Because we live in “earthquake country” ourselves may be why our community responds to help wherever earthquakes occur in the world. In March of 2015 we assisted in producing a fund raiser garnering close to $5,000 in local donations for earthquake relief efforts in Nepal. CFI sponsors the SherpaCares.org Classroom in the Clouds (HEBS Himalayan English Boarding School) campaign to rebuild a school in Lukla Nepal where construction is underway. See featured video above.
Last month the coastal
area of Ecuador experienced a 7.8 earthquake that destroyed many towns and
infrastructure in the province of Manabi. Since that time Ecuador has
registered over 700 aftershocks, dozens of them over 4.5. The country has
united to respond but recovery will take years. Cloud Forest Institute is
facilitating placing people as volunteers with relief efforts in July and
August this summer. We are fundraising to support communities and partner
organizations to build shelters and provide food and water. With an eye on the
future we are promoting a long term redevelopment strategy that addresses local
food, water, and shelter security by stabilizing deforested slopes with food
forests and native building materials
If you or anyone you
know of might be interested in going to Ecuador to help this summer please
contact Freeda Burnstad, 707.357.1000. freeda_burnstad@yahoo.com If you
are able, thank you in advance for sending a tax deductible snail mail
donation to Cloud Forest Institute, PO Box 1435, Ukiah, CA 95482 or click on
the Network for Good online donation option on this page. 100% of your
contribution will go to earthquake relief efforts and we will report back to
you about how your contribution is being used. Optionally you may donate via
crowdrise Ecuador Earthquake Relief Cloud
Forest Institute | Freeda Burnstad's Fundraiser
2016 is the 20th Anniversary
of Cloud Forest Institute. We are a tax exempt 501 c3 educational
and scientific non-profit corporation founded to create an educational and
cultural exchange between Mindo, Ecuador and Mendocino County, California. Locally,
we have been an umbrella organization for a number of groups who work for the
public benefit. We fiscally sponsored the Mendocino Organic Network and Common
Vision between 2000 and 2012 until they acquired their own tax exempt
status. Currently we sponsor Ukiah Bicycle Kitchen, Chadwick Legacy
Project, Butler Cherry Ranch Project, the MEC Environmental Education Fund, and
have been working with Earth Cycles and Yokayo Farm School to develop a Forest
Stewardship Collective. Visit the projects page to read more.
In Ecuador we have
partnered with Fundacion Cambugan to purchase tracks of land to conserve as
continuous wildlife corridors in virgin wilderness in the Andes and with the
Amazon Myco-Renewal Project (now known as Co-Renewal) researching the use of
oyster mushrooms in the final phase of oil spill remediation.
