DURHAM, NC (September 8, 2005) – The National Press Photographers Association, along with the National Press Photographers Foundation, Thursday announced a joint effort to help photojournalists displaced or affected by Hurricane Katrina. The NPPF/Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund has been established to help photojournalists who have lost their homes, lost their jobs, or have been separated from their families.
“We’re here to assist these folks in a time of need,” NPPA past president Bob Gould said today. “We know there are many opportunities to help the victims of Katrina, but the NPPA is working hard to support its members and those in the photojournalism community. There are so many photojournalists dealing with so many difficult issues in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and when a journalist becomes part of the story he or she is covering it becomes emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting. We hope that any help and support NPPA and NPPF offers will bring some comfort to our peers.”
NPPA and NPPF are soliciting donations from the journalism community and the public alike. The deadline to donate funds to the effort is Friday, October 7, 2005. The NPPF, often referred to simply as “the Foundation,” is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) charity; all donations to the NPPF and to the Katrina Relief Fund are tax deductible.
There’s a form to use to donate money to the NPPF/Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Click here to download an Acrobat .PDF version of the form. The form has instructions about how to make a donation via check, credit card, or PayPal and where to send the donation. PayPal members will be given an online link to use for their donation.
A committee is being established to administer distribution of the relief funds. “Once we have a committee in place, which will be very shortly, we’ll announce the details about how photojournalists can apply for the funds and the procedures NPPF will use to disburse the money,” Gould said.
Photojournalists who want to apply for relief funds will be able to do so starting September 16. “Check the NPPA’s Web site at nppa.org at that time for a downloadable application,” Gould said. “All photojournalists affected by Hurricane Katrina may apply for funds, but NPPA members will be given priority. This is just the first part of our commitment to helping photojournalists. We’ll be announcing additional initiatives in the coming days.”
Additionally, there will be print auctions held at all three stops of the 2005 NPPA Flying Short Course in Boston, Austin, and Eugene, with all proceeds going to the NPPF/ Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
For more information please contact NPPA past president Bob Gould at pastpresident@nppa.org or NPPA vice president Tony Overman at vicepresident@nppa.org.
Related story about New Orleans photojournalists' jobs; Related story on fund raising efforts.
