Wednesday, October 31, 2001

Red Cross ends appeals for Liberty Fund donations
By Darlene Superville
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The American Red Cross is halting its appeals for donations to a fund created to help victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, its interim chief executive officer said Tuesday.

The Liberty Fund held $547 million in pledges as of Monday.

Contributions received after Wednesday will be deposited in the charity’s Disaster Relief Fund, a general account servicing all kinds of emergencies, unless donors specify the money is for the Liberty Fund, said Harold Decker, the organization’s interim leader.

Liberty Fund money will continue to be held separately from other funds, Decker said, and will be spent on aid to victims’ families and other relief efforts arising from the attacks.

“That is the way the fund was set up. That is what donors expect,” he told reporters.

During a weekend meeting of the Red Cross’ governing board, Decker was chosen to succeed Bernadine Healy, who resigned Friday, until a committee finds a permanent replacement.

In her resignation, Healy cited differences with the board, including her decision to keep those Liberty Fund dollars separate from the organization’s main relief fund.

Decker said charitable groups that are raising money to help those affected by the terrorist attacks should read nothing into the American Red Cross’ decision to close the Liberty Fund.

“We’re not trying to send signals to other people,” he said.

One factor in the decision is that fund raising for the Liberty Fund apparently has contributed to a drop in its Disaster Relief Fund, which held $26 million as of Sept. 30, said chief financial officer Jack Campbell. The fund’s target is about $57 million, he said.

Decker said it was recognized from the beginning that the Liberty Fund was created for a specific event and would eventually be closed.

He said the decision shouldn’t hamper future fund raising.

“If we need to come up with support and relief for our fellow citizens in another time, in another place, in another manner, the American Red Cross will do it,” Decker said.

As for criticism of the handling of the Liberty Fund and Healy’s abrupt departure from the nation’s largest charity at such a critical time, Decker said the “American people understand the Red Cross is doing its very best under very difficult circumstances.

“This is not a one-person operation and the Red Cross will go forward,” he said.