DTE Energy Foundation to Match Employee, Retiree, and Contractor Gifts Made Through the DTE Energy Employee Disaster Relief Fund
The DTE Energy Employee Disaster Relief Fund will accept gifts to support public charities providing relief to the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. To encourage support of these efforts, the DTE Energy Foundation will provide up to $25,000 to match donations by DTE employees, retirees and contractors, dollar for dollar. Gifts will be accepted from Monday, September 23, 2019, through Friday, October 4, 2019. Gifts will be accepted in amounts ranging from $10 to $1,000 per employee, retiree, or contractor.
To be eligible for matching funds, gifts must be made online by credit card to the DTE Energy Employee Disaster Relief Fund by visiting this site. Gifts made directly to other relief efforts, while meaningful, will not be matched by the DTE Energy Foundation.
About Hurricane Dorian
Hurricane Dorian was the strongest hurricane ever to hit the Bahamas, with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour. The Category 5 hurricane made landfall on September 1, 2019 and remained stationary through September 3rd. The storm surge of up to 23 feet swept away many buildings and submerged a large part of the affected areas. The hardest hit areas were the Grand Bahama and Abaco islands, where it is anticipated that approximately 70,000 people lost their homes. The death toll is at least 50, but more than 1,300 people were reported missing as of September 12th, so the number of people killed by the storm is expected to increase.
Funds raised through this campaign will support three charities that are providing relief services in the Bahamas: the American Red Cross, Direct Relief, and World Central Kitchen. Gifts and matching funds will be divided evenly among the three charities.
The generosity of DTE Energy employees, retirees, and contractors is deeply appreciated. The DTE Energy Foundation is grateful to be able to continue to match your caring support of those in need.
In order for your gift to be deductible, federal tax law requires that we notify you that your gift to the DTE Energy Employee Disaster Relief Fund is under the “exclusive legal control” of the Community Foundation. Please note that this mandatory notification does not alter the ability of the advisory committee to recommend grants from the fund. If the recommended organization loses its tax exempt status, has closed, or for some reason, your gift becomes impossible, impractical or illegal to fulfill, the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation is required by law to use its variance power to support a similar cause or charitable purpose in line with the recommendation. Please contact us if you have any questions.