The Postal Employees' Relief Fund (PERF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created by the NALC, U.S. Postal Service, and other union and management organizations in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo and the California Earthquake in late 1989 (CFC#9891). It assists letter carriers and other postal employees who incur substantial damage to their homes and property in major natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, or because of a house fire. More than $7 million in grants have been issued to since its inception.

The Fund provides grants ranging from $2,000 to $35,000, depending on the total amount of qualified loss after insurance and other relief assistance.

Letter carriers represented by the NALC as well as other postal employees—both management and craft—who are on the active rolls at the time of a disaster are eligible for assistance, subject to meeting specific criteria. Employees who retire from the Postal Service under Form 50, and are victims of a disaster since December 18, 2003 are also eligible.

NALC President William H. Young is a Trustee (Grantor), along with the Postmaster General and the presidents of the participating unions and management associations. Drew Von Bergen, NALC Director of Public Relations, is NALC's appointed representative on the PERF Executive Committee, which handles day-to-day operations of the fund, reviews requests for assistance and authorizes grants. He has served as chairman of the executive committee since November 2001.

Contributions to the fund (CFC#9891) are received primarily via payroll deduction through the annual Combined Federal Campaign, although individual and group contributions are also received. For more information or to obtain an application form for assistance, go to the Fund's website: www.postalrelief.com, call (202) 408-1869, or write: Postal Employees' Relief Fund, P.O. Box 34422, Washington, DC 20043-4422.