EAF IN THE NEWS
100 Most Loved Workplaces in America
September 2023
Congratulations to our Fund Partners who have been named among the 100 Most Loved Workplaces in America by Newsweek: AmeriHealth Caritas, Fresenius Medical Care, Freif Inc., J.J. Keller & Associates, Kendra Scott, Veritiv, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. We applaud the continued efforts of these companies to support their employees, including through disaster and hardship relief funds.
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Emergency Assistance Foundation Launches Maui Wildfires Relief Fund to Aid in Disaster Response Efforts
August 2023
EAF today announced that it is sponsoring a relief fund specifically for those devastated by the recent Maui wildfires. EAF's Maui Wildfires Relief Fund is now accepting contributions to provide direct financial assistance to those affected by the disaster.
EAF's decision to establish a disaster event-specific fund is a first for the non-profit and was made given the gravity and widespread devastation of the disaster itself.
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Covia Helps Team Members Through Covia Cares Emergency Relief
July 2023
Covia Team Members are our most important asset and that’s why we’re committed to supporting them in every aspect of their lives. We recently announced the launch of the Covia Cares Emergency Relief Fund, administered by Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF). The Fund was created to help Covia Team Members who need immediate financial assistance following an unforeseen disaster or personal hardship. We hope that our Team Members never need to use the Fund but we are pleased to have a new way to support them in times of need.
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Activist Erin Brockovich Announced as Keynote Speaker for Emergency Assistance Foundation's Granting Hope 2024: The Global Relief Fund Summit
July 2023
Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF) — a U.S.-based, public non-profit administering employer-sponsored disaster and hardship relief funds worldwide — today announced that Erin Brockovich, motivational speaker, consumer advocate and activist, will be the featured speaker at its inaugural Granting Hope 2024: The Global Relief Fund Summit, scheduled for Feb. 7-9, 2024, in Orlando, Fla.
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Debunking Four Myths About Relief Fund Administration
May 2023
"A relief fund can be a valuable tool for companies that want to help their team members recover financially in the aftermath of disaster or hardship, but relief fund administration can be a complicated process. Based on my experience in this industry, here are four common myths about relief fund administration that can help you determine how establishing a relief fund could work best for your organization..."
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Business-Forward Relief Fund Planning Options
May 2023
"Log onto any news site or scroll through social media, and most days, you’re sure to see evidence of individuals experiencing some form of hardship in the world. Whether difficulties seen close to home or at the opposite ends of the earth, the gravity of the unexpected and the fallout it can sometimes cause is a fact of human existence.
In addition to the certainty of the uncertain is enhanced volatility exacerbated by various factors, including climate change, that can directly impact an individual, group or entire population. In fact, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change — global warming has resulted in more frequent, intense and extreme weather events that have caused increasingly dangerous impacts on nature and people in every region of the world..."
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Doing good while being good: Ensuring your relief fund is compliant
May 2023
"Without question, providing relief funds to your own in times of unforeseen hardship or natural disaster is valued as an employer. It is a unique component that builds goodwill and—for many companies—helps to enhance investor-specific environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts. But whether your organization provides direct corporate assistance or has a private foundation, financial assistance given to a team member must comply with tax-exempt regulations, regardless of the good you intend to do..."
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Ongoing Ukrainian Conflict Relief: Companies Answering Call through Employee Assistance Funds
April 2023
From natural disasters to illnesses, housefires, injuries, and even war, not a day goes by that someone in the world does not experience unanticipated hardship. The unforeseen can not only be devastating, but in the moments following initial impact, it can also seem unsurmountable.
On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia began its now year-plus invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the human toll has mounted. According to recent UN human rights office (OHCHR) data, at least 8,000 non-combatants have been confirmed killed, with nearly 13,300 injured. Additionally, more than 8 million refugees have fled Ukraine, and the damage to the country’s infrastructure is estimated at more than $138 billion.
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Disaster Zone Podcast: EAF Helping in Disasters
March 2023
In this podcast we learn how EAF has been agile and adaptable by harnessing technology, developing scalable platforms and procedures, and constantly evaluating and improving processes. Disasters that have been responded to include devastating hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017, the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and today’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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Emergency Assistance Foundation: $45M+ Provided in Relief Grants Worldwide in 2022
January 2023
Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF) — a U.S.-based, public non-profit providing companies with the administration of relief fund grants to eligible individuals in times of unforeseen disaster or personal hardship — today announced that it awarded more than $45 million in financial assistance to nearly 49,000 individuals worldwide in 2022. Additionally, relief funds administered by EAF received more than $52 million in donations from sponsoring organizations — or EAF “Fund Partners” — during the calendar year. Individual, general public donations were also accounted for in this total.
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Emergency Assistance Foundation awarded $45 million in 2022
January 2023
Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF) has announced that it awarded more than $45 million in financial assistance to nearly 49,000 individuals worldwide who faced unforeseen disasters or personal hardships in 2022.
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Winnebago Industries Responds to Earthquake Recovery in Haiti; Launches year-round GOTogether Employee Hardship Fund
August 2021
First introduced as an immediate response fund to assist employees facing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GOTogether Fund supported more than 850 employee families from April to July 2020. Beginning this month, the fund will be available to eligible employee applicants year-round and will assist in situations such as natural and personal disasters.The fund is administered by a third-party nonprofit partner, the Emergency Assistance Foundation, and is supported by company and employee contributions.
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American Supports Texas Recovery From Devastating Winter Storms
April 2021
The airline provided team members more than $111,000 in direct assistance through grants from The American Airlines Family Fund. The American Airlines Family Fund, administered by Emergency Assistance Foundation, is a public, nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that was created to help team members who are facing financial hardship immediately after a natural disaster or an unforeseen catastrophic situation that threaten their health and welfare.
Read Full Article >The 20 Top Fashion Moments of 2020
December 2020
Fashion labels, both big and small, committed to helping stop the spread of COVID-19 and provided monetary assistance to those most impacted by the global health crisis. Prada financed three new ICU units at hospitals in Milan, while Ralph Lauren pledged $10 million to the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the Emergency Assistance Foundation, and the company’s own Pink Pony Fund.
Read Full Article >Starbucks Plans Pay Raises for All Employees
November 19
As part of the program, employees facing "extreme" hardship during the pandemic had access to one-time, direct relief grants. The money, which backed Starbucks’ existing CUP platform, also allowed international licensed stores to set up funds for employees through the Emergency Assistance Foundation, with Starbucks contributing an initial investment. The company said this as the first time in its history company-operated and international licensed market store employees across Starbucks could access hardship grants.
Read Full Article >How Emergency Assistance Foundation Is Tapping Digital Payment Tools To Speed Up Disaster Relief, Payments
October 2020
Offering a robust assortment of payment methods is thus crucial for nonprofits,Doug Stockham, president of international disaster relief nonprofit Emergency Assistance Foundation, said in a recent PYMENTS interview.
Read Full Article >Auberge Resorts Collection Launches Auberge Assistance Fund
October 2020
Managed by the Emergency Assistance Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) charity created to design and operate multiple employer-sponsored disaster relief and employee hardship funds, the Auberge Assistance Fund will process all donations so that each contribution is tax deductible, and most importantly, so that all employee proceeds are tax free.
Read Full Article >CoolSys Creates Relief Fund to Support Employees Impacted by COVID-19, Natural Disasters and Emergencies
October 2020
The fund will also accept tax-deductible donations from employees, customers and suppliers. CoolSys has partnered with the Emergency Assistance Foundation, a leader in managing relief funds, to administer the program.
Read Full Article >Also featured in yahoo!news
GoDaddy launches the Tomorrow Fund to support employees in need
September 2020
They leave decisions up to the experts who know how to do this sort of thing. The Tomorrow Fund is managed by a third-party administrator, Emergency Assistance Foundation. It’s a well-known employee assistance fund manager. All donations to the Tomorrow Fund are tax-deductible in the U.S.
Read Full Article >How check maker Deluxe is working to digitize coronavirus relief payments
May 2020
EAF, a nine-year-old firm that uses fintech tools including artificial intelligence and APIs, would like to eliminate checks altogether, but lower-income recipients of its emergency funds often lack access to digital payment options. And many are especially distrustful of receiving funds through new channels in an emergency.
Read Article Excerpt >EAF, a nine-year-old firm that uses fintech tools including artificial intelligence and APIs, would like to eliminate checks altogether, but lower-income recipients of its emergency funds often lack access to digital payment options. And many are especially distrustful of receiving funds through new channels in an emergency.
“People in need aren’t sure what to do, and even if you give them a choice they will often fall back on receiving a check out of habit,” said Stockham, who estimates that at least 3% of lower income U.S. workers are shut out of the digital economy.
Not long ago, the EAF began chipping away at its check problem with the help of an unlikely partner — the 105-year-old check-printing company Deluxe Corp.
Deluxe, trying to diversify from its declining checking-business model, has developed a platform enabling EAF recipients to receive relief funds via ACH, PayPal or a virtual prepaid card instead of a check.
The EAF works with about 60 major corporations (300 fund partners), most of them based in the U.S., to distribute IRS-approved employee hardship grants, typically sending out 2,000 payments per month. During the pandemic, more than 5,000 people per day are qualifying for EAF aid.
Less than two years ago, the EAF began working with Deluxe to notify disaster-fund recipients of available money via email addresses typically on file with employers. Through the Deluxe Payment Exchange, EAF sends messages to prospective payees with instructions to securely input their bank or PayPal account details or opt for a virtual Visa card that’s immediately activated via email.
“Recipients who respond to the email and pick a digital payment option can get their money immediately, usually by the next day,” Stockham said.
One NHL team's plans for reopening arenas
May 2020
"Sharks ownership, players, coaches, front-office staff, corporate partners and others have already pledged more than $200,000 to launch the fund. More donations can be made through the Emergency Assistance Foundation."
Read Full Article >Winnebago Industries to Resume Operations as Scheduled in May
April 2020
"Winnebago Industries is committed to supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of these challenging conditions, the Company has launched the WGO Together Fund, a COVID-19 emergency assistance resource for Winnebago Industries employees with particularly high cases of financial hardship due to the pandemic."
Read Full Article >Rosewood Hotel Group Launches Rosewood Raise, a Relief Initiative to Support Associates and Communities Affected by COVID-19
April 2020
"Managed by the Emergency Assistance Foundation, Inc., a 501c(3) charity created to design and operate multiple employer-sponsored disaster relief and employee hardship funds, the Rosewood Raise Relief Fund aims to assist staff in corporate offices and managed hotels across its three brands"
Read Full Article >Also featured in Cision PR Newswire, Hotel Designs, Top Hotel News
Comprehensive Pharmacy Services Contributes $100,000 to Pharmacy Employee Relief Fund
April 2020
"The Fund will be operational on or before April 24, 2020 and will be managed by the Emergency Assistance Foundation."
Read Full Article >Planned Cos. launches $500,000 fund to support employees during COVID-19
April 2020
"Planned Cos. contributed $500,000 to the fund, which will allow current employees to apply for one-time, tax-free grants of up to $300. This new fund will be administered by the Emergency Assistance Foundation Inc."
Read Full Article >CJL CONSULTiNG Donates Thousands to Help National Restaurant Industry During COVID-19
April 2020
"Lawler donated $12,000 over the course of one week to three different organizations, CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees), Houston Shift Meal and The Alamo Family Fund, supported by Emergency Assistance Foundation."
Read Full Article >Festival Cancellations, Attraction Shutdowns Mean Big Losses For Seasonal Jobs
April 2020
"The fund is being managed by the Emergency Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization designed to help provide relief and make funds available to those in need."
Read Full Article >Cushman & Wakefield Launches Global Employee Assistance Fund
April 2020
"As part of this commitment to supporting front-line employees, members of Cushman & Wakefield’s global management team will voluntarily forgo a portion of their salaries. The company will donate the forgone salaries to the Global Employee Assistance Fund."
Read Full Article >Also featured in CRE Herald.
Parata Systems Launches Relief Fund For Pharmacy Employees Impacted By COVID-19
April 2020
"The Fund will be fully operational on or before April 24, 2020 and will be managed by the Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF)."
Read Full Article >Rays and Rowdies establish Seasonal Employee Assistance Fund
April 2020
"It was incumbent upon each team to follow through on how their local funds would be built, and with time it appears that at least four Major League teams have partnered with the Emergency Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization designed to help provide relief and make funds available to those in need. Those teams are the Rays/Rowdies organization, the White Sox, the Cubs, and the Giants."
Read Full Article >The Cubs have launched a fund to give assistance to gameday staff and other employees
April 2020
"The fund will provide financial assistance to seasonal and part-time hourly associates and other designated employees of Cubs and Cubs partners who need emergency assistance as a result of designated disasters and other emergencies, including the delayed start of Major League Baseball’s 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund is being managed by the Emergency Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization designed to help provide relief and make funds available to those in need."
Read Full Article >EHS Leads: Purell Manufacturer Gojo Industries Details Worker Safety Efforts Amid Pandemic
April 2020
"To aid employees facing difficulties, the company has established the Goldie Lippman Gojo Team Member Relief Fund, named after one of the co-founders."
Read Full Article >Starbucks commits $10 million to help staff
April 2020
"Our goal at the Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF) is to help individuals financially during times of disaster and hardship,” said Doug Stockham, President, EAF. “People around the globe are affected by COVID-19, and we pride ourselves on being the financial first responders."
Read Full Article >Also featured in Starbucks Stories & News, Global Coffee Report, HRM Asia, Retail News Asia
Why the Union League’s fund for employees could be a model for others: ‘They deserve it’
April 2020
"The Union League’s relief fund for employees is different from some of the impromptu relief funds for restaurant workers established on Facebook or GoFundMe. And those differences are not just in the amount of money it has raised."
Read Full Article >Penn provides an additional $4 million of support to communities, small businesses and workforce impacted by COVID-19
March 2020
"The University’s dedication of $4 million for these new initiatives is in addition to the $1 million employee assistance fund announced earlier this month by Penn Medicine, for a total of $5 million in emergency assistance…"
Read Full Article >How to Build an Emergency Fund in the Middle of an Emergency
March 2020
"Some employers offer one-time “hardship” grants to workers who face an unexpected financial setback; amounts vary, but a maximum of $2,500 is common. Often, the programs are geared toward helping people during natural disasters, like hurricanes. Now many are adapting to help workers affected by the coronavirus, said Doug Stockham, president of the Emergency Assistance Foundation, which manages hardship funds for employers."
Read Full Article >Ralph Lauren Has Pledged $10 Million To The Global Health Crisis
March 2020
"The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation’s commitment of $10 million will provide financial grants through the Emergency Assistance Foundation for Ralph Lauren colleagues facing special circumstances like medical, eldercare or childcare needs…"
Read Full Article >Yum! CEO Donates Salary to Employees
March 2020
"Yum! Brands announced Monday that CEO David Gibbs will forego his salary and donate the money in the form of bonuses for managers and to an employee relief fund."
Read Full Article >The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation Earmarks $10 Million for Coronavirus Relief
March 2020
"The $10 million will be split among four charitable organizations. Through the Emergency Assistance Foundation, portions of the sum will provide financial grants to help Ralph Lauren employees impacted by the coronavirus, whether that be through medical care, childcare, or eldercare."
Read Full Article >Also featured in Good Morning America, GQ, Glamour, Fashion Magazine, Page Six, Hollywood Reporter
How to Build an Emergency Fund in the Middle of an Emergency
March 2020
“Some employers offer one-time “hardship” grants to workers who face an unexpected financial setback; amounts vary, but a maximum of $2,500 is common. Often, the programs are geared toward helping people during natural disasters, like hurricanes. Now many are adapting to help workers affected by the coronavirus, said Doug Stockham, president of the Emergency Assistance Foundation, which manages hardship funds for employers.”
Read Full Article >Alamo Drafthouse Sets $2 Million Relief Fund For Furloughed Staff Members Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
March 2020
"The current pandemic has prompted Dratfhouse founders Tim and Karrie League to create a new relief in partnership with the Emergency Assistance Foundation. This is seeded with $2 million dollars from their Alamo Community Fund."
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