Washington -- The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund announced that it would begin accepting applications from religious organizations in the Gulf Region hit by Hurricane Katrina.  The grants can be used to assist in rebuilding houses of worship and to help reimburse for costs for temporary houses of worship.

Applications will be accepted from now until July 31st and will be reviewed and granted on a rolling basis.  No applications will be accepted after July 31st, 2006.  The Fund intends to award the first round of grants by the end of May and have fully dispersed the approximately $20 million by the end of October 2006.  If they meet the eligibility criteria, each faith institution will be eligible for funding up to $35,000.

“We need to help reestablish the faith communities hit so hard by Hurricane Katrina so people can have hope that the foundations of their communities will be there now and in the future,” Don Evans, co-chair of The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund said.

“Houses of worship are the center of many communities in the Gulf region.  I know because I grew up there.  They are the lifeblood of the people and a way for them to stay connected.  It is important to help rebuild,” Alexis Herman, co-chair of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund said.

In December 2005, Presidents George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton allocated $20 million from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund for local and regional faith-based organizations.  The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund asked Dallas-based Bishop T. D. Jakes and Rev. William H. Gray, III, of Philadelphia, PA., to co-chair an interfaith committee to advise in the grant process.
 
The other members of the Interfaith Advisory Committee are Rabbi Andrew Busch, head of Touro Synagogue in New Orleans; Archbishop John C. Favalora, of the Archdiocese of Miami; Bishop Cornal Garnett Henning, Sr., of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for the states of Mississippi and Louisiana; Rev. Dr. Fred Lucas, president and CEO of the Faith Center for Community Development of New York; Dr. William Shaw, President of the National Baptist Convention; Bishop Roy L. H. Winbush of the Church of God in Christ, First Jurisdiction of Louisiana; and Dr. Abdelhafiz Bensrieti of the Abu Baker Al-Sidiqqi Mosque in Metarie, LA and member of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

“Houses of worship are wiped out and waiting for relief,” Bishop Jakes said.  “Our mission here is to help the helpers—to open resources and get people lifting each other.”

“Twenty million dollars alone can’t rebuild a region, but it can renew spirits and lay the foundations for people to help each other,” Rev. Gray said.  “Logistics and leadership are in place now.” 

The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund also announced the appointments of the Rev. Angela Williams, former vice president and deputy general counsel for Sears, as the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund liaison to the Interfaith Advisory Committee and to the community, and Mr. Alvin Brown as executive director of the Interfaith Advisory Committee.  Mr. Brown is also the chair of the National Black MBA Association.

In addition, the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund announced that Public/Private Ventures will administer the grant application and selection process.  Public/Private Ventures, headed by the Rev. Fred Davies, is a national non-profit organization that provides technical assistance and administers community and faith-based programs.

Anyone with questions regarding the application process can visit www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org, or contact, Rev. Williams at 202-289-2732 or Mr. Brown, at 202-477-9657.  For more information on the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund and a copy of the application visit: www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org.

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