Ken,
 
I am emailing in the hopes of having an opportunity  to talk if you are interested in the following possibility -- AOL Time Warner  has given us a great opportunity to spotlight the organizations that are  providing systemic responses to 9-11 (not just relief efforts) so that these  organizations cannot be left cold by the shadow of the American Red Cross  but that they instead can receive support at this critical time.   
 
Below is what I sent to AOL TW in response to  their invitation for the work described below and their great offer to feature  us on their site and www.libertyunites.org .  I wanted to  talk with you because AOL TW and I want to know if you can join AOL TW and  support this initiative.
 
If possible, please let me know if we can talk  sometime soon.  Thanks for considering this.
 
Jim
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In the wake of the events of September  11,  the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses has never been more  evident.  The response to Sept. 11 has begun to shift from a "relief"  effort to efforts that address the systemic changes that are needed for societal  conditions to improve.  Now more than ever, social investors will be  looking for organizations that address both the root causes of social problems  and create sustainable social change.  At this time, the American Red Cross  continues to be deluged with support; but what about the organizations that live  in the shadow of the Red Cross?  The Red Cross and similar  organizations are doing outstanding work when they are needed most -- now  other organizations are moving beyond the immediate relief efforts of feeding,  clothing, housing the victims and are recognizing that there are new or  exacerbated problems that have been stirred up by Sept.  11.
 
For  example, there are numerous organizations protecting civil liberties, providing  counseling, preparing communities for future disasters, and assisting displaced  workers:
organizations, such as the Ella Baker Center for  Human Rights, are stepping up their efforts to combat racial profiling that  has begun and is leading to the harassment of people who look of Middle  Eastern descent;  
organizations are supporting this same constituency  when they are the victims of hate crimes that have been perpetrated as a  backlash to September 11.  
children are in need of counseling as a result of  their personal fears or fears for their parents and  family;  
organizations, such as Operation USA, are  recruiting and deploying counselors trained in post-traumatic  stress to areas where needed; 
efforts are underway to enhance community  preparedness for acts of terrorism in their communities (such as evacuation  procedures); and  
organizations, such as Career Gear, are assisting  low-income workers who lost their jobs as a result of Sept. 11 and now need  career counseling, appropriate interview clothing and job retention services  so they do not fall into the spiral of welfare.  (Please note that each  of the organizations mentioned above are SeaChange  members).

These  are just a few examples among many efforts that have commenced to respond to the  call for change and not just service.  Life will never be the same.   These organizations are working to see that it will in fact be better.   But, unfortunately, they are not known by most philanthropists, foundations or  businesses.  In fact, we have heard from organizations that some businesses  are pulling back from commitments to these smaller organizations to associate  with the larger organizations providing rescue, relief and recovery  services.  These lesser-known organizations, who are doing critical social  change work, need to feel the philanthropic winds in their sails too so they can  make progress toward much needed change.
 
Many funds have been created to earmark money for  the Sept. 11 response, but the recipients of a significant portion of those  monies have not yet been identified.  Companies have, for example, set  aside several million dollars and have earmarked half or more for the Red Cross,  but still have not decided what to do with the rest of the funds.  For  these Funds, for www.helping.org  and  www.libertyunites.org , and for social  investors in our network, SeaChange is uniquely positioned to become the source  of information of organizations that are moving beyond relief efforts and  are focused on the systemic changes necessary for conditions to improve.   On their behalf, SeaChange can directly approach the administrators of these  Funds and other social investors to make them aware of these overlooked change  organizations.  
 
The mission of SeaChange is to connect  entrepreneurial nonprofits with resources for sustainable social  change.  We will do just that by spotlighting the very organizations that  can have an impact not only today, but tomorrow as well.   For social investors, we will provide them with detailed  information about a broad menu of screened organizations working to effect  social change not only in response to Sept. 11 but also in response to the  changed environment in which we now live.  SeaChange also provides these  potential supporters with an easy way to search for organizations that meet  their giving specifications. Additionally, they can be notified of organizations  that meet their criteria -- doing all of this anonymously if they choose  to.   And, as discussed above, we will not only do this online, but  offline as well by advocating to various Fund adminstrators.   As  a result, SeaChange will effectively and efficiently connect those who are  seeking support at this critical time with those who are looking to give their  support.
 
--
Jim Pitofsky
CEO
SeaChange
San Francisco,CA   
 
(415) 291-9900
 jim@sea-change.org http://www.sea-change.org