The September 11th attack
Charities trying to turn focus back home
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
With the American Red Cross saying it has received enough money nationwide to help victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the organization's Hawai'i chapter yesterday urged donors to give to local charities coping with the economic fallout of those events.
Another venerated service organization, United Way, is making the same "charity begins at home" pitch, locally and nationally.
Roger Dickson, chief executive officer for the Red Cross Hawaii chapter, said a mailing en route to Hawai'i homes will test the chapter's ability to raise money for local causes in the new environment.
"We are encouraging Hawaii residents to consider local community needs in their giving, by donating to support the emerging needs of Hawai'i related to this disaster through local charities," he said.
The mailing, one of many, seeks to raise $85,000 toward the Hawai'i chapter's $3.7 million budget, he said.
Dickson said $1.4 million already raised in Hawai'i specifically for Sept. 11 relief will go to help victims of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross announced yesterday that it is ending appeals for donations for Sept. 11 victims. Contributions received after today will be deposited in the charity's Disaster Relief Fund, a general account for all kinds of emergencies, unless donors specify the money is for the Liberty Fund, said Harold Decker, the organization's interim leader.
Other funds suffer
So far the Liberty Fund has raised $547 million in pledges. Red Cross officials said donations to that fund had resulted in a drop in donations to the Disaster Relief Fund.
The local Red Cross chapter also is finding itself competing with other charitable organizations in Hawai'i for more money in a newly depressed economy.
Some local companies have said they will make no new charitable commitments until they know more about the impact of terrorism on businesses here, Dickson said.
He said the chapter will emphasize local projects such as the addition of anthrax information to a "Masters of Disaster" program teaching school-age children how to respond to catastrophic events.
The Hawai'i chapter will stress the ability of its staff and volunteers to respond to mental health problems created by anxiety brought about by terrorism, he said.
Aloha United Way's president and chief professional officer, Irv Lauber, said the organization is participating in the Hawaii Together program set up by Gov. Ben Cayetano to coordinate public and private response to the effects of terrorism.
AUW has scrapped pre-attack ads in favor of ones reminding citizens of the indirect local effects of Sept. 11 events, he said.
None left to give
Some givers have said they have donated all they can. Others have delayed or suspended their United Way campaigns, "but there are people who have never given before who are giving now, and it kind of offsets it," Lauber said.
Last week the descendants of sugar baron James Campbell announced they were giving $538,850 to the Aloha United Way campaign, which was then $1.2 million behind in contributions to help the needy.
The United Way is going right to the top for help, Lauber said: President Bush has taped a public service announcement urging citizens to "make sure they take care of local needs."
Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.
