Last week, the American Red Cross announced significant modifications regarding its Liberty Disaster Fund to step up assistance to those affected by the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks, ensuring that the nearly $543 million already donated will be used exclusively to meet their immediate and longer-term needs.
The fund, established shortly after Sept. 11, was created to provide direct cash grants to victims and families of victims for assistance in paying rent or mortgage, tuition for children’s education, and in covering the expenses of funerals for those who died in the attacks.
“People are not just worried about having lost loved ones but how to pay their bills,” said Pam Moen, public relations director of the Red Cross Badger Chapter.
Yet the Red Cross has been the subject of fierce criticism by those who allege they have been withholding donations from victim relief. While the Red Cross has provided $137 million in financial relief to victims, much has been diverted to fund the strategic blood reserve and terrorism preparedness.
Harold Decker, who became CEO of the American Red Cross two weeks ago after his predecessor, Bernadine Healy, resigned in the wake of accusations of misdirecting funds, acknowledged wrongdoing on the part of the Red Cross.
“Americans have spoken loudly and clearly that they want our relief efforts directed at the people affected by the Sept. 11 tragedies,” Healy said in a statement. “We deeply regret that our activities over the past eight weeks have not been as sharply focused as America wants, nor as focused as the victims of this tragedy deserve.”
Red Cross officials announced that while services other than victim relief will continue, they will no longer be funded by money donated to the Liberty Fund, which will now be used solely for victim relief. In addition, the Red Cross announced an expansion of direct assistance to victims, as well as an increase in coordination with other relief agencies. The administrative costs for Sept. 11 relief efforts will also no longer be extracted entirely from the Liberty fund.
The Red Cross Badger Chapter, which represents Dane County and its surrounding areas, has received approximately $650,000 in contributions to the national liberty fund.
“We have seen a generous response in our community,” Moen said. “Lots of people have been donating blood, donating money to relief efforts.”
Moen also said the Red Cross, both on the local and national levels, has modified its agenda to try to deal with relatively new threats to American’s safety.
“It’s a whole new ballgame, and the [Red Cross Badger Chapter] has information available for residents to prepare for terrorism,” she said.
Moen said the number of inquiries regarding volunteering has topped 1,000, and she encourages students and others to get in touch with the Red Cross to find out how they can help the victims and families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to contact the local Badger Chapter at 233-9300 or to visit its website at www.arcbadger.org
