andrewsito, you will need to decide on the universtity - some are offering need-based financial assistance and scholarships  for international students and some not. Here are some links to start with. Good luck.

http://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/int_financial.html

http://www.choose.drake.edu/admissions/international/scholarships.asp

http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/finaid/international.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080429072407AAOJ7Vl

Click on profile and then edit on the right hand side of profile link.

Here is a snippet from today's NYT article and a link to Liheap federal assistance program.

" After struggling with soaring heating costs through the winter, millions of Americans are behind on electric and gas bills, and a record number of families could face energy shut-offs over the next two months, according to state energy officials and utilities around the country."

It seems that more people are behind in electric and gas payments this year as a result of the rising cost of energy and slow economy. Some are even facing energy cutoffs. We can see this here on aidpage as more and more members are pleading for help with gas and electricity bills this year. More about this article can be found here

Yes, Call Me Green you are right. Angels wanted! There is a lot of information on aidpage in regards to financial help from local government agencies and private foundations. And that is what most of the angels on aidpage are doing - helping with by pointing to this information and offering "pat on the back and guidance" as you rightly said it. Nice post. Regards.

asian_flower, where are you located?

CHARBAR3, most of the government grant and private foundation programs are covered by Federal Money Retriever and GrantGate. You will be able to search and apply for grant or loan if you find a program that you qualify for. Both software programs can be downloaded for free from here:

http://www.grantgate.com/free.htm

Good luck to you.

Michael, check the programs of your local government agencies. You may be able to find help also from private foundations and charities in your area. Best tool to find out about them and their givings is GrantGate. You can download it for free from here:

http://www.grantgate.com/free.htm

 Good luck.

kandice, good post and pledge. Good for you! Welcome to the Aidpage community.

resa, you do not need to pay for grant information. You can get free download of the Federal Money Retriever and GrantGate as a start. You will be able to search for grant programs from the federal government and private foundations and use their wizards to prepare grant applications.

http://www.grantgate.com/free.htm

Why people are posting here? First, this is obviously a very important theme/issue for lot of people. Second, this page is on top of most search engines when someone searches with free money to pay bills, and last but not least, people obviously look at this as an ongoing forum and prefer to comment right here in the crowded space instead of figuring out how to make their own page and tell their story or try to help others. P.S. BTW, with current economy conditions - this page, in my opinion, will continue to grow rapidly and I hope all angels here on Aidpage, like you W H O ~ K N E W, will continue to give helping information on Aidpage visitors and members including those who are looking to pay their bills. Regards.

if this is a link to a good legit website and open to the public, please post the link here so anybody can see it.

prwood, you can try also www.modestneeds.com  a public charity on internet that offers cash assistance - you have to apply and get approved though.

Could you please, provide more info about LifeHand organization and its offer, like IRS Tax Exempt Charity EIN, address, phone and how the organization is helping people. Thank you.

Could you please provide more info about LifeHand organization and its offer, like IRS Tax Exempt Charity EIN, address, phone and how the organization is helping people. It is an interesting offer. Thank you.

Nurse to Be, this website seems to be marketing this bank offers:
The PNC Bank Education Loan Center provides a complete range of financial products and services to help students and parents pay for college, graduate and post-graduate degrees, continuing education programs and K-12 schooling

 http://www.eduloans.pncbank.com/index.htm  

Double check and call them, you may save money if you go directly to the source, unless the website you posted offers some discounts etc..

whitebird33, this is a very good idea! Welcome to Aidpage!

Here is a federal grant program called Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Independent Study Program found on www.fedmoney.com 

http://www.fedmoney.com/grants/83529.htm

and also here:

http://training.fema.gov/IS/

check FAQ on the website for terms and eligibiilty.

setphenw, you can try www.prosper.com for a loan that you can use for car downpayment. Good luck.

You can try also private foundations. The largest foundations offering grants for education can be found here:  http://foundations-aid.idilogic.aidpage.com/foundations-aid/

and here : http://www.download.com/3000-2057-10491310.html

Interesting government foundation found: The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation

The site offers a complete  information about the foundation and its grants programs. Details about How to apply for Truman Scholarship and what to do to make it right. Here is their brief 'What we do' statement.

The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields.  Students must be college juniors at the time of selection.  The Foundation also provides assistance with career counseling, internship placement, graduate school admissions, and professional development.  Scholars are invited to participate in a number of programs:  Truman Scholar Leadership Week, The Summer Institute, The Truman Fellows Program, and the Public Service Law Conference.  Please visit the For Scholars section of the website for an overview of the programs the Foundation currently offers for Scholars.

How To Become a Truman Scholar

Advice & Guidance for Candidates

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
712 Jackson Place, NW Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 395-4831 Fax: (202) 395-6995
Email: office@truman.gov

Yes, kaat1220, you are right... it is most likely ignorance.

Scam? - IMO most likely. "United", "trading", "payment managers"???

To all Aidmates and Aidpage visitors:

California Wildfires Information

Red Cross Shelters for Wildfire Evacuees

Google map of current wildfires

FEMA Response to California Wildfires

Here is a link to a federal government webpage dedicated to: California Fires – Government Information and Assistance Here you can search for family and friends by calling the Family Registry and Locator System call center at 1-800-588-9822. For those who have become separated from children 21 and younger, FEMA has activated the National Emergency Child Locator Center to help them and the toll free number is 1-866-908-9570.

American Red Cross has a website with Safe and Well Registration List. If you have been affected by California wildfire disaster and are OK this website provides a way for you to register yourself as "safe and well" or search for family, relatives and friends.

Public Numbers for Fire Areas and Public inquiries

  California Wildfire State Individual Assistance Resources 

HOUSING ASSISTANCE/Personal property 

State Supplemental Grant Program – Housing assistance such as temporary housing, repair, replacement, and permanent housing construction.  Other Needs Assistance can cover items such as personal property, medical, dental, funeral, transportation, and moving and storage. 

These grants may be offered when assistance from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program has been maximized.  Once maximized, your FEMA application is transferred to this program; there is no separate application process.  Contact CA Department of Social Services, State Supplemental Grant Program at 1-800-759-6807 (TTY for hearing and speech impaired: 1-800-822-6268.

Replacing Lost Documents 

County Recorder Clerk - Can assist individuals in replacing important documents, such as birth certificates and marriage certificates that were lost in the fires.  Contact your local County Recorder Office as follows: 

Los Angeles County – (562) 462-2137 or www.lacounty.info

Orange County – (714) 834-2500 or www.ocrecorder.com

Riverside County – (951) 486-7000 or www.co.riverside.ca.us

Santa Barbara County – (805) 568-2250 or www.co.santa-barbara.ca.us

For a listing of all local County Recorder Offices go to the following website:  http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/CountyRecorderOffice.aspx

DEPRATMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Department of Motor Vehicles can assist individuals in replacing documents, such as drivers’ licenses, identification cards, vehicle registration certificates or certificate of title that were lost in the fires.  In addition, DMV can assist in obtaining forms to change the status of vehicles that were damaged or destroyed as a result of the fires.  Contact DMV at 1-800-921-1117 or 1- 800-777-0133, or you can look up your local DMV office on the following website:  http://dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/toc_fo.htm 

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES 

California Employment Development Department (EDD) - Provides weekly unemployment insurance payments for workers who lose their job through no fault of their own.  If you are unemployed, or working less than full time, have a legal right to work in the United States, and are ready, willing, and able to work, you may be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits.  You may contact EDD at the following:  English 1-800-300-5616; Spanish 1-800-326-8937; and TTY ‑ 1-800-815-9387, for hearing impaired.  For more information, visit www.edd.ca.gov 

EMERGENCY NEEDS REFERRAL 

American Red Cross – Provides emergency food, clothing, shelter, and medical assistance to needy individuals and families.  To contact the Red Cross or find a shelter near you, call 1-800-REDCROSS (733-2767).  To register or find a loved one on the Safe and Well List visit the following website:  https://disastersafe.redcross.org/default.aspx

INSURANCE & REBUILDING INFORMATION 

California Department of Insurance – Can provide assistance on insurance issues and claims.  Call the toll-free Consumer Hotline at 1-800-927-HELP (4357) or visit www.insurance.ca.gov Contractors State License Board – Provides guidance on verifying a contractor’s license, investigates complaints, and also provides information about hiring a licensed contractor.  For information on hiring or filing a complaint regarding a contractor, contact CSLB Disaster Hotline M-F from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1-800-962-1125, or 24-hour Automated Phone Response System 1-800-321 CSLB (2752).  Licenses can also be checked online at www.cslb.ca.gov 

TAX ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE 

Franchise Tax Board – Provides guidance in obtaining tax relief for disaster casualty losses.  Contact the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-852-5711, (TTY/TDD for hearing or speech impaired: 1-800-822-6268. California Board of Equalization – Offers extensions to file tax returns and relief of interest and penalties to taxpayers and fee payers directly affected by the disaster.  Contact the Board of Equalization at 1-800-400-7115 (TDD/TTY 1‑800-735-2929). 

VETERANS ASSISTANCE 

If you have a CALVET loan and have suffered damage caused by the Southern California Wildfires, contact the CALVET Claims Administrator at 1-800-626-1613 Ext. 0, or CALVET at 1-800-952-5626.  (Source: .doc file published on Governor's Office of Emergency Services)

Where to file a California wildfire Insurance Claim?

California Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer hotline  (800) 927-4357

 Emergency Claim Numbers for California Insurance Companies

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company (866) 456-3108 
State Farm (800) 732-5246
Farmers Insurance (800) 435-7764
Travelers (800) 252-4633
Auto Club (800) 672-5246
Mercury Insurance (888) 313-6372

Safeco (800) 332-3226

rick1953, for loans or one time cash help check prosper.com or modestneeds.org. Good luck!

"For middle-class and wealthy Americans, straight white teeth are still a virtual birthright. And dentists say that a majority of people in this country receive high-quality care. But many poor and lower-middle-class families do not receive adequate care, in part because most dentists want customers who can pay cash or have private insurance, and they do not accept Medicaid patients. As a result, publicly supported dental clinics have months-long waiting lists even for people who need major surgery for decayed teeth." full NYT article here

Harrison, wonderful pictures. Did you do them by yourself, and.. curious what was the equipment used. Thanks.

Here are some very good sources of private grants, scholarships, loans and other assistance provided by foundations and non-profit organizations which, by law, are required to give 5% of their assets annually.

GrantGate database

Foundation Grants, Charity....

If you are looking for government grants and loans information just click on the link below to get to a very comprehensive and easy to use resource that includes how and where to apply for government grants, loans and free government services.

http://us-federal-government-aid.idilogic.aidpage.com/us-federal-government-aid/

The mentioned above website (finishrich.com) does not have address or even a phone listed. With a couple of clicks everyone can see that what they do is collecting leads of personal information. What may follow is - a call from a person that will try to sell you a "Finish Rich" package for couple of thousand or even several thousand dollars. Not a way to finish rich IMO.