Posted on 11/23/2001 2:21:11 PM PST by Beach_Babe
A modern dance troupe, the Brooklyn Philharmonic and AIDS-awareness groups are among more than 40 arts and service organizations — many located outside lower Manhattan — receiving Sept. 11 charity.
The September 11th Fund, established by the United Way of New York City and the New York Community Trust, has set aside nearly $6.5 million for interest-free loans and grants to nonprofit groups.
The aid represents a fraction of the $337 million collected but nonetheless raises questions about who should be considered a World Trade Center victim and what donors should expect when they open their wallets.
The American Red Cross touched off a debate recently when it announced — and later scrapped — a plan to set aside $200 million for future terrorist attacks and other needs of the agency, despite its pledge to distribute donations to attack victims and families of those killed.
Aid to city nonprofits falls within the September 11th Fund's stated purpose, said spokeswoman Jeanine Moss. "This is about relief, both short-term and long-term relief," she said. "It's about how people in institutions and communities have suffered."
But some charity officials said they believe the September 11th Fund, which has distributed about $50 million, has stretched the definition of "victim" too far.
"I don't think donors were thinking of a philharmonic in Brooklyn," said Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy in Bethesda, Md.
Many nonprofit groups lost money after the Trade Center tragedy when they postponed fund-raising events, canceled performances or lost government grants, Moss said.
Officials of nonprofits said the city's economic and cultural well-being would suffer if arts groups were left to flounder.
"Cultural activities are a key part of our economy and a key part of what makes New York City the capital of the world," said William Grinker, president of Seedco, an agency helping the fund distribute money.
Plus, Grinker and nonprofit leaders said, loans to the groups will be paid back and returned to the fund or used to create an ongoing loan program to help nonprofits weather downturns in charitable giving.
"We certainly wouldn't argue that the needs of widows and firefighters don't deserve all the support possible, but there are other issues that need addressing," said Catherine Cahill, CEO of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, which received a $200,000 loan.
Among the groups receiving loans or grants are Jennifer Muller/The Works dance troupe, the Institute for the Development of Earth Awareness, the Mothers' Voices AIDS-prevention program and the New York Scandia Symphony.
A Chelsea organization called 3-Legged Dog, which creates digital art, received a $32,770 grant. The group has a for-profit subsidiary that markets software.
Grants for Repairs
Some groups receiving aid suffered directly in the attacks. The offices of Helen Keller Worldwide, for example, were destroyed — and the foundation got a $300,000 grant. Borough of Manhattan Community College, which sustained extensive damage in the attacks, received a $509,000 grant.
But the fund's stated purpose remains fuzzy. When it was founded Sept. 11, aid was supposed to go to "victims and their families and all those affected by the tragedy." Three days later, officials declared, "All contributions, 100% of each donation, will be applied toward relief efforts."
By Sept. 19, the fund had settled on its current language, stating that donations would go toward "immediate and longer-term needs of the victims, their families and communities affected" by the tragedy.
Moss said that unlike the Red Cross, the September 11th Fund stated upfront that aid would go to a variety of causes.
"The phrase 'all of those affected' was a very broad statement, and it was made on the very first day," she said.
But Borochoff said donors probably envisioned business owners, workers and apartment dwellers put out by the attacks.
"It looks like they're rather pressed to find people to give the money to," he said. "What about all the laid-off hotel and restaurant workers?"
The fund has written millions in checks to victims' families and workers left jobless because of the attacks.
"The goal of the fund is to rebuild lives," Moss said. "That's what we're doing."
NOW donors must again realize that their money is NOT going
to the victim's families; just a small fraction.
The United Way has had numerous instances of misdirecting money- and they tend to be Leftist in political orientation. But my employer matches my contribution, so I funnel the money through UW in order that my favorite causes can get twice as much from my gift.
If that were not the case, I would never give to any of these mega-charities (ARC, UW, etc).
Then, maybe a righteous outcry will ring out!
My brother was a fireman in NYC. He said they would come to fire scenes with coffee & donuts...and then charge the firefighters for a cup of coffee!
It is simply criminal the way they have handled the money that was and STILL IS for the 9-11-01 atrocity victims and their survivors. Sorry for the rant but UW & Red Cross etc etc has really lied to the giving people of this nation......
Stay Safe BB !
http://www.nydailynews.com/2001-11-24/News_and_Views/Opinion/a-133049.asp
That's not so hard to understand, is it? I am able to grasp what those words mean, aren't you? Why is it that the groups don't seem able to understand that that is what people intended?
Give it back, looter.
Then again, maybe not...
Don't be surprised if the charities do the same thing that states do with respect to their lotteries.
A lot of state lotteries are promoted with the promise that "all the proceeds will go towards education!"
It's 100% true, and 100% misleading.
Most people presume the promise to mean that if the lottery takes in, say, 50 million dollars, that the schools in the state will get an extra 50 million in funding. In fact, they get zero extra.
Here's how it works (using made-up numbers for illustration purposes): Let's say the state has a $2000M total budget, and has budgeted $150M for education. This leaves $1850M for "other" programs, including whatever moronic "social programs" the legislators want to fund.
Then comes the lottery. Let's say it brings in $50M. So, just as promised, 100% of that $50M goes to pay for "education". The legislators had budgeted $150M for education, so they use $100M from the $2000M general fund to cover the rest. That leaves $1900M in the general fund for "whatever", $50M more than would have been there without the lottery. Oh boy, time to ladle out the pork...
End result: The lottery brings in $50M in extra revenue, all is "spent" on education, the education fund gets ZERO extra money net, and the politicians have $50M to spend on pork barrel projects.
Welcome to the world of creative accounting.
Needless to say, United Way and the Red Cross could pull similar dodges, even if you earmark your donations towards a particular end charity.
then I follow up to make sure that they received the money.
How on earth do you do that?
The United Way has had numerous instances of misdirecting money- and they tend to be Leftist in political orientation.
And they can still use 100% of your donation for leftist causes, while still being able to claim that it "went" towards the cause of your choice.
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