Donations to Disaster Relief Fund Encouraged by Big I

As Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike develop, and Hurricane Gustav lingers in the Gulf Coast, the Big “I” announced it stands ready to help meet disaster assistance needs through the Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund. Although better planning and disaster preparedness helped to lessen the damage from Gustav, there are still more than two months left in the 2008 hurricane season, and those in the Midwest are still recovering from flooding earlier this summer, says the Big “I.” 
 
The Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund was established by the IIAA Educational Foundation of the Big “I” to assist those who have suffered losses due to natural or man-made disasters. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity and all contributions are tax deductible. 
 
“An established permanent relief fund allows us to financially assist victims when and where a disaster strikes, rather than raising the funds after the fact as we did for 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina,” says Bob Rusbuldt, president & CEO of the Big “I.” “We encourage those affected not only by the recent storms in the Gulf, but also by the flooding in the Midwest, to apply for a grant.” 
 
The fund makes cash grants to those in the insurance industry, including Big “I” members and their agency staffs, and others to pay for immediate or ongoing financial needs when other funding sources (such as insurance and other grants) are not available, to fill the gap until other funding sources can be accessed and to provide insurance agents with supplies and resources to assist with disaster relief efforts to aid victims and surviving family members in their communities. 
 
“This fund is a great way to show our ongoing support as an industry for victims of disasters and to assist independent agents, industry colleagues and others during their greatest time of need,” added Dave Evans, executive director of Trusted Choice®. 
 
Those wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund or to apply for a grant should contact the Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund at www.independentagent.com, click on “About Us” and then “Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund.”