The North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) is allocating grants from its Disaster Relief Fund to support relief efforts related to the April tornadoes and storms that affected the state’s central and eastern regions, according to Rodney E. Martin, chair of NCCF’s grants committee and a member of the statewide board.

To date, $105,000 has been allocated to eight affiliate foundation partners serving the most devastated of NCCF’s 66-county market area, including Bertie, Lee, Wilson, Greene, Harnett, Johnston, Onslow and Wake counties.

The Wake County Community Foundation, an affiliate of NCCF, has distributed $7,299 of the allocated funds. The Wake board designated grants to Wake Interfaith Disaster Team, Western Wake Crisis Ministries and The Green Chair Project. Grants will provide disaster relief for tornado victims.

NCCF is still collecting gifts for the statewide Disaster Relief Fund. Credit card donations can be made online through the NCCF website via the “Give Now” button or under the “Giving” tab at nccommunityfoundation.org or by downloading a contribution form from the site and mailing or faxing it to NCCF offices. (The fax number is 919-828-5495. The form or checks can be mailed to NCCF at 4601 Six Forks Road, Suite 524, Raleigh, NC 27609). Please designate your gift for “Disaster Relief.” All gifts are tax-deductible.

All funds go directly to nonprofit organizations serving the needs of local victims in counties served by the NCCF.

NCCF has received gifts from throughout the state, country and even the world, according to NCCF CEO Jennifer Tolle Whiteside. All funds will be distributed, and no portion will be used for the Foundation’s administrative or operational expenses, which the Foundation is also encouraging among local recipient agencies.

“We have been struck by the quick and caring generosity we’ve witnessed during the weeks since we activated our relief fund,” Tolle Whiteside said. “We particularly would like to acknowledge the generosity of the Oak Foundation.” The Geneva-based Oak Foundation commits its resources to address issues of global, social and environmental concerns, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged.

About NCCF

The NCCF is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has made nearly $63 million in grants since its inception in 1988. With more than $130 million in assets, the NCCF sustains 1,000 endowments established to provide long-term support of a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations, institutions and scholarships. The NCCF partners with 60 affiliate foundations to provide local resource allocation and community assistance in 66 counties across the state. An important component of the NCCF’s mission is to ensure that rural philanthropy has a voice at local, regional and national levels. For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org, contact the NCCF headquarters office in Raleigh at 800-201-9533 or email questions to info@nccommunityfoundation.org.