The Critical Need Response Fund is a partnership program of The Leon Levine Foundation, Mecklenburg Ministries, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Central Carolinas and Foundation For The Carolinas. The effort will be led by a task force of citizen volunteer leaders (listed below) who have come together to raise and distribute funds for the purpose of aiding residents of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County who face dire circumstances due to the global economic crisis. Sandra and Leon Levine have supported the partnership with an extraordinary gift in the amount of $1 million. The gift by Sandra and Leon Levine is the first contribution to the Critical Need Response Fund. One hundred percent of the money contributed to the fund will be available for grants; no administrative fees will be paid to any of the participating agencies.

The charge of the task force is to garner and deploy community resources on a temporary and one-time basis for the purpose of alleviating human suffering in the most effective and efficient means. Specifically, community resources will be deployed to shelter, feed, clothe and keep warm those in need. Financial resources will be granted by the task force to local nonprofit service providers that offer the best strategies to address well-documented increases in these areas of need.

This emergency relief program is designed to address immediate needs of our citizens and not to supplement our community’s annual United Way campaign. We are asking citizens, corporations and foundations to support their neighbors in crisis with contributions to the fund by giving above and beyond traditional giving patterns.

Gifts may be made to the Critical Need Response Fund at Foundation For The Carolinas in one of three easy ways:

· Online – www.fftc.org (preferred way to give)

· Mail – Foundation For The Carolinas, Critical Need Response Fund, 217 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC28202 (make checks payable to Foundation For The Carolinas. Write Critical Need Response Fund in the memo line)

· Phone – 704.973.4588

Key Quotes

Task Force

Way's To Give

Critical Need Response Fund News Release