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Local drives net thousands for Haiti

A drive by Mountain View's Silicon Valley Community Foundation to raise $50,000 to help victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti was accomplished within a day, the foundation announced last Friday — so quickly, in fact, that a second $50,000 drive is now underway.

The first campaign, spurred on by a matching grant from the Irene S. Scully Fund, began last Wednesday and was met in less than 24 hours, raising a total of $100,000.

"I am pleased that our donors have shown such great leadership and generosity. They sparked the creation of this fund to help Haiti in the wake of this enormous human tragedy," said Emmett D. Carson, CEO and president of the Community Foundation.

The new campaign is driven by The Lieve Roelandt Foundation, which is a part of the Community Foundation. As with the first campaign, if another $50,000 is donated by the community, every dollar will be matched. Taken together, the two campaigns would raise $200,000.

The funds will be given to organizations working to provide critical assistance to help Haiti recover, following the worst earthquake there in more than 200 years. Those include Save the Children, World Vision, Partners in Health and the American Red Cross.

Carson said the donations from community members have come in all sizes.

"We have received donations both large and small. We've heard from students in our region who want to help by pooling small contributions and from donors who want to make large gifts," he said.

Donations are being accepted online at www.siliconvalleycf.org, or by e-mailing donate@siliconvalleycf.org or calling (650) 450-5444. Checks also can be mailed to:

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300

Mountain View, CA 94040

Attn: Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

— Palo Alto Weekly