FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 1, 2005

Contact: Emily Ryan

(202) 639-6421

(Washington)—The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) joined with the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) to provide much-needed support for victims of Hurricane Katrina, and is offering its members thousands of dollars in direct donations.

Donations to the disaster relief fund may be made:

The Union Plus Credit Card Disaster Relief Fund is available to help AFGE members who have an AFGE credit card and who are facing financial hardship due to Hurricane Katrina. AFGE cardholders are eligible to apply for a Disaster Relief Fund grant ranging from $500 to $2,000, which does not have to be repaid.

To qualify for a Union Plus Credit Card Disaster Relief Fund grant, the AFGE member must (1)have been a victim of a natural disaster; (2)have experienced a significant income loss or financial hardship; (3)have been an AFGE Union Plus Credit Card holder for at least 12 months and have opened the account prior to the date of the natural disaster; (4)document his or her circumstances and income loss; and (5)have been current on their account at the time of the disaster.

To apply for a Disaster Relief Fund grant, cardholders can call the Credit Card Disaster Relief Helpline at 1-877-761-5028 to speak directly with a specially trained representative.

Other Union Plus credit card holder disaster assistance programs include: special lifeline assistance to help cardholders who are behind on their payments; free credit counseling through the Union Plus Credit Counseling; and disaster victims who participate in the Union Plus Loan, Auto Insurance and Mortgage programs may be eligible to receive payment extensions or other special help from the program providers.

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