The Financial Planning Association has been awarded a $94,500 grant by the American Red Cross to support its pro bono September 11 Recovery Program.
The American Red Cross award will fund the FPA's ongoing free financial planning services to people whose lives have been directly impacted by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
More than 500 Certified Financial Planner professionals have volunteered for the effort by conducting seminars and workshops, and providing individualized counseling. To date, more than 2,400 individuals have participated, and the FPA has received 900 phone calls to its toll-free hotline seeking referrals to financial planners.
"Receiving the award from the American Red Cross provides a tremendous opportunity for the victims of September 11 to receive pro bono financial planning consultation free of charge and with no strings attached," said Clara Lipson, the FPA's director of pro bono services. "It also validates the importance of financial planning for families recovering from disasters."
The FPA has collaborated with groups such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Friends of Firefighters, MASS 9/11 Fund, Northern Virginia Family Services, Safe Horizon, Salvation Army (N.J.), Trial Lawyers Care, the Victims Compensation Fund, Voices of September 11, and WTC Family Center-South Nassau Community Hospital.
