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Indonesia Earthquake & Tsunami

© EPA via Shutterstock

Indonesia, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, was struck by twin disasters on Friday — a 7.5 magnitude massive earthquake triggered a tsunami that unleashed an 18-foot wave, which turned parts of Palu and the surrounding strip of coastline into a graveyard. A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake hit, but many people in the region could not receive alerts because of power cuts caused by the tremor. The current death toll is at least 844 now, and officials fear it could climb far past that figure as several large coastal towns still remain cut off by damaged roads and downed communication lines. Volunteers have begun burying victims of Indonesia’s deadly earthquake and tsunami in mass graves, while many people are still looking for missing loved ones. It is estimated that nearly 17,000 people were made homeless by the earthquake and tsunami in Palu alone.

Hurricane Florence

© Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP

Hurricane Florence, which hit the Carolinas last week and which is now officially downgraded to a tropical depression has already left a lot of damage in its wake. More than 1 million people were under mandatory evacuation orders as the storm crawled toward the East Coast, and days of record-breaking rain have pushed rivers over their banks, and water levels — still rising in some places — are unlikely to recede fully for days. The death toll from the storm has risen to at least 18, and some 523,000 homes and businesses are still without power in North and South Carolina as of Monday morning. The authorities and volunteers in North and South Carolina are carrying out rescues by air and water, curfews are in effect, and many thousands of people remain out of their homes. As the remnants of Florence are getting farther North, Embrace Relief wants to contribute to recovery efforts.    

Adopt a Refugee Family in Greece

Embrace Relief thanks you for your interest in helping support refugee families currently in Greece. After completing the form below, you will soon be matched with a refugee family in need and will be contacted by one of our staff members whom will provide you with the family portfolio and contact information. From there you will be able to make direct contact and work one on one with your adopted refugee family.

    Chicago Education Fund

    Embrace Relief will be establishing a scholarship fund for college students. As many of you know, Embrace Relief is dedicated to assisting our local communities in need and helping those who are financially struggling

    The cost of higher education in the United States is incredibly high and it only continues to rise, making it even more difficult for a growing number of people. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013–2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for state residents at public colleges, and $22,203 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. For the majority of students, the only way to attend college is through securing student loans which often times only cover the cost of tuition.

    Criteria for Applicants

    Embrace Relief is raising money for Education Fund to give scholarships to a number of hardworking students for their undergraduate studies. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

    1) A Child of a refugee family or he/she is self a refugee.

    2) Possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

    To apply, an applicant must write a 750-1,000 word essay about what he/she plans to do in college, how he/she plans on giving back in his/her life, and what volunteering means to him/her. We are accepting applications anytime. Please submit essays along with your full name, University, and cumulative GPA.

    If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

    2018 Embrace Relief Aid Campaign for Greece Wildfire Victims

    In 2018,  Embrace Relief launched a campaign to provide aid to victims of the disastrous wildfires that struck Greece in  July and to help restore damaged land.

    In just one week, the campaign has collected approximately $30,000, thanks to the generosity of our gracious donors and supporters, including a $5,000 gift from Fethullah Gulen, a respected religious figure. In addition, Blue Dome Inc, a local publishing company in Clifton, NJ, donated $5,000. Furthermore, Ant Bookstore in Clifton, NJ, donated an entire day’s proceeds to the campaign.

    Aiding Your Communities

    Whether a company is a fortune 500 or a small local business, it is essential for companies to contribute to society. Companies are starting to become aware of the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate citizenship. CSR is defined as the voluntary commitment of business to include in their corporate practices economic, social, and environmental criteria and actions. It is not required, but it is crucial for companies to help local, national, and global communities. Corporations gave out over 17 billion dollars last year (Double The Donation). Societies benefit greatly from companies operating in ways that enhance the standards of living for people that are directly involved. According to a report from the ADP Research Institute The Evolution of Work” The changing Nature of the Global Workplace, “today’s workers are increasingly motivated to work by more than just earning a paycheck. Largely, employees are looking to work on projects that are personally meaningful, have a positive impact on society, and benefit people’s well being.” (ADP Inc.). People all over the world are struggling with everyday problems but with the help of companies that have accepted their role of going beyond their business to help, society is taking a huge step forward. All of this progress is made possible through non-governmental organizations known as NGOs. NGOs are generally defined as nonprofit entities independent of government influence (Grantspace). Non-governmental organizations are typically operating on an international level. They include but are not limited to environmental, social, advocacy, and human rights work. (Grantspace). NGOs and non-profit organizations are the “vehicles” that companies use to help society in need. Non-governmental organizations are a reliable partner that corporations can trust to help them accomplish their economic, environmental, and social goals. They are crucial to a progressive society and to making society better to live in. With the help and support of companies, organizations like this are paving the way for a new and better world for the future.

    Help Spread the Love and the Water

    Water is known as the essence of life for a good reason. We use it in our everyday lives in our plumbing, gardening, hygiene, drinking along with other important tasks. Without water, we would be unable to enjoy many of the conveniences of modern living. Flushing toilets, hydroelectric plants, drinking fountains and other useful tools would be rendered obsolete. Many of us cannot imagine what it would be like to live without clean water, but the truth is that this scenario would be devastating. Countless people would be left thirsty, dirty and sick. Does this seem like an unbearable situation to you? Well this is the harsh reality for many people all over the world. Statistics provided by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WASHWatch.org reveal some alarming facts about how many people are left without fresh water and the effects that that has on their health. About 2 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water, in addition to 31 percent of schools. Around 2.3 billion people do not have a decent toilet in their home, and as a result, one child under five years old dies of diarrhea every two minutes. Every minute, a newborn baby dies due to an infection that was caused by lack of safe water and an unclean environment. These statistics are not acceptable if we want a world where everyone has a healthy, happy life. Embrace Relief is dedicated to making sure that everyone has access to fresh water. Studies show that for every $1 invested in water and toilets, there is an average increase of $4 in productivity. The World Bank has stated, “promoting good hygiene is one of the most cost effective health interventions.” If you would like to join in our cause to stop this injustice, please donate to one of our many fundraisers today. If you really want to make a difference, you can set up your own fundraising project with us today and spread the word about this ever-present issue. It is up to us to make sure that our fellow human beings are accessing clean water just like we get the privilege of doing each and every day. “Facts and Statistics.” WaterAid, http://www.wateraid.org/facts-and-statistics.