Posted on 10/09/2001 3:22:53 PM PDT by pulaskibush
Talking Points: Update on Money Situation for Terror Victims
Tuesday, October 09, 2001 By Bill O'Reilly
Email this Article The Talking Points memo this evening: It's an update of the money situation vis a vis the families of the terror victims. There's no question that Americans are the most generous people on earth, and that has been demonstrated once again.
One billion dollars have been pledged thus far to help families effected by the terror attacks. But the money is slow in getting to these families, and government supervision has been lax, to say the least. Up to this point, the United Way has received $87 million for its September 11th Fund. Only $5.9 million has been allocated so far.
And get this, the allocated money doesn't go directly to the families, it goes to local organizations which can then give the money out as they see fit. So, there's another layer of bureaucracy for the families to deal with.
That TV telethon that was on all the networks, all the channels, it raised $150 million in pledges. And the money is being controlled by the United Way. Yet officials from that agency declined to appear on The Factor this evening to explain what's going on.
They did send us a statement, and we appreciate that, but we need to hear from the United Way. They should answer some questions, such as exactly how much money will the families be getting, and when? Hopefully, a spokesman from the United Way will show up on The Factor later this week.
The situation is somewhat troubling because, as Talking Points has said, there is no government agency watching the United Way or any of the other 140 charities. You may remember that in 1995, the president of the United Way, who ran it for 22 years, was convicted in federal court for misusing the charity's money. By the way, that man, William Aramony, was being paid more than $300,000 a year to run the United Way.
The point here is that there are far too many questions about the $1 billion pledged to help the victims' families. This situation needs to get under control, and fast. I'm calling my congressman, Peter King, and asking him to keep me apprised of what's going on with all the donations. You might want to do the same thing with your congress-person.
We'll have more on the story at the end of the broadcast, and that is the memo.
how much does that Women make a year a the RED CROSS?
I am very aware of the work being done by the Sept 11 Fund and know that they are doing great with a huge job. I have associates at the NY Community Trust who are working with NY United Way on this and I would trust them completely with my donations.
Donations may be sent to: The Salvation Army of Greater New York
Disaster Relief
120 W. 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
NO
Michael C. Wholley, Brigadier General, USMC(Ret)
Executive Director
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
P. O. Box 3008
Princeton, New Jersey 08543-3008
The UW is just another bureaucracy whose purpose is to mete out money to give to other charities. This is at least inefficient, if not plainly a scam. Why not give your bucks to the charity directly? Hand a wino a fiver? UW’s recent talk about "no overhead" will be charged to moneys forwarded WTC charities is a direct ADMISSION of the redundancy of UW. Gee, how generous of them! UW is a kind of double taxation, a parasite wrapped in robes of rectitude. A charity scam par exemplar, making the Operation PUSH extortion racket appear to be small potatoes.
I’ve met many UW operatives. I feel many are corporate board rejects, and UW is kind of a nepotisitic depository for types who don't fit in, can't cut it, or can't get with the corporate program, but who are “bumped up” into the UW bureaucracy.
Also disturbing is their taste for balls, parties, and other self-trumpeting events. Pride is taking in how much their “companies” (i.e., employees from bottom to top) “donated”, that is, forced to contribute.
The interest alone on all this money they are keeping more than covers everything that has been distributed thus far.
This is an outrage!
It appears that they are still doing it. I heard a report on a local radio station this morning. Rescue workers at the WTC site took a meal break. The Red Cross tried to charge them. They walked a mile further and were given a free meal by a private restaurant.
Nothing new about the Red Cross charging for services. That's their modus operendi.
The Salvation Army gets my money.
Donations may be sent to: The Salvation Army of Greater New York
Disaster Relief
120 W. 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
Aren't these the same little gonads that cut off the Boy Scouts??
The Salvation Army is the organization that has the soup kitchens and homeless shelters in NYC. They've been helping people forever. ( Of course, the democrats cut off their aid because they pray before meals. Now they're depending on the American people only)
When the attack on the WTC happened, it was the Salvation Army that was the most prepared. They were there with shelter, and the food was already warm.
They do not advertise, They do not brag about their work. They just are there when needed.
On a side note, I'm sure the Red Cross racked in a ton of money and did anyone else notice how many commericals they have been airing after the attacks. Its not like that money went to anyone in NYC or DC. They are probably spending it on their parties and orgies, it makes me sick of organizations plan to make money of tragedy.
I was in Korea in 1952-53. The only interaction with the Red Cross was knowing that the Red Cross workers (women) were continuously sending money home.
When I got off the boat in San Francisco, the Red Cross was there to give us coffee and doughnuts. As soon as we got them, the bus to Camp Stoneham came, we dropped the coffee and doughnuts and boarded the buses. We didn't wait to get the tab.
My husband (a Libertarian/Conservative) worked for a Fed govt. agency part-time during grad school in the D.C. area, during Reagan. The United Way people actually had the 'liberty' (OK, from Feds) to corral all the employees into a room for these big, cheerleading, donation meetings during work time, complete with balloons and so forth. They really put people on the spot. During these 'meetings,' held on company (tax-financed) time, they asked for contributions and monthly deductions from individual's paychecks. The activities to be financed with contributions were rather vaguely defined and - my husband thought it was completely outrageous. Wonder if taxpayers know about this. It's an annual process -- at their (taxpayer) expense.
I'm not categorically opposed to the United Way, and there's nothing wrong with soliciting funds AFTER work hours, or via the Mail. But LOCAL charities are best from an accountability perspective. Anything this 'big' gets away from direct control by the actual donors, and can be corruptly administered with the vast majority of contributors knowing nothing about it.
I wonder how much of this money is used for political campaigns and 'non-profit' organizations (you know, -- like Jesse Jackson's crowd). As I recall, many "non-profit" groups are funded via charitable orgs; and help get "voters" (read: Democrats) "registered to vote," etc.
Great.
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