In May 2004 the PHRMA Board of Directors created the PHRMA Humanitarian Fund (PHF) with the mission of providing resources, or financial assistance, to local HR professional in the Portland metropolitan area, without regard to PHRMA membership status.  This fund will now be known as the Human Resource Professionals' Financial Assistance Fund (HRPFAF), effective February 2006.   

  

The HRPFAF has a five member Committee, appointed by the PHRMA President, who will oversee the administration of the fund.  The five PHF Committee members are: Barbara Baltz, Larry Hellie, Nancy Kerrigan, Anne Mersereau and Jim Zwicker.

The fund was initially established with a donation from Larry Hellie, 2002 PHRMA President, and received additional funding from PHRMA's 2003 NHRMA Conference proceeds. In order to make the HRPFAF self-sustaining the Committee needed to develop additional funding sources. One method will be an “optional" donor's choice on the annual PHRMA membership renewal notice where PHRMA members may “check-the-box" and include a donation with their annual membership dues. The “optional" choice may be $1.00, $5.00, $10.00 or what ever an individual would like to give. A second source of funds will be a raffle in conjunction with the annual PHRMA Auction. All proceeds from the raffled items will be placed in the HRPFAF for future support of Portland area HR professionals. Of course any donation, from an individual PHRMA member, or a company or organization, can be made at any time and will be greatly appreciated. Donations to the PHRMA Human Resource Professionals' Financial Assistance Fund can be made directly to the PHRMA office with a note indicating it is to support the HRPFAF.

The PHRMA HR Professionals' Financial Assistance Fund will be used to provide support for current, future, or former PHRMA members who are in career transition, to assist with SHRM/PHRMA dues, HR learning opportunities, or other worthy causes as determined by the HRPFAF Committee. The fund is intended to provide support to individual HR professionals, not groups or organizations. As we all know the current job market in the Portland area is rather tight and individuals may need some support, financial or otherwise, during a transition period.

The PHRMA HR Professionals' Financial Assistance Fund has created an application form, decision guidelines, and is now publicizing the HRPFAF. The Charter for the HRPFAF and the Application Form are available on the PHRMA website, or you may contact the HRPFAF Chair, Larry Hellie, directly at HHRC2@Comcast.Net or 360-601-6388.

In making reports, or communicating with the PHRMA Board, the HRPFAF Committee will maintain the confidentiality of all requests and distributions. Information provided to the PHRMA Board will discuss funding levels and a summary list of funds allocation, but not the names of individuals receiving assistance.

To see the Humanitarian Fund Charter, click here.

To apply for benefits of the Humanitarian fund, click here.