Dear Friends,
"Radio is sound salvation"
- Elvis Costello and the Attractions, 1978
During the worst days and nights of the October wildfires, when smart phones were silent and power outages were widespread, local radio stations were a vital link to news and public safety information.
As an audio bookend, of sorts, at the seven-month anniversary mark of the Napa Fire Complex, we're pleased to share a story from the radio about our Disaster Relief Fund.
Please click this link to listen to KRCB's interview with NVCF President, Terence Mulligan.
So far, with your support, nearly $6 million has been distributed from the Disaster Relief Fund and another $1.2 million in grants have been approved that will be distributed shortly.
These distributions have enabled 15,000 fire survivors to receive relief services like temporary housing, meals and medical care; and 2,000 households who suffered economic hardship as a result of the fires to receive direct cash assistance totaling nearly $2.3 million to-date.
Still, there's a great deal of work in front of us, like a program to assist small business owners that you can read about here ; and a program to assist underinsured homeowners that we plan to launch in June.
As we press forward from recovery to rebuilding - a process that will take years, not months - we are confident that this community, with its extraordinary habit of compassion, will remain tuned-in to the needs of those whose greatest challenges are on the horizon.
Sincerely,
Vice President of Philanthropic Services
Napa Valley Community Foundation