Stimulate Philanthropy. Improve Community Life.
 
These are the Communities Program’s two board principles. Each year, thousands of people donate to the Foundation through various fundraising activities, including direct mail, online giving and special campaigns, supported by the Foundation’s media and sports team partners in communities nationwide.

In 2008, with the generous support of our donors and program partners, the Communities Program raised more than $23 million and made 1,200 grants totaling more than $33 million. These grants have tackled hunger, homelessness, illiteracy and underemployment among other causes.

To encourage giving, the Foundation matches all donations at 50 cents on the dollar. The Foundation and its program partners absorb all administrative costs, ensuring that 100 percent of every dollar donated, plus the match, go directly to programs addressing social and economic challenges in communities in which the funds were raised. 


Disaster Relief Campaigns

When the need arises, the Communities Program also conducts national disaster relief campaigns with its program partners. The Program has a structure in place to ensure short-term and long-term aid, which is vital for communities in crisis. Past campaigns include 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, 08 Midwest Floods and Southern California Wildfires. 


Veteran Campaigns

Our innovative Veterans campaigns, Welcome Back Veterans and Operation Healing Freedom, are designed to enhance public awareness about issues facing today's veterans, as well as to raise funds to help support programs and services addressing the mental health and employment needs of America’s returning veterans and their families.