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Frequently Asked Questions |
1. How do I know who
to contact if I need help or if someone I know needs help?
2. How can we apply for help from RESCU?
3. Why should I donate my money if there is
no specific recipient?
4. Who maintains control of the funds?
5. What criteria determine eligibility?
6. Who decides the recipients of the funds
and how much they receive?
7. Besides help with my medical financial burden,
what else can RESCU do to help?
8. I know RESCU helps entertainers, but can
any other Ren Faire workers apply?
9. Does everyone get the same treatment regardless
of what they do at the Faire?
10. How can I help?
11. What is a RESCU Advocate?
12. How can I volunteer?
13. Will my personal medical and financial
information be kept confidential?
14. How much of the money raised by RESCU
goes to expenses or salaries?
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Any Questions?
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1. How do I know who to contact
if I need help or if someone I know needs help?
You can speak to any of your local RESCU Reps for your faire that will
be listed on the bulletin boards; or visit www.RESCUfoundation.org or
write to RESCU Foundation, 707 State Route 725 #123, Dayton, Ohio 45459;
or call 1-800-374-9215.
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2. How can we apply for help from
RESCU?
By law, all recipients of assistance must fill out a financial
need form and submit copies of outstanding bills to be considered.
Simply return the application to RESCU via mail, fax, or email, with
copies of your medical bills and RESCU will contact you. Top
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3. Why should I donate my money if
there is no specific recipient?
RESCU has grown immensely since its inception and is now
able to assist those beyond the abilities of a single, local
rally. We pool the donations from all of our faires across
the country in order to help all of those in need whatever
time of year. Without this reserve, those in need would be
forced to wait for assistance until another rally could
be organized. Top
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4. Who maintains control of the funds?
As a federally compliant 501c3 organization, RESCU Foundation has an
Executive Board of which our Chairperson and Treasurer maintain and monitor
all financial activity of the non-profit foundation.
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5. What criteria determine eligibility?
To receive assistance, one must be, or have been associated
with a Renaissance Festival worker (crafter, entertainer,
gamer, employee, and any other participant) or other themed
event, and must have medical debt. Top
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6. Who decides the recipients of
the funds and how much they receive?
The Disbursement Committee, consisting of four Board Members,
receives the completed medical financial aid form and copies of bills.
They then discuss the outstanding bill amounts and decide what amount
can be given at this time. Some people with ongoing, acute illnesses
or injuries may be given more than one disbursement. Top
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7. Besides help with my medical financial
burden, what else can RESCU do to help?
RESCU does offer financial assistance, but also offers emotional
support, counseling, and a chance to have an Advocate work
with you on your case. We are working to establish a Doctor’s
Network and RN Program to help alleviate the stress of finding
affordable healthcare on the road. We are compiling data
for a directory of free or reduced care clinics in the surrounding
areas of each faire (and greatly need any suggestions you
may have). We strive to provide our community with information
on preventative healthcare. Top
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8. I know RESCU helps entertainers,
but can any other Ren Faire workers apply?
Absolutely! RESCU offers its assistance to ANY PARTICIPANT
of a Renaissance Festival anywhere in the country.
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9. Does everyone get the same treatment
regardless of what they do at the Faire?
YES!!! We do not discriminate based on what anyone does at the faire,
whether or not they do faires full-time, or how long they have been a
participant. Top
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10. How can I help?
There are many ways to help.
You can use www.GoodSearch.com
for all of your internet searches. This allows you to surf the internet
using Yahoo and for every search you do in the name of the foundation,
RESCU gets a penny. In 2008, over $500 was raised for RESCU! – You can
donate auction items, money or a service to a rally. – Donate your time
at a rally, hang flyers or run an event. – Hold an event of your own
and donate proceeds to RESCU. – Volunteer and train to be an advocate
(we are always in great need). – Are you or do you know someone in a
medical profession? If so, we are working to establish a professional
network of those willing to extend discounted or pro bono services to
our community. Are you in a position to offer discounted or free
printing, education, or medical supplies? Please give us a call or
email us if you have any other great ideas! Top
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11. What is a RESCU Advocate?
An Advocate is assigned your case
to fight for your rights and to assist you in accessing as
many available resources as possible. Your advocate can perform
many duties such as help negotiate down medical bills from
doctors, hospitals and collection agencies; help with confusing
medical correspondence; establish payment plans; locate prescription
assistance programs; assist with applying for financial assistance
from hospitals or other organizations and much more. Top
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12. How can I volunteer?
RESCU recognizes the need for reasonable health insurance
in our community. We work with facilities and insurance
companies within our Advocacy Program, but the current
health insurance industry is very tricky. The policies
and coverage change everyday. As much as we have researched,
RESCU is unable to provide health insurance. Our research will
continue. Top
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13. Will my personal medical and
financial information be kept confidential?
For your privacy and protection, all information will be
held in confidence in strict accordance with the HIPAA mandates
and privacy laws. Top
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14. How much of the money raised
by RESCU goes to expenses or salaries?
Every single person involved in any way with the RESCU
Foundation is a volunteer. There are no salaries or paid
employees. As a corporation, our financial reports are public
record, which show that our operating expenses have averaged
less than 5% each year since our inception in 2004. Top
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