Lisa Collier Cool is chair of the board of trustees of the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, a charity that aids professional writers facing hardship due to illness, disability, natural disaster, advanced age or a crisis, with small grants that can make a big difference. 

       Since 1982, the Fund has issued more than 185 grants totaling about $486,000. Among the recipients have been writers of diverse backgrounds and interests, with an impressive list of honors and credits. Each year numbers of such talented and deserving people appeal to WEAF. For many, it is their last hope for help. Donations are  fully tax-deductible, and can be made online at www.weaf.org.

        Writers need not be members of American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) to qualify, but must have credentials similar to those of ASJA members. WEAF does not fund works-in-progress of any kind.  Check eligibility criteria on our website, then download an application to submit by mail, with the required documentation. 

        WEAF Board of Trustees: Lisa Collier Cool (chair), Paula Dranov (deputy chair), Joan Rattner Heilman (secretary), Grace W. Weinstein (treasurer), Donna Banks, Fran Carpentier, Betsy Carter, John Mack Carter, Greg Daugherty, Katie Davis Fishman, Pete Hamill, Florence Isaacs, Caitlin Kelly, and Al Silverman.