“We’re trying to unite people with the common goal of supporting the poor during this economic downturn,” said Alan Garcia of Camas, marketing director at Banfield, The Pet Hospital in Portland.

Garcia, 48, came up with the idea for RISE about three months ago, along with Vancouver residents Tyrone Foster and Isaac Gilman and Collin Votrobeck of Portland.

RISE does not collect donations but rather encourages people to give to charities “they know and trust to serve the poor,” Garcia said. 

The RISE Web site provides links to various nonprofit organizations, as well as an option for people to pledge to donate all or part of their rebate.

As of last week, RISE had received about $7,200 in pledges. Garcia expects that number to increase as more people receive their rebates. A similar effort led by Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, Give It 4 Good, has raised more than $77,000 and received more than 270 pledges.

RISE is garnering national attention, fielding requests from nonprofit organizations across the country wanting to be listed on the RISE Web site, and from churches wishing to collaborate on getting the message out.

The rebate checks are part of the Economic Stimulus Act, an effort on behalf of the federal government to bolster the sagging economy. Individuals can expect rebates of up to $600. Married couples will see up to $1,200, plus $300 for children younger than 17.

The first of the electronic rebates were direct deposited into people’s bank accounts last week, and the first round of paper checks will be mailed later this week. Most Americans should have their rebate by the end of June.

RISE leaders know that some people are counting on their rebate to meet basic needs, but ask those with discretionary income to consider donating the extra cash.

“We want to appeal to those who would use (the rebate) for a want as opposed to a need,” said Foster, 37, a marketing manager at Hewlett-Packard Co. in Vancouver.

MARY ANN ALBRIGHT can be reached at  maryann.albright@columbian.com or 360-735-4507.