AID Statement, January 9^th, 2005.

AID CAUTIONS COMMUNITY ON MISLEADING FUNDRAISING TACTICS

Association for India's Development (AID) wishes to caution the community to be circumspect about independent events or solicitation being made in the name of AID for Tsunami relief efforts. As reports of fraud, misrepresentation and solicitation by fly-by-night operators trying to make a fast-buck in the name of Tsunami-relief are emerging in the media in general, it has to our notice in possibly two separate instances that AID and its well-wishers might be the victims of such tactics as well.

At the same time, several community groups and organizations are genuinely and generously coming forward to help support AID's Tsunami relief and rehabilitation efforts in India. In the majority of such instances, these groups and organizations have approached AID and informed AID of their desire to do so. AID is thankful for such efforts.

In order to protect the public and organizations from inconvenience or from erroneous, misleading or fraudulent solicitation, AID recommends the following:

• If you are an organization that wants to make contributions to AID or to direct your members to contribute to AID, please get in touch with us either at our headquarters or at a local AID chapter so that volunteers are able to assist you with how such requests may be appropriately handled.
  

• Please review correctness of information regarding mailing addresses for checks made to AID on our website or by calling our office.
  

• In order to protect yourself, please make your donation on AID's secure website or to find a list of authorized websites.
  

• Please call our head office or an AID chapter for verification of a solicitation. Please bring any suspect solicitation in the name of AID to our attention. We also request you to report any abuse or misuse of AID's name or logo by third parties.
  

Resources:

Correct websites:

Main website: www.aidindia.org
Tsunami Relief pages: survivors.aidindia.org

AID Chapter Contacts:
http://www.aidindia.org/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92


AID Phone number:   1-888-TALK-2-AID

AID and Tsunami Relief work:


AID began Tsunami Relief work hours after disaster struck. Our India based volunteers, chapters and offices were help in the areas affected by the Tsunami in the relief camps in Chennai and other affected areas on December 26th itself. Meanwhile, around mid-day of December 26th in the US, AID had approved relief funds out of its Relief and Rehabilitation fund. Our website and online donation site was up by late evening of December 26th and volunteers were doing outreach to the community explaining the scale of the disaster and how AID was involved in relief work in India. AID volunteers have also sent in various reports of field work, the scale of the relief effort we are involved in. The community at large has also responded in unprecedented ways and AID has directly received contributions currently estimated to be over $1.5 million. We have also thousands of messages and phone calls with offers of help, volunteer time, in-kind contributions as well as kudos, blessing, greeting cards and words of encouragement. AID can never be thankful enough for this outpouring of support for its work.

About AID:

Association for India's Development (AID), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization with over 40 chapters in the US. AID has received the highest 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, America's best-known independent evaluator of charities. AID projects and partners have also received several national and international awards and recognitions.

AID is committed to the cause of alleviating poverty in India, measuring progress with the yard-sticks of self-reliance, social justice, people's involvement, and volunteerism. AID supports projects that empower poor and marginalized communities in India through developmental efforts in areas such as women's issues, education, literacy, micro-credit, community health, sustainable livelihoods, watershed development and environmental issues.

Contributions to AID Inc. are tax-deductible in the US. Our federal tax-ID is 04-3652609. To obtain copy of the current financial statement, please write to AID, P.O. Box ?F', College Park, MD 20741-3005. Documents and information pertaining to AID can be obtained from the Secretary of State for the cost of copies and postage.