ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Concerned Americans who want to contribute immediately and safely to aid victims of the tsunamis in the South Pacific and earthquakes in Peru and Indonesia can do so at https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=4752, according to CAFAmerica, which promotes borderless charitable giving as part of the CAF International Network, which spans six continents and has over $4 billion of charitable funds under management.

On September 29, 2009, huge tsunami waves set off by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Samoa, American Samao and Tongo. According to Reuters: "In some instances, entire villages were flattened or submerged by the tsunami . . . The confirmed death toll stood at 149 in Samoa, 31 on American Samoa and nine on neighboring Tonga, but officials feared that whole towns had been destroyed on outlying islands and hundreds of people remained missing." Other estimates put the death toll closer to 200.

Less than a day after tsunami waves ravaged the South Pacific, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake caused several hundred deaths and widespread damage in Indonesia. A third earthquake struck in Peru, with a magnitude of 5.9, on September 30, 2009.

CAFAmerica works with a number of humanitarian relief nonprofits in all of the regions where response efforts are now going on. Last year, CAFAmerica facilitated $36.44 million in grants globally on behalf of U.S. donors.

CAFAmerica CEO Susan Saxon-Harrold said: "When disasters of this magnitude strike it is important that aid is sent in as quickly as possible. The Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in the region are experts in doing this. CAFAmerica has strong grant making ties with these groups and can make sure any US gifts are sent in response to their appeals quickly and securely."

Saxon-Harrold cited the following CAF grantees as organizations that could be aided directly by Americans: the Australian Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp); the New Zealand Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.nz/cms_display.php); and the Peruvian Red Cross (http://www.cruzroja.org.pe/).

If you would like to support the victims of the tsunami as directly as possible, please go to https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=4752 to do so.

ABOUT CAFAMERICA

CAFAmerica was founded in 1992 as a member organization of the London-based CAF International Network, which provides charitable financial services to nonprofits, individuals and companies. CAFAmerica is dedicated to expanding borderless charitable giving by providing guidance and international grant making options for donors. CAFAmerica's range of innovative charitable solutions for US donors and overseas nonprofits include Donor Advised Gifts, Donor Advised Funds, Matching Donor Advised Fund and most recently, the 'Friends of' Charity Fund.

CAFAmerica helps companies, family and community foundations, and individuals to manage their international philanthropy efforts and strengthen charitable activity around the world. It also advises on fundraising and grant-making, allows online account management and provides an online giving mechanism for nonprofits to place on their Web sites.

SOURCE CAFAmerica, Alexandria, VA

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.redcross.org
https://secure.groundspring.org