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The Minnesota Helps – Bridge Disaster Fund is Created to Address I-35W Bridge Collapse

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Local Funders Establish Fund to Receive and Distribute Donations for Immediate and Long-Term Needs

(Twin Cities -- August 6, 2007) The collapse of the I-35W bridge spanning the Mississippi River is a shocking reminder of the fragility of life and how an ordinary, daily routine can turn into tragedy and heartbreak. This disaster, however, also illuminates the generous human impulse to want to help those who have suffered loss. In Minnesota and throughout the nation, people are asking for an opportunity to assist those affected by the disaster. In response, local foundations and organizations have joined together to created the Minnesota Helps – Bridge Disaster Fund to effectively facilitate contributions to disaster relief efforts.

How it works: Contributions to the Fund will be pooled and then allocated jointly by the sponsoring organizations to nonprofits that are providing support to those most affected by this tragedy – both immediately and in the coming months. One hundred percent of all donations will be redistributed to provide financial support where they are urgently needed.

The Minnesota Helps Fund – Bridge Disaster Fund is a collaborative effort of some of the greater metro’s major philanthropic institutions, including The Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Community Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation and the Greater Twin Cities United Way. The Northwest Area Foundation and McKnight Foundation have also pledged support.

The public can contribute in one of the following ways:
• Go online to www.MinnesotaHelps.org or though the websites of the sponsoring organizations:
The Minneapolis Foundation: www.minneapolisfoundation.org
The Minnesota Community Foundation: www.mncommunityfoundation.org
The Saint Paul Foundation: www.saintpaulfoundation.org
Greater Twin Cities United Way: www.unitedwaytwincities.org

• Mail a check payable to:
Minnesota Helps – Bridge Disaster Fund
800 IDS Center
80 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402