News Release

For Immediate Release For more information, contact:

July 1, 2002 Deborah Whitehurst or Lisa Loeffler

602-381-1400/602-568-5556

Julie Roller, 928-526-1956

ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND FLAGSTAFF AFFILIATE CREATE FIRE RELIEF FUND; DONATIONS CAN BE MADE ONLINE

PHOENIX – Charitable and community organizations in Arizona serving wildfire victims can submit proposals for relief funds and people can contribute online to the fund through Arizona Community Foundation's Arizona Wildfire Relief Fund. Currently, approximately $250,0000 is available in the fund.

Intended to aid organizations serving both immediate and long-term needs resulting from the Rodeo and Chediski fires, people can make online contributions to the fund electronically via credit card at www.azfoundation.org., through the FCF office at 928-526-1956, or at the Arizona Community Foundation, 602-381-1400 or 1-800-222-8221. All donations to the Wildfire Relief Fund are free of surcharges and administrative fees.

To Arizona nonprofits and community organizations wishing to apply, the application process will be paper-based, due to potential difficulty with communication and Internet access. Contact FCF to receive an application via fax or mail. Organizations which do not have access to a fax or which require personal assistance can contact the Foundations directly.

Contributions have been received from ACF's general fund as well as individual donors for human services and animal relief. The Arizona Nutritional Health Fund, established by the Arizona Attorney General's office, will provide support to organizations providing food, water and distribution of nutritional items.

"We are considering proposals to assist both human needs and animal care caused by the Rodeo and Chediski fires," said Deborah Whitehurst, executive vice president for external affairs. "Requests will be coordinated through the Flagstaff Community Foundation (FCF), ACF's affiliate serving Northern Arizona."

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ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND FLAGSTAFF AFFILIATE CREATE FIRE RELIEF FUND; DONATIONS CAN BE MADE ONLINE

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More than 32,000 people were forced to flee their homes in the high country 150 miles northeast of Phoenix. The fire is the 10^th largest in United States history, has blackened more than 650 square miles and more than 400 homes have been damaged or destroyed.

"We want to help the people in these communities get their lives back in order by meeting their needs without duplicating the efforts of other organizations providing services," Whitehurst said.

The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) is a statewide philanthropy with four regional offices, dedicated to making Arizona's communities better places to live and work. Established in 1978, ACF has an endowment of more than $325 million, and in 2001 it awarded $18.3 million in grants to other nonprofit organizations. Areas of interest focus on children, youth and families; education; community development; arts and culture; and the environment. For more information, visit the ACF website at www.azfoundation.org.

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