Minnesota Grantmakers Respond to September 11th Tragedy
Council Creates www.mcf.org/Sept11 for State's Charitable Response to Terrorist Attacks

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (September 19, 2001) In the first week following the tragic September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., Minnesota's foundations and corporate grantmakers have responded in many different ways to assist with the overwhelming relief and recovery efforts -- including the creation of a new online resource to help people give. 

To date, members of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, a statewide association for philanthropy, have reported giving a total of more than $6.6 million in cash and in-kind contributions for September 11th relief efforts. Grantmakers of all types have offered contributions -- from small family foundations to large multinational corporations. In addition, some Minnesota companies have organized employee blood drives, promised to match their employees' donations, and set up special programs to help their customers contribute to the cause. 

A number of community foundations in the state have established special funds to which donors can contribute for relief efforts. Community foundations have also created special online giving opportunities for donors and co-sponsored fund-raising drives, among other efforts. 

Within 24 hours of the terrorist attacks, the Council created a special section on its Web site -- at www.mcf.org/Sept11 -- to serve as a central online source of news, information and resources on Minnesota's charitable response to the September 11th tragedy. At the site people can learn more about how they can help and view a comprehensive summary of the state's philanthropic efforts. 

"On behalf of the staff and members of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, I'd like to extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to our valued philanthropy colleagues in New York and Washington and to those who have lost loved ones in the tragedy," said Council president Bill King. "We are committed to helping our communities in any way we can to recover from the horrific events of September 11." 

Founded in 1969, the Minnesota Council on Foundations is a regional membership association of grantmakers working to improve the vitality and health of our communities. The Council's mission is to strengthen and to increase participation in philanthropy. The Council's broad and diverse membership includes private foundations, community and other public foundations, and corporate foundations and giving programs.

CONTACT: David Biemesderfer, director of communications and external relations, 612/335-3597, dbiemesderfer@mcf.org.

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