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ROGER L. VON AMELUNXEN FOUNDATION, INC.
For the Benefit of ICE and CBP Employees
104-15
100th Street, Ozone Park, NY 11417
718-641-4800
CFC 10010
WE ARE BACK!
As you are all aware, the Roger L. Von Amelunxen Foundation is a source of charity, financial assistance, and scholarships for CBP and ICE employees and their families. Founded in 1982 to aid U.S. Customs employees, we have provided over $4.2 million in death benefits, funds to offset unreimbursed medical expenses, aid for victims of natural disasters, and scholarships. Most of you have contributed directly, through fundraisers and through payroll deductions in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
After completing the annual admission process required for participation in the CFC, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had denied the Foundation for the past two years. Last year, we were denied due to an erroneous report of our financial data on a cash, rather than an accrual, basis. This year, we were denied due to a new OPM rule, that participating organizations must be classified as “public foundations.” We were not alone in being denied for this reason. Another “private foundation” denied participation, the Suttering Foundation of America, took legal action. The presiding U.S. District Court Judge in the case found in their favor, and by extension, in ours. The legal proceedings are detailed in The Chronicle of Philanthropy in the August 2, 2007 issue. We are fortunate and grateful to the Stuttering Foundation of America and its President, Jane H. Fraser, because thanks to this effort, we have been granted admission on the CFC once again.
Despite our loss of funding last year, we were able to sustain our benefit grant programs, albeit to a lesser degree. We are most hopeful that we will continue to receive the support of long-time donors in CBP and ICE, and that newer members will deem us worthy of consideration.
In other news, we are in the process of updating the website. Please see the page we have added to the site: Letters from the ICE/CBP family. We are sharing letters this month from some kind people who, among others, wrote to express their feelings about the Foundation. We thank them for their generous comments, and invite you to read their words.
Please note that the scholarship application deadline has changed. All materials must now be received by July 1st for an applicant to be considered.
As always, we look forward to any feedback, and we thank you for your support and your service to our country.
With appreciation,
Karen Donnelly, President
