Partners Volunteers from across the hemisphere have expressed their sympathy for the people and communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. For some, homes and lives have been lost and the destruction surrounds them. For others, sights of floodwaters bring vivid images of recent disasters in their own communities.

Whether hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, and whether in the Caribbean, Latin America or the United States, Partners' volunteers have always responded with the solidarity of a true hemispheric family.

Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004 -- Partners of the Americas and the First Data Western Union Foundation united efforts today to send $10,000 in aid to victims of a Paraguayan supermarket fire that to date has killed 399 people and left 144 missing.

The donation - made to Partners by the corporate foundation of Western Union - will likely be used to help local volunteer fire departments replace equipment that was destroyed during the rescue. Funds also are expected to help provide follow-up care to victims and their families.

Washington, D.C.- Partners of the Americas (Partners), along with the Iowa Partners and the Central Iowa Red Cross, has launched an appeal to help residents of the state of Yucatán in Mexico, respond to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Isidore. The Mexican government declared the state of Yucatán a disaster area and is sending food, medicines, and financial resources to rebuild affected areas.

Partners of the Americas (Partners) has launched an appeal to help Peruvians help themselves rebuild after the June 23 earthquake. As a people-to-people organization with a 37-year history in Peru, Partners is focusing on short-term relief for disaster-stricken areas with an eye towards developing longer-term strategies. Our 15 years of experience working directly in disaster preparedness throughout Latin America make Partners one of the most experienced organizations on the scene.