The Town of Jay, which includes the hamlets of Upper Jay,Jay, and much of Au Sable Forks, experienced extensive flooding and widespreaddestruction from Tropical Storm Irene on August 28. Town Supervisor RandyDouglas and his staff immediately began receiving gifts from people wanting tosupport the victims of the horrendous storm.
To get aid to Jay residents in need, Mr. Douglas and theTown Board of Jay have established the Jay Flood Relief Fund at the AdirondackCommunity Trust (ACT), the region's community foundation. The fundwill honor the intent of the donors who have already contributed and will beable to accept gifts into the future. Before previously-donated funds areshifted to ACT, each donor will be asked for his or her approval of themove.
"We are grateful to the hundreds of people who have steppedforward to contribute to this fund already, and to those who contribute will inthe days ahead. It is through their generosity that we can help ourneighbors--who lost homes, possessions and, in some cases, their entire livelihood--beginto recover," said Mr. Douglas.
ACT has agreed to house the Jay Flood Relief Fund and makegrants to flood victims as recommended by an allocations committee made up ofJay residents selected by the Town of Jay. The committee will receive andreview applications for aid, determine which applicants should receive fundingand how much each grant would be.
ACT has been administering the Keene Flood Recovery Fundwith very positive results.
ACT was founded in 1997 to encourage philanthropy to servethe Adirondack region. It is home to 214 funds with an investment totalof $28 million. In recent years, ACT has been making grants andscholarship awards totaling $1.2 to $1.8 annually.
The Jay Flood Relief Fund at ACT is ready to receive newgifts. Gifts to the Jay Flood Relief Fund at ACT are taxdeductible. If you would like to contribute, please make your checkpayable to the Jay Flood Relief Fund/ACT and mail to ACT, PO Box 288, LakePlacid, NY 12946 or use the Website: www.GenerousACT.org, where credit cards can be accepted. More information about theFund, photos and links to online giving can be found at www.HelpJayNY.org.
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PHOTOCAPTION:An example of the destruction in Jay taken from website www.HelpJayNY.org
