A Message from the Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection Foundation
Deepwater-rig workers laid off as a result of the recent federal moratorium have a right to be concerned. We understand the financial hardship they face from a decision outside their control. To soften the hardship, BP has donated $100 million to Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection Foundation – a support organization for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, or BRAF.
BRAF has more than 46 years’ experience helping people across south Louisiana and around the world. After Hurricane Katrina, for example, BRAF raised more than $45 million in generous donations worldwide and used the money to clothe and shelter storm victims and fund longer-term projects to help rebuild coastal communities.
As a support organization to BRAF, we hope to continue that tradition by making monetary grants to workers affected by the moratorium. We understand that we cannot move quickly enough for everyone. We pledge, however, to disburse all grants to qualified recipients before the holidays.
Beginning Sept. 1, applications can be made toll-free. Applicants can help us move faster by gathering some documents in advance, including a letter from their employers confirming they were working on one of the 33 deepwater rigs affected by the moratorium when it was imposed on May 6. Workers also need verification of their income from an official source like an employer or the IRS.
The Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection Foundation promises to keep the application Web site up to date as another way to make sure that affected workers who deserve hardship grants get their money quickly as quickly as possible.
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For Frequently Asked Questions, click here. (Last Updated 07/31/2010)