Fellow IMA members,
Over the last two weeks, we’ve watched the devastation of Hurricane Harvey unfold in Houston and southeast Texas. We’ve also witnessed the incredible resilience of Texans, been inspired by the kindness of family, friends, and strangers, and encouraged by the immediate mobilization of disaster relief organizations and first responders.
Since the hurricane landed, IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) has been in contact with many of our members, business partners, and vendors in Texas. Not surprisingly, we’ve also received an outpouring of inquiries from IMA members around the world wondering how they can best support those affected by the storm. Thank you to C.S. "Bud" Kulesza, CMA, CFM, former IMA chair, for sending us the following message from Governor of Texas Greg Abbott -
Donate to relief efforts or volunteer with the Red Cross. You can also text 90999 to make a $10 donation to Red Cross relief efforts.
Donate to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts.
If you are a hurricane evacuee still looking for a place to stay, you can find available shelter space through the Red Cross website or by calling the Red Cross Hotline at 800-733-2767. I have opened Texas State Parks to free camping for hurricane evacuees. Check here for a list and a map of park availability. AirBnB is also providing free accommodations to Harvey evacuees. You can find a free place to stay or offer up your space to evacuees in San Antonio, Austin, or Dallas.
The Rebuild Texas Fund is a new partnership among companies, community leaders, and individuals who will collaborate with state and federal officials to provide additional funding as we begin the recovery process. If you want to contribute to the fund, visit www.rebuildtx.org or text ‘rebuildtx’ to 91999.
With compassion and our Global Core Values in mind, we are committed to doing our part to help restore Houston and southeast Texas. IMA made a $5,000 donation to Red Cross and we encourage our members to consider how they can also make a meaningful contribution to the relief and recovery efforts. Additionally, with our upcoming Student Leadership Conference taking place in Houston November 9-11, IMA pledges to donate $10 toward relief efforts for every registration now through September 30.
We will continue to hold the people of Texas in our thoughts as the process of rebuilding is just beginning. I welcome any additional recommendations and suggestions and invite you to reach out to me at aeng@imanet.org.
Sincerely,
Alex C. Eng, CMA, CFM, CPA, Esq.
Chair, IMA Global Board of Directors