Gulf Aid, a 501(c3) nonprofit
corporation, has been established in
response to what has been called one of the
biggest oil spills in history just 50 miles
off of the Louisiana Coast.
The fund will make certain
that all proceeds are
distributed to organizations
focused on supporting
wetlands/coastal environmental
issues and to ensure the
well-being of fishermen and the
regional seafood industry.
According to David
Freedman, general manager of
WWOZ 90.7 FM and foundation
co-creator, there are three
criteria for the dispersal
of funds:
Money must go as
directly as possible to
beneficiaries, not operating
costs;
and, it must target
needs not being addressed by
government.
Anyone who has been aware to the
response to other environmental
disasters (such as the Exxon Valdez
spill in Alaska) knows that the response
to immediate problems can take official
agencies years--even decades--to
address. Gulf Aid is designed to attempt
to identify those individuals and groups
who fall through the bureaucratic cracks
and have true needs that are not being
adequately dealt with.
A small board dedicated to responding to
the crisis will identify the needs and
respond to the applications of those who
need the aid.
All information about revenues and
expenses are being posted on the
GulfAid.org website and can be seen
there at any time.
