American Red Cross Will Spend More Than $300 Million by Year-End from Liberty Fund, Exceeding Commitment for September 11 Aid to Families
News Release: December 27, 2001
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The American Red Cross today announced that it will spend $317.5 million by year-end from the Liberty Disaster Fund, more than it promised just over one month ago, on aid to more than 36,000 families affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The American Red Cross also announced that former United States Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has agreed to become the Independent Overseer of the Liberty Disaster Fund, the separate, segregated account established by the American Red Cross to fund relief efforts in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Chief among Senator Mitchell's responsibilities will be to oversee the development and implementation of a plan to spend the balance of the donations in the Liberty Fund in a manner that best meets the ongoing and long-term needs of those affected by September 11. The Liberty Fund has received $667 million in donations to date, leaving a balance of $350 million for the next phase of activity. The plan for the balance of the fund is scheduled for release at the end of January 2002.
In the Lehigh Valley, $2,277,732 has been donated to the Liberty Fund as of Dec. 26. The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley has been working closely with two Lehigh Valley families that lost a breadwinner in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
"In this, the season of giving, we are grateful for the donors, volunteers and employees whose support has enabled us to help tens of thousands of families affected by the September 11 tragedies and help ease the burdens many are feeling this holiday season," said Harold Decker, CEO, American Red Cross. "We have kept our promise to improve and increase aid to the victims of the September 11 tragedies, and it could not come at a more important time for many families."
"We are honored to have George Mitchell join our effort," said David McLaughlin, Chairman, American Red Cross Board of Governors. "He brings great compassion, experience and leadership to the work we are doing. We are confident his strong will and steady hand will guide the Liberty Fund forward, and do so to the greatest benefit of those in need."
In November, the American Red Cross made a series of commitments to help the families affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks. The organization said it would narrow the focus of the Liberty Fund and use the money exclusively to aid people affected by the disasters. It also announced that it would spend half or $275 million of the amount that had been received at that time by year-end. The Red Cross also said that it would extend its Family Gift program to a full year and in the near term provide another six months of support. And, it agreed to coordinate more closely with other relief agencies and make it easier for families to get help, in part by creating a common data base of people affected by the tragedies.
At a news conference in New York with one of the families that has received support, the organization said that it had met or exceeded each of these commitments. Specifically:
· The $317.5 million spent to date has been focused on support in the aftermath of September 11 and has allowed the Red Cross to provide support to more than 36,000 families affected.
· On December 31, 2001, the family gift program will have spent $139.6 million on a total of 3,202 families, of which almost 2,400 have received nine months of assistance that has averaged $52,500. The assistance has gone to families whose loved ones were lost or seriously injured to help them meet their basic monthly living expenses.
· The Red Cross has helped to create the 9/11 United Services Group along with other relief agencies to improve coordination and service delivery. The organization also is working closely with the New York State Attorney General and the other charities to establish a common database which is key, to improving the ease and efficiency of service delivery. We have been fully engaged in the database process and with our clients' permission have provided the needed data.
"As we know from previous disasters, the needs of those affected today unfortunately will not disappear tomorrow," said Robert M. Bender, Jr. CEO, American Red Cross in Greater New York "That is why we are taking steps to ensure that we have the capacity to support them - and the families to come - in the months, and even years, ahead."
Since September 11, more than 51,000 Red Cross volunteers have reached out to those affected by the disasters. The organization has made over 300,000 health and mental health contacts and operates 36 service delivery sites.
Any family or individual in need of assistance or support related to September 11 is urged to contact the American Red Cross at (877) 746-4987 or call the local Red Cross office at (610) 865-4400.
The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $3 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to nearly 15,500 Lehigh Valley residents.
