Funds donated to aid attack victims may be put on hold to aid future victims

file photo/Arizona Daily Wildcat

Marketing senior Heather Husband, front, and retail sophomore Lauren Hall of Pi Beta Phi sorority help color in flags on Sept. 16 for victims of the attacks. Many groups that donated time and money to attack victims say they are unsure of exactly where their funds are being allocated.

As concerns about the allocation of Sept. 11 relief funds begin to rise, many UA students and faculty may be wondering exactly where their donations are going.

Richard White, executive director of the Southern Arizona chapter of the Red Cross, said he feels that the American public should know exactly how their donations are being spent.

There is a strict process in place for the allocation of donations, he explained. Unless otherwise specified in a donor's letter, 90 percent of a donation is allocated to the National Red Cross.

But where exactly within the Red Cross that money is funneled is not always made clear to the donor.

"I believe that the Red Cross has made a well thought-out and wise decision," White said about the allocation of donations it receives. "However, I am disappointed with how the Red Cross is communicating this timely and important information to the American public."

Caroline Coan, a sophomore majoring in Spanish, provided her time and support for attack victims by independently collecting donations on the UA Mall on the Thursday and Friday after the attacks. Coan, who set up a table and collected donations from students walking by, raised more than $3000.

However, while Coan said she is certain that the money was donated to the American Red Cross Sept. 11 Fund, she is uncertain of where the money has been specifically allocated.

"I think the Red Cross does a number of things with the donated money," she said.

Cpl. Robert Yanez, who organized the Tucson Marine Corps Reserve car wash, donated 9.11 percent of proceeds to the New York Disaster Relief Fund.

"We wanted to give the money to some of the Marines hurt or helping in the disaster relief, but we were told it could not be narrowed down that specifically," Yanez said.

The group was told that its money would instead be donated to the National Disaster Relief Fund, through the Southern Arizona's chapter of the American Red Cross, due to overwhelming donations to the New York Disaster Relief Fund.

The group was also told that its money would be put on hold, in case of any future attacks or disasters.

Many other groups set up shop on the Mall in the days and weeks following the attacks in order to raise money. Some sold pins and flags and others sold T-shirts and hats in an attempt to raise money for relief funds.

Greek organizations also banded together to raise funds. Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity joined with the Alpha Phi sorority to raise funds for attack victims. The two groups made red, white and blue ribbons and gave them to students in exchange for a donation. Together, they raised $16,541.

"The checks were made out every day to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund," said Pi Kappa Alpha President John Clark. "I assume all of the money went to New York."

White said that since the Sept. 11 attacks, $562 million has been donated nationwide, and that approximately $300 million has gone to help victims and their families in New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston and Los Angeles. In addition, $100 million has been allocated to help preserve blood reserves, purchase new equipment and hire blood technicians.

Finally, $45 million has been set aside for improvement of telecommunications and publicity regarding terrorism and safety precautions to prepare for biological attacks. The additional funds gathered have been put into a reserve fund for the preparation and maintenance of national safety.