Focus on AICPA, profession's disaster relief efforts.

• Position: Special Feature - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Brief Article

Sept. 11 will always be remembered for the terrorist attacks that shook all America. First and foremost there was horrendous loss of life. The devastation at the World Trade Center is unfathomable; photographs of the destruction at the Pentagon are shocking.

Having touched nearly everyone in some way, the assaults on our soil deeply affected the AICPA as well. Nearly 200 members worked in the World Trade Center, and 1,500 members work in lower Manhattan. In addition, several AICPA employees lost relatives and close friends; a member of the CPA2Biz Board of Directors lost his life. Aon Corporation, the Plan Agent for many of our insurance programs, lost more than 200 employees in its WTC office.

This horrific tragedy provides a call to action to all who can offer support, guidance, information and services. As the home for CPAs, the AICPA is in the position to bring together those who can help one another and the affected public.

We have produced this CPA Letter special report to provide members with information critical to their attempts to return to a normal routine, both professionally and personally, and to alert them to opportunities to help others. A team of staff members from the AICPA and CPA2Biz has been devoted specifically to this cause and, on behalf of the profession, hopes its initiatives will enable CPAs to help heal the citizens of this great nation.

Financial Assistance

Two tax-exempt funds are eagerly accepting contributions that will be used to help members, their families or anyone else directly affected by this horrific tragedy. The AICPA contributed a total of $75,000 to both funds and is matching employee contributions up to an aggregate total of $25,000.

The AICPA Benevolent Fund can help individual CPAs and their families facing financial difficulty caused by serious illness, accident, death or other major misfortunes, such as the recent terrorist attacks. Contact the AICPA at 877/CPA-4ALL (877/272-4255) between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., ET. You may also e-mail a message to cpa4all@aicpa.org. Be sure to include contact information in your e-mail.

If you would like to make a contribution, send a check payable to AICPA Benevolent Fund to: AICPA Benevolent Fund, AICPA, Harborside Financial Center, 201 Plaza Three, Jersey City, NJ 07311-3881.

In addition, the AICPA has established the CPAs in Support of America Fund, Inc. This fund will help CPA firms and employees of firms, and people directly affected by the events of Sept. 11. To make a donation to this new fund, send a check made payable to CPAs in Support of America, Inc., to: CPAs in Support of America, AICPA, Harborside Financial Center, 201 Plaza Three, Jersey City, NJ 07311-3881.

AICPA, CPA2Biz Team Up to Help CPAs Affected by Terrorist Attacks

To help CPAs help themselves, clients and businesses recover from and develop contingency plans for disaster situations, a Disaster Recovery Resource Center has been created. The resource center, which can be accessed free of charge, houses important tools, information and resources specifically related to dealing with disasters.

For example, you can tap into a host of articles covering the full gamut of issues that may arise. Among the items featured are:

* A disaster response for business, a checklist for CFOs and...