Red Cross rep in WWII?

Son, I hold the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross (three awards), the Silver Star and I've been credited with seventeen air to air kills in the Pacific Theatre while flying with both the Black Sheep and Blackburns Irregulars. I'm here to tell you that to this day: I HATE THE RED CROSS!!!

Because they charged us for everything we ever got from them. Didn't matter if it was a bar of soap, a razor or a candy bar, if the Red Cross provided it in a combat zone, the men who did the dyin' paid cash money! I won't take squat from them to this day. I sure won't give 'em anything, either!

Don't think anybody here is suggesting that we don't give - just that we don't give to organizations with a bad track record. To carry on your preacher analogy, if you run across a bad preacher, you don't stop giving to all churches, but you sure as heck don't give that man any more money! (In fact, that's what we've wound up doing WRT the Episcopal Church USA. Our charitable contributions are now going to a different denomination. My dad, a WWII veteran who also despised the Red Cross, moved his donations away from ECUSA earlier.)

It's clear from this thread that the Sally Ann comes very highly recommended.

FWIW, I'll add my endorsement of the Salvation Army. They don't take a vow of poverty, precisely, but their officers are dedicated to Christ and the organization and draw only a minimal salary - unlike your typical hot shot administrators who move in and out of various charities looking for perks and big salaries.

And a bad track record in the past certainly justifies withholding in the future. How else does one judge the effectiveness of their performance?

And all others interested:

I am a firsttimer, but was fascinated with the exchanges here and learned lots. I am sure that many of you would be interested to know that the American Red Cross CEO, Marsha Johnson Evans, earned $621,435 in disclosed salary for FYE 6/03, not counting benes. That, in my book, is an awful lot for a charity. Does sound more like "big business" to me.

You don't have to take my word for it either, but can verify this information at the following website.

http://www.charitynavigator.org

This organization has a database on over 3500 charities with lots of interesting statistics. Interestingly enough this organization rated ARC 4 stars out of 4 possible, but when I reviewed their rating method....well it was all about numbers so.........

Incidentally, when I worked FEMA Disaster Relief at the Santa Susana Rec. Center after the Northridge earthquake I was asked to "fill in" briefly for the Red Cross worker who had to go back to the warehouse for a third truckload of supplies. Incidently, this was how I met my husband - at the Red Cross snack & drink table as we both briefly manned the table for the Red Cross. The ARC was handing out (not charging for) sodas, water, snack foods and fruit to the long lines of people applying for FEMA assistance. Lines that were often 3 to 4 hours long. Water was being handed out by the gallon & 2 1/2 gallon jugs for people whose water supply was out or questionable. My question is, "Did our State or Federal Government get a big fat bill for this assistance?" Does anyone know where I can find this out? My husband is the one that pointed out to me the poor rep of the ARC, and in investigating it I'm appalled. But I would especially like to know if they bill governments (and thereby taxpayers) for the assistance they provide?

My question is, "Did our State or Federal Government get a big fat bill for this assistance?" Does anyone know where I can find this out?

No...but...

Here is where the American Red Cross posts their financial statements. The 2003 tax return (6MB pdf file) for the American Red Cross.

They report $64 million on line 1c (Government contributions (grants)) and another $53.6 million on line 93g (Fees and contracts from government agencies).

That does not answer the reimbursement question and there isn't enough information about the source of this revenue to make any judgements.

THE FEDERAL CHARTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

ICRC Annual Report 2003

The United States remained the ICRC’s largest donor. It accounted for 25.84% (CHF 231.7 million) of all contributions received and 28% (CHF 216.7 million) of the contributions received for field operations. The ICRC’s operational flexibility was enhanced by the fact that the US provided advance information on the level of funding and earmarked its contributions in a relatively broad fashion (mostly by region).

Also, this might be interesting.

The Red Cross shall be responsible for the ordinary care and maintenance of the physical facilities so used. Such care and maintenance shall be by regular custodial and maintenance staff of the City. The Red Cross will reimburse the City for the ordinary care and maintenance during the period of its use.

I've already given my opinion on the RC on another thread, but I can't resist to do it again.
They helped some people my mother knew after a tornado here in TX one time, but that's the only good thing I've ever heard about them.
My dad was in the Philippines in WWII - no use for RC. Said they charged for cigarettes that were clearly marked on the package as being DONATED for the armed forces. And when I was a Hospital Corpman at Corpus Christi Naval Hospital in the early '70's we had two RC women full time there at the hospital. One of them wasn't very friendly, but at least she wasn't mean and hateful - which is what the other one was. And neither of them would eat with the enlisted men - they only ate with the officers, which was duly noted with scorn by everyone...even the officers themselves.

I have heard those stories from SO many people about the RC, from WWII forward . . .

I guess that all large unwieldy organizations get kind of sclerotic over the years.

The RC probably is LONG overdue for a top-to-bottom shakeup. Too many chiefs drawing big salaries and too much bureacracy.

My money goes to the Sally Anns and Catholic Charities.

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