The San Francisco Foundation Supports Relief and Long-term Restoration Following the Cosco Busan Oil Spill in the San Francisco Bay

The impact of the recent environmental disaster is still unknown. So far, we do know that more than 58,000 gallons of oil have spilled into the San Francisco Bay and more than 1,200 birds have been collected. Environmentalists are predicting that substantial sensitive bay and coastal habitats will be contaminated and destroyed; and long after rescuers have cleaned and released the last oil-soaked bird, the toxic effects of last week’s oil spill will linger in the Bay Area ecosystem and affect all its inhabitants – humans and animal alike. The San Francisco Foundation is committed to supporting emergency efforts, longer-term restoration of habitats and wetlands, and policy initiatives to strengthen protection of the Bay. Join us to help address the needs brought on by this spill. Please support The San Francisco Foundation Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund, which has already launched with an initial contribution of $250,000 and has a goal of matching funds to reach $500,000. In addition, we invite you to contribute directly to our select nonprofit partners who we are funding, and who are first responders in this effort. 

The Foundation is taking four steps in response to the spill:

1. We will continue to work with our nonprofit partners to stay current on the issue and identify ways in which we can lend assistance to the response efforts.
2. We are providing emergency grants to assist our nonprofit partners who are immediately responding to the crisis by deploying resources and significant numbers of trained staff and volunteers. We will help bolster their capacity in their emergency efforts.
3. We established The San Francisco Foundation Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund, investing $250,000 to support the longer-term restoration and monitoring of damaged ecosystems and wetlands that are directly impacted by this spill.
4. We encourage other philanthropic partners and donors to contribute to The San Francisco Foundation Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund to match our $250,000 contribution. Our hope is that the Fund will raise more than $500,000 to invest in longer-term relief efforts.
   

What can you do?
Arlene Rodriguez, our Program Officer for the Environment, recommends the following:

• International Bird Rescue and Research Center
• Point Reyes Bird Observatory
• Wildcare 
• Golden Gate Audubon
• Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary
• Save the Bay
• San Francisco Baykeeper

We established The San Francisco Foundation Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund and are investing $250,000 to support the longer-term restoration and monitoring of damaged ecosystems and wetlands that are directly impacted by this oil spill. In early 2008, we will distribute the funds to organizations responsible for the restoring our wetlands, and we will continue to help organizations that demonstrate leadership in advocating for stronger policies to protect our bay, wetlands, and shoreline against future toxic spills. We encourage donors and other philanthropic partners to contribute to The San Francisco Foundation Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund match our $250,000 contribution. Our hope is that the Fund will grow to over $500,000 by early 2008, and we will have considerable funds to invest in longer-term relief efforts.

• Make an online donation using your credit card.
  
• Send a check. Checks should be made out to The San Francisco Foundation, with a memo noting "For TSFF Cosco Busan Oil Spill Fund", and can be mailed to The San Francisco Foundation, 225 Bush Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104
• Donor Advisors at The San Francisco Foundation can make a grant through our online Donor Center. 

Volunteer to assist in emergency efforts or the longer-term restoration, and express your concerns to policy makers regionally, statewide, and nationally.