Red Cross Funds Raised for Sept. 11 Victims

Bernadine Healy’s resignation is an act of courage and morality, two traits sorely lacking in the American Red Cross, the organization she so honorably served as president (“Red Cross Chief Quits Amid Policy Disputes,” Oct. 27).

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Healy created the Liberty Disaster Fund, specifically designed to provide terrorist-related relief. The American Red Cross aggressively solicited contributions, allegedly to help the 9/11 disaster victims and their families. Donations were made in excess of $500 million to date. The Red Cross now admits that only a portion of those funds will be distributed to the 9/11 victims and their families.

Healy couldn’t, in conscience, remain silent. Obviously, the American Red Cross isn’t burdened, or guided, by conscience. Its ads flashed photos of the twin towers, the faces of grieving relatives and the bodies of victims. People donated because of those images. At the very least, the American Red Cross engaged in false advertising. At the most, it perpetrated a fraud.

Arlene Friedman

Beverly Hills

Your article gave some pretty disturbing figures. Of the $500 million raised so far, only 42% has even been designated for [Sept. 11 victims] relief donations. This money has been raised across the United States by people of all ages, beliefs and religions including Muslims. Other charitable organizations and causes are now feeling the pinch because of the generosity shown to the victims of the attack.

How many people, having made donations out of a spirit of generosity, compassion and patriotism, are now to feel cheated by this monolithic organization and its questionable practices in the handling of these funds? Children especially will wonder if breaking their piggy banks was such a wise thing to do after all; of such stuff are cynics made.

Nelson Wong

Irvine