Hedge Funds Care Raises over $300,000

(CNS):  Members of Cayman’s financial industry raised an impressive $300,000 for kids facing abuse and neglect. Hedge Funds Care Cayman (HFCC) raised the sum at itsfourth annual ‘Open Your Heart to the Children’ benefit.  “We were pleased with the turnout, and the funds raised exceeded expectations especially amidst the difficult time that the hedge fund industry and the broader financial services sector are experiencing,” said Cayman Committee of Hearts Chairman Peter Cockhill.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of the sponsors and attendees and have now begun the grant application process, so that we can put the funds raised into action here in the Cayman Islands.”   

To start the grant making process for 2009, HFCC is officially requesting funding proposals from local organisations for initiatives that demonstrate alignment with the Hedge Funds Care vision regarding the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect, and that satisfy its selection criteria.

“The grant selection process is purposely lengthy and thorough,” explained Cockhill.  “There is a vigilant screening process where the committee conducts site visits and requests that the potential grantees present the details of their proposals. This is an important part of the overall process because Hedge Funds Care is committed to ensuring that the donations made by the companies and individuals in good faith are directed towards effective projects directly address the issues of child abuse and neglect.” 

HFCC is committed to funding activities that strengthen vulnerable families, build community resources for at risk families, preserve the integrity of the family without jeopardising child safety, enhance permanency planning, improve foster care and adoption, and provide clinical treatment to victims as well as support to non-offending family members. HFCC is also committed to enhancing general awareness within the community and increasing the awareness of children to the problem of abuse in order to facilitate disclosure and break the cycle.  

Grants will be awarded according to strict selection criteria that require full disclosure of the purpose and structure of the intended projects and upon assurance that the organisations are solvent. Individual local organisations are asked to present specific project proposals to the HFCC Grant Committee and funding will be donated on the basis that the funds will be utilised as per the approved proposals. Toobtain a grant application form, contact Ann Garland at Hedge Funds Care in New York at agarland@hedgefundscare.org or by telephone at + 212 991 9600. 

Since its inception in 2005, HFCC has raised over USD $950,000 that has sponsored local agencies to combat the issue of child abuse and neglect in the Cayman Islands. The 2008 HFCC grantees include: the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the CAYS Foundation, the Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Nadine Andreas Foster Home (operated by the NCVO). 

Hedge fund industry professionals established Hedge Funds Care (HFC), a charitable organisation focused on assisting young victims of abuse, in 1998.  Since that time, chapters have opened in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Toronto, Cayman, and most recently in London.  The organisation comprises those companies with interests in hedge funds, including investment managers, investors, prime brokers, attorneys, accountants, administrators and information providers.