Pearlington Project now an official non-profit

Here's the latest word from Angela.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your continued interest in the people of Pearlington, Mississippi one year after the worst disaster in US history literally wiped their community off the map. As you know and due to media attention, volunteers have done much to bring resources to this rural hamlet. And, yet, as I have written previously, in the absence of a plan and without coordination, families still fall through the cracks. And, that is why I have taken the next step with my work in Pearlington. After a year of connecting many of you directly with families and individuals in Pearlington for sponsorhsip, I feel I have done as much as I can as one person. The deadline for occupancy of a FEMA emergency housing camper will hit in a short 6 months from now; and, so many in Pearlington still have no form of permanent housing. While we can all hope that FEMA will do the right thing and extend the deadline, it is as CNN's Anderson Cooper has often stated, "Hope is not a plan."

He is right. Therefore, I formulated my own plan and incorporated my work into The Pearlington Project Katrina Foundation, Inc. The Pearlington Project Katrina Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the funding of permanent housing for those in Pearlington, MS who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina. As a nonprofit corporation, ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AND PAYABLE TO THE PEARLINGTON PROJECT KATRINA FOUNDATION, INC. (For those of you who have followed my work this past year, you know this is a significant change in status.) Experienced, volunteer house builder Rich Taylor of Poughkeepsie, NY is standing ready as Team Leader on our initial builds. We have volunteers ready to raise their hammers just as soon as enough funds are raised. My goal is to get families with children and the elderly housed in advance of that Feb. 28,'07 FEMA deadline. I firmly believe this is doable because of you and because of those whom you know. Support for the Foundation is already growing. NY Times best-selling author and National Book Award Finalist Dorothy Allison has joined our Board of Directors along with a talented and diverse group of professionals. We are honored to have Ms. Allison as part of this team.

Local and national publicity is growing as well. For those of you in the Hudson Valley region of NY state, tomorrow (August 29th), The Poughkeepsie Journal will run an article about the work in Pearlington this past year and the Foundation. Rose Arce, Senior Producer at CNN has written a wonderful article on the same topic for CNN.COM. It is posted at http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/28/arce.pearlington/index.html. People are already emailing me about Rose's story. There are not enough words to thank Rose Arce and CNN for their unwavering support this past year and for continuing to tell this story. On that note, CNN again journeyed to Pearlington last week and filmed the 4th segment on Denise Swanson and her children at the 1-year post-Katrina mark. The segment will air at some point this week on "American Morning" with Soledad O'Brien. "American Morning" airs from 6:00 AM - 10:00 EST daily. Unfortunately, due to a very tight progamming schedule this week, I am not yet certain when the segment will air. As soon as I know, I will send another email.

So, once again, I thank you for all you have done to help the people of Pearlington through undoubtedly, the most difficult year of their lives. Progress has been made; however, I must ask you not to turn away for the work is not done. I know that, with your help, we can finish the job and literally bring the people of Pearlington the rest of the way home. Please see below for contact and donation information. And, please stay tuned for information on future fundraisers to be held in New York.

Continuing in Peace and Justice until the job is done,

Angela Cole
President
The Pearlington Project Katrina Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 127
Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Website: www.pearlingtonproject.org
Email: angela@pearlingtonproject.org