Toll-Free Line Opens for Chile Relief Donations

(877) 572-4484 to donate to PADF-OAS relief efforts

WASHINGTON, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chilean earthquake relief donations may be made by calling (877) 572-4484 toll-free in the United States, which will be used to support on-the-ground activities organized by the non-profit Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and the Organization of American States (OAS).

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100211/DC53912LOGO)

"The massive 8.8 earthquake has caused considerable damage and suffering, and we need your help in order to meet these pressing challenges," says John Sanbrailo, PADF's Executive Director. "We opened this toll-free number as a safe and easy way to donate 24/7."

PADF -- the natural disaster relief arm of the OAS -- is asking for both cash from and bulk donations of specific relief supplies, including satellite telephones, tents, electric generators and portable dialysis machines. Cash donations may be made at www.PanAmericanRelief.org or by calling (877) 572-4484.

Despite Chile's preparedness, terrible news continues to come out of the country. An estimated 1.5 million people are homeless, 799 are confirmed dead and more than 130 aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 or greater have been registered. Compounding the suffering was a killer tsunami that roared ashore and caused even more death and destruction.

The 8.8 quake -- the world's fifth largest since 1900 -- struck almost seven weeks after the 7.0 in Haiti, where PADF has been one of the leaders in relief and recovery efforts. More than 230,000 were killed in Haiti and more than 1 million are still homeless.

"Unfortunately, we cannot predict these types of natural disasters but PADF and the OAS are prepared to respond to both earthquakes," says Sanbrailo. "We are responding to Chile's needs, but we also ask the public to continue to donate to Haiti relief and recovery efforts."

Donations for both Haiti and Chile may be made on PADF's secure website, www.PanAmericanRelief.org, or by calling (877) 572-4484.

About PADF

PADF has more than 150 people throughout Haiti working on a number of projects, including community driven development, disaster mitigation and protecting human rights.

PADF is an independent, non-profit organization that creates public-private partnerships to assist the least advantaged people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Through these partnerships and as a unique affiliate of the Organization of American States, PADF creates economic opportunities, strengthens communities and prepares for and responds to natural disasters.

Having worked in every country in the region, PADF engages community-based groups, governments and the private sector in the process of implementing appropriate solutions for sustainable development.

In the past year, more than 5 million people in 18 countries benefited from PADF and its programs. www.padf.org

About the OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world's oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, which was held in Washington, D.C. from October 1889 to April 1890. Today, it is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. www.oas.org

SOURCE Pan American Development Foundation