June 30, 2012) we trained 986 students across the country, helping communities prepare and plan for disasters and disaster response. In addition, the team is continually developing relationships with federal, state and local governmental bodies, NARSC coalition members and other non-profit entities that aid in emergency relief, to prepare for emergency response efficiency, effectiveness and best

6 practices. Our team also maintains our 82 ft. Rescue Rig and other emergency fleet vehicles and equipment. For additional information about AHA Red Star Animal Emergency Services, please see the attached timeline. For photos from the Sandy reliefefforts, please see the attached document. Name and title ofrepresentative Date Tracy Speelhoffer, Red Star Animal Emergency Services Specialist Dec. 11,2012 Cc: Dr. Robin Ganzert, AHA President and CEO Clifford Rose, AHA ChiefFinancial Officer Stephen Kaminski, AHA General Counsel Please this document with your responses to by December 11, You may obtain an electronic copy ofthis document by ing a request to that same address.