Buddhist Disaster Relief Agency Gives $10 Million For Sandy Victims
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Buddhist disaster relief agency the Tzu Chi Foundation will be giving $10 million to help victims of Superstorm Sandy, city officials announced Sunday.
City Comptroller John Liu announced the plan Sunday with representatives of the Tzu Chi Foundation and other religious organizations.
1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reports
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The foundation raised the money from individual contributors around the world. Most families identified as eligible for the help will get $600, in the form of a Visa debit card.
"They essentially get Visa debit cards to the tune of $600 per family, and that's all there is," Liu said. "It's 600 bucks per family, just in time for Thanksgiving, and there's no nonsense; no hassle."
Tzu Chi volunteers have been going around the most severely damaged neighborhoods to meet eligible people.
Storm victims also can call the foundation at (877) 889-8244.
The charity was founded in 1966 in Hualien, Taiwan. It now has more than 80 offices in the United States.
Tzu Chi name means "compassionate relief" in Mandarin.
Liu's office said it would help the foundation coordinate the relief effort.
The Tzu Chi Foundation hopes to raise $10 million more for storm relief, 1010 WINS' Gary Baumgarten reported.
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