January 19, 2010

As its citizens struggle in the aftermath of the horror of the earthquake in Haiti, people from around the world are offering help, in the form of volunteers, supplies and, of course, cash.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade recommends cash donations over donations of goods, saying money can have the immediate impact that's needed.

And in a country such as Haiti, already suffering so much prior to this latest disaster - one child in eight dies before the age of five, and 72 per cent of its people live in extreme poverty - any and all donations can go a long way.

Toronto Community Foundation Fundholders who wish to make a contribution towards the relief efforts may do so through their Donor Advised and Flow-Through Funds by contacting a member of the Donor Services team by phone at 416.921.2035, by fax at 416.921.1026, or by email at badams.lowe@tcf.ca.

The Government of Canada is matching donations made by individual Canadians for assistance in Haiti until February 12, 2010 through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Please note that donations made through a Fund at the Community Foundation are not recognized by the Government for the purposes of this matching program as only contributions made directly to charitable organizations by individual Canadians are deemed eligible.

If you choose to make a gift through your Fund, or if you wish to make a donation directly to a charity, we are here to help you make an informed decision. Also, our friends at Community Foundations of Canada have compiled a list of some of the Canadian organizations providing relief efforts in Haiti that might prove helpful.

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