ECF Relief Fund Purpose Statement

ECF Relief Fund Purpose Statement:

The primary purpose of the Relief Fund is to serve all members of the community by:

1. Providing assistance to individual victims in a public class of sudden and unexpected natural, manmade, and civil disasters as declared by the U.S. President, Illinois Governor, or the local governing top official. The relief fund may provide assistance in the form of funds, services, or goods to ensure that victims who are needy or in distress have the basic necessities, such as food, clothing, housing (including repairs), transportation, and medical assistance (including psychological counseling)

2. Providing assistance to organizations who are financially needy or otherwise distressed as a result of sudden and unexpected natural, manmade, and civil disasters as declared by the U.S. President, Illinois Governor, or the local governing top official.

3. Providing crisis counseling, rescue services, or emergency aid such as blankets or meals in the

immediate aftermath of a disaster without a showing of financial need.

4. Providing support to area police, fire, public service, and emergency management departments for

disaster preparedness and disaster recovery needs.

5. Meeting long-term needs of the community as determined by the Board in accordance with each event and the gifts received.

ECF Relief Fund Criteria and Priorities related to the December 10, 2021, event:

A. Consistent with Relief Fund Program Statement Criteria 5:

• Endow a Disaster Relief Fund at ECF to fund future costs of individuals, businesses, and organizations.

• Provide a lasting scholarship to SIUE for students majoring in fields related to disaster preparedness or disaster recovery. SIUE maintains the principal and the interest would provide the scholarships annually.

B. Consistent with Relief Fund Program Statement Criteria 4:

• Provide grants and in-kind gifts to area police, fire, public service, and emergency management departments for disaster preparedness and recovery needs. Could be equipment, infrastructure, technology, etc.

C. Consistent with Relief Fund Program Statement Criteria 1:

• Provide assistance to individual victims to ensure that victims have the basic necessities, such as food, clothing, housing (including repairs), transportation, and medical assistance (including psychological counseling).

D. Consistent with Relief Fund Criteria 2:

• Provide assistance to businesses and organizations that are financially needy or otherwise distressed.

The service region for the relief fund will be for those individuals and organizations located in Madison County, Illinois, with primary consideration given to needs for assistance within district 7.