If You Don't Take Action Now, You'll Settle for Nothing Later

Muamba Kabongo is already bringing $500 to the table. One email=$500.

INITIATIVE

From: Kabongo, Muamba
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 5:28 PM
To: HHCNational
Subject: Question about Grants for Non Profits

To Whom It May Concern:

I volunteer for a non profit organization called Leja Bulela. Leja
Bulela is a non-profit, non-political organization registered under the
laws of the State of Iowa since 1995. It now enjoys a 501 c (3) status
granted by IRS since 2002.

I am writing to inquire about the possibility of a grant for my
organization through my employer, Allstate. Can Allstate provide funding
through this rebranded Volunteerism Campaign? I volunteer numerous hours
to my organization and my parents are the founders of this non profit
and it was started in our home in Detroit, Mi in 1993.

http://www.lejabulela.org/index.php

LejaBulela Inc, is a 501(C)3 nonprofit charity providing health care,
advocacy, and championing the rights of the refugees of Kasai province.
We are in the process of completing work on a clinic that will help
these refugee and we need you help in accomplishing this endeavor. Your
donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.


We are women, men, children of the Kasai Oriental Diaspora in North
America (United States and Canada) as well as anyone willing to join
hands with us, concerned about the welfare of the Luba people of this
province of the Democratic Republic of Congo and others related to us.


We are promoting community-building spirit through insight in the common
Luba language, culture and customs, history, philosophy, religions,
politics as prerequisite foundations for economic, social and political
developments. We argue that it is the lack of these foundations that are
at the heart of the never-ending Congolese crisis. Insights in these
foundations are gained through dialogue and conversation among ourselves
and with members of other communities interested in us.

We also want to adjust to new, modern challenges of interaction and
change with different cultures and adopt technologies.

Leja Bulela has four main activities:

1) Provision of assistance to needy populations in East Kasai in
education and health (as well as to former refugees living in the United
States
And other ethnic groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo);
2) Advocacy for the respect of human and civil rights by monitoring the
rule of social justice and elimination of prejudice;
3) Teaching the American public about the history and culture of the
Luba people;
4) Fundraising.

Selected achievements to date:


1) Shipping of tents for the refugees;
2) Shipping of medical supplies for the refugees;
3) Shipping of computers and more than 2,000 books to the University of
Mbuji-Mayi;
4) Funding the plantation of fast growing trees in Muene Ditu;
5) Financing the installation of a potable water pump in Mbuji-Mayi for
the refugee children;
6) Shipping of school supplies for a primary school (Project Ndaya);
7) Establishment of a scholarship fund for the University of Mbuji Mayi
and the Institute Pedagogique.

Thanks for the time and opportunity to write on this great need.

Sincerely,
Muamba Kabongo
Claim Service Adjuster
Allstate Insurance Company
San Diego Market Claim Office


RESPONSE

From: Graper, Corinne
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:05 PM
To: Kabongo, Muamba
Cc: Johnson, Abby
Subject: RE: Question about Grants for Non Profits

Muamba,

Leja Bulela sounds like a wonderful organization and it sounds like the
organization has been able to accomplish a lot in a sort period of time!


Allstate does support employee's volunteer work with non-profits through
our Helping Hands grants. You can find an informational page and the
application for the grant on the Helping Hands Web site. To access the
site go to MyDesktop, under the "corporate" tab (appear in blue bar at
top of page) select "helping Hands." You'll see the grant information
and application on the left hand side of the page under "grants and
award" forms. Employees who volunteer 25 hours or more with an
organization can apply to receive a $500 grant to that non-profit. If
you know you'll volunteer 25 hours this year with Leja Bulela you can
apply for a grant (please see the information page on the Helping Hands
site for more information).

I hope this information is helpful.

Thanks,

Corinne Graper
Corporate Relations - Public Social Responsibility Team