Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Announces Disaster Recovery Fund
Tax Act makes initial $100,000 contribution
The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation has established the Disaster Recovery Fund. This unrestricted fund will allocate charitable contributions to support Linn County communities during disasters to provide resources where they are needed most.
As our community faces extraordinary challenges from the devastating derecho in Iowa on August 10, 2020, this fund will provide philanthropic support to assist Linn County communities during recovery.
“The derecho has created a widespread disaster for our area,” says Les Garner, President & CEO at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. “This fund provides a way for donors and supporters to directly give to our community’s greatest needs.”
TaxAct, headquartered in Cedar Rapids and a division of the financial services company Blucora (NASDAQ: BCOR), is a leading provider of tax preparation software. TaxAct has made a gift of $100,000 to the foundation and hopes it will inspire further giving to help our communities.
“Our top priority is to ensure the people of Cedar Rapids have what they need in order to recover from the destruction wrought by the derecho last week. To ensure our donation gets to people in need and helps where it is needed the most, we worked closely with Mayor Hart’s office to ensure we had their on-the-ground perspective,” said Curtis Campbell, President of TaxAct. “We decided that the best way to help in the recovery efforts was to make a donation to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. In addition to this gift, I’m proud of the way the entire TaxAct/Blucora family of companies has come together to deliver generators and other needed supplies to the community, even driving them in from our HKFS offices in Dubuque and our Blucora Texas offices. It’s my sincere hope that our gift, and the selfless actions of our employees to immediately spring into action to help others, will encourage additional donations and keep the flow of much needed supplies to those in need.”
Jeff Pomeranz, Cedar Rapids City Manager adds, “While we continue to work to manage this crisis, it’s also important that we begin to think to the future about how we are going to begin to rebuild our community. We are extremely appreciative to TaxAct for stepping up to provide critical assistance to help with this effort. We have a very generous business community and I imagine this donation will help to encourage others to provide similar assistance.”
Initially, the Disaster Recovery Fund will provide basic needs for those disproportionately affected by the derecho destruction. In the long term, the fund will adapt to evolving needs.
“Resources will be directed to where the need is most pressing,” says Garner. “We are working with nonprofits, city leaders, and community partners including the Linn Area Partners Active in Disaster (LAP-AID), to determine needs and distribute charitable resources in the most effective and efficient way. Philanthropy can help fill the gaps of needs not being met by other resources. This fund connects donors to help meet those needs.”
To give to the Disaster Recovery Fund, click here.
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About the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
Through professional philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation connects donors who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation is a public, nonprofit organization with assets totaling more than $187 million and over 1,000 different charitable funds, large and small, established by individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and businesses to benefit Linn County, Iowa. Our vision: To be a trusted partner in charitable giving, improving the quality of life in our community…forever. Our mission: To help donors give in meaningful ways, to strengthen nonprofits, and to provide leadership that supports a vibrant community. For more information on the Community Foundation, visit www.gcrcf.org or visit us on Facebook.
About TaxAct®
TaxAct is the savvy tax-filing partner helping ambitious Americans work the tax code to their advantage. TaxAct’s do-it-yourself digital and downloadable products help customers find every tax break they deserve by finding them credits and deductions they may have never known existed. The program is fast, easy, and affordable, ensuring customers can improve their financial lives and gain access to the same insider tips and closely guarded secrets the country’s wealthiest individuals have known about all along. To learn more about TaxAct, a business of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR), visit www.taxact.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.