The Financial Planning Association pro bono support program-created five years ago to serve victims of the September 11 terror attacks-has received a $295,000 grant from the Foundation for Financial Planning.
   The FPA National Financial Planning Support Center, which has grown to provide free services to a wide range of needy clients, will us the grant to expand its pro bono efforts, officials said.
   Among the populations served by the center include low-income families and individuals, victims of domestic abuse, military personnel and their families and the victims of natural disasters, including those impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The support center often works in partnership with groups such as Habitat for Humanity, America Saves, the American Red Cross and the Internal Revenue Service.
   "By making this grant possible, the Foundation for Financial Planning hopes the National Financial Planning Support Center can expand its pro bono efforts and bring the benefits of financial planning to segments of the community who need help to rebuild lives too often defined by hardship and struggle," said Carlos Viera, chairman of the foundation.
    In other news, the FPA announced it is seeking nominations for its second annual Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Awards, which will be presented at the organization's annual meeting in Seattle September 8-11. "Nominees should embody the heart of financial planning and should also represent FPA's core values of competence, integrity, relationships and stewardship," according to an FPA written statement.
   Candidates can nominate themselves, colleagues, financial planning firms, FPA chapters or any other organization for the awards, according to the FPA. Nominations should be no longer than three pages, explaining why the nominee should be considered. Send nominations to: Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Awards, Financial Planning Association, Suite 400, 4100 E. Mississippi Avenue, Denver, Colo. 80246.