Cable Industry Establishes "Cable Hope Fund" to Aid Those Affected by Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON, DC – With the attention of the world focused on helping victims recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) today announced the creation of a charitable fund that will help cable industry employees and other hurricane victims recover from the effects of the storm and will aid the long-term rebuilding of storm-ravaged areas.

Donations to the Cable Hope Fund, established as a 501 (c) (3) organization, will be accepted immediately and in the coming weeks from cable industry companies, employees, and others related to the industry.

 

A distinguished group of cable industry executives serve as co-chairs of the Cable Hope Fund:

Glenn Britt, Chairman & CEO, Time Warner Cable
Judy McGrath, Chairman & CEO, MTV Networks
Abbe Raven, President & CEO, A&E Television Networks
Jim Robbins, President & CEO, Cox Communications
Brian Roberts, Chairman & CEO, Comcast Corporation
Henry Schleiff, Chairman & CEO, Court TV
Michael Willner, President & CEO, Insight Communications

Funding will be directed at a variety of needs which may include housing, education, long-term rebuilding initiatives, and other essential services for hurricane victims and their families.


Co-chairs of the Cable Hope Fund will invite companies that have made contributions to the Annual Dinner of the Walter Kaitz Foundation – the cable industry's diversity organization – to match those contributions with donations to the new fund. During the upcoming Kaitz Dinner, to be held on September 14 in New York City, a few moments will be taken to focus on cable industry efforts to provide resources to hurricane relief.

In addition, within several days a web page will be set up to accept contributions to the Cable Hope Fund via credit card transactions. Beginning immediately, however, checks can be made payable to "Cable Hope Fund," and sent to NCTA, care of David Pierce, Senior Director, Public Affairs, NCTA, at 1724 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036. Contributors should note that the Cable Hope Fund has been incorporated today as a non-profit corporation and it will be filing with the Internal Revenue Service to assure its status as a 501(c) (3) entity and the tax deductibility of contributions it receives.

 

In addition to raising and disbursing funds, Cable Hope Fund will create a clearinghouse of information on housing and employment opportunities to help cable employees that have been displaced by the impact of the hurricane.

In addition to creation of the Cable Hope Fund, in the aftermath of Katrina, a variety of cable companies have donated money or raised funds for relief, with more than $10 million already pledged in cash contributions, based on donations announced to the American Red Cross and other relief organizations, as well as commitments to match employee giving. A variety of cable networks have held or are planning a number of telethons and other special programming likely to raise millions more for hurricane relief.

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