Anna, Thanks for taking the time to share your story with all of us. It sure provided some food for thought. Marilyn G. ----- Original Message ----- From: Cotter, Anna To: PA-PITTSBURGH-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, November 09, 2001 9:09 AM Subject: RE: [PITTSBURGH] 911 donations Hi Everyone, I wanted to post my point of view on this situation although it's going to disagree with other points of views. But I STRONGLY feel that although my opinion is not popular it is important to understand. I'm going to warn you the following is long but I felt it was necessary to get a good an understanding of my point of view. I was helped by the Red Cross on February 17, 1999. (For those of you that want to confirm my story it was published on the front page of the McKeesport Daily news on February 18, 1999). I always saw organizations such as the Red Cross and noticed that they take money that has been donated for "Administrative" costs. I didn't understand why there was such a high amount taken... My house caught on fire while my husband and I were at work by a dryer that was not running at the time. The fire had 3 hours to fully engulf the house before the neighbors noticed it was burning. By the time the fire department got there, their was little they could do. Fortunately, the house was built 150 years ago and it had beams larger than most telephone polls for it's main support and the laundry room was on the top floor and therefore did not collapse. My plug for the fire department -- They did go into the burning building and RESCUE 95% of my pictures. For that, I feel all firefighters are really ANGELS on earth. Especially, in the community where I live where they are volunteers. Yet, they were risking their lives to save "objects" that were important to me. They made three trips into the house for pictures and videos that I can now say would have not survived the fire if it wasn't for their actions. Also, note there was already several firefighters being treated on the scene. Thee firefighters rushed into the house to verify that their were no children in the house as soon as they got there. They knew that I had two children under the age of three and one of the neighbors told them that they may be in there with the babysitter. They were not in the house, thank God! I also noticed that the Salvation Army was there. They were giving out coffee and other drinks to the approximately 100 people there to help. ! I! t was the Salvation Army that called the Red Cross for me. My plug for the RED CROSS. A wonderful lady came out to the scene about 1 hour after she was called arriving in the Red Cross 4 wheel drive SUV. (value of SUV approximately $25,000 -- in my opinion needed -- YES!). There we sat and discussed what I immediately needed. Diapers, Formula, clothes for my children, oh NO my child's medication. You see my child has a skin condition that requires 8 different types of medicines to keep it under control. In addition he needs special soaps and a eight step bath process requiring things that only a pharmacist would have. Most of the medicines he uses require a doctors prescriptions to be able to obtain. The Red Cross worker immediately called her office after answering only a couple of questions they told me that they would be able to get his medicines that night. NOTE: The medicines and soaps where delivered to where I was staying within 2 hours of this initial call by my local pharmacist free of charge (Thank you Rite-Aid)! . ! Was the salary of the Red Cross worker worth it - YES! Was it worth paying the cell phone charge for the phone she had to use - YES! Was it worth for her to be able to contact an office where they pay rent worth it -- YES!. She also gave me an emergency supply of stuff that we take for granted -- Toothbrushes, combs, soap, the basic things you use every day. I also got vouchers to use in the stores to buy additional things. My husband and I had no major credit cards with us. And we needed things right away. Looking back I now understand why the Red Cross has high administrative expenses. On September 12th, I wrote my check to the Red Cross for a considerable about of money. I gave it to the person that was collecting it for my office. My employer matches our funds and therefore, it is easier for these checks to be processed in a batch. When I gave my check, I knew that this was a major disaster and that the Red Cross would have considerable amount of expenses. Did I intend for my money to specifically go to the victims of 9-11? No, I intend my money to be used by the Red Cross for anything that they felt was necessary. If it went to the victims of 9-11 that was fine, but I thought that the Red Cross could best determine where the money was needed. Now I hear news reports such as Bill O'Reily's. I want to say that I normally agree with Bill and the O'Reily Factor. I frequently watch his show. But I don't agree with his stand on this issue. Actually, I feel that he is doing a huge disservice to charities. In my opinion, Bill has taken his stand versus charities to balance his attack on Jessie Jackson and the Rainbow Push organization that he has been bandwagon for awhile. I don't put organizations such as the United Way and Red Cross in the same league as Rainbow Push. I have seen both the United Way and Red Cross help countless of individuals numerous of different times. I cannot remember seeing the Rainbow Push organization doing even one single event to help others. I have been involved with charity organizations for the past 10 years helping with various fund raisers in their behalf. Not once have I seen or been invited to anything that has been done for Rainbow Push. Has anyone else ever seen an event ! sp! onsored by Rainbow Push? I feel very badly for all those families that have lost loved ones in these attacks. My heart goes out to them. Bill is only focusing on the individuals in New York. There have been many other victims that the Red Cross has been helping. I have heard reports on WDUQ (public radio) that there are some people that lived near the World Trade Center that have not been able to return to their apartments and the Red Cross is providing them temporary places to stay. There are many small businesses that cannot open because of restrictions that were placed on them (i.e. restricted area, road closures, etc.) The Red Cross is helping them with their immediate needs. There have been deaths from these attracts not far from Pittsburgh and there are more reports that Red Cross are helping the families of these people. Helping the families pay for expenses that they incurred. The two major problems that I see with the current popular views that the media, in my opinion, is trying to slam down our throats are: 1. The number of missing still decreases daily. There were a number of people that were originally thought to be missing but now it has been determined that they were not in the location of the World Trade Center. Many of the people that are missing are foreigners. It's going to take awhile to determine who was actually there and who was not. There are going to be a number of scam artist trying to get to money that they are not entitled to. I don't think any organization has the necessary personnel to handle a disaster of this type. It has never happened before. The Red Cross has a procedure in place for natural disasters and guidelines of how much to give in these types of disasters. But I doubt that they have guidelines for an act of terrorism. 2. The view that there has been $1,000,000,000 donated split 6000 ways gives each family $167,000 (Just estimating on the numbers here). These organizations are there to help everyone who needs it. Some people were directly affected by losing their primary wage earner. Others are indirectly affected because they have lost their incomes because their place of business has been affected. I can say that I want the money that I donated to go to everyone who needs it. (Not just to the families who lost a family member). Many people who have lost members of their families have personal insurance that is going to cover immediate needs such as funeral expenses, mortgage payments, income protection, etc. Some do not have this insurance and are going to need extra help. I do not agree with the blanket statement that everyone that was affected is going to receive the same amount of help. Help should be provided based on the people's needs. Some people may need $500,000 for t! he! ir families immediate needs. Others may only need $500. I think by saying every family should receive $167,000 based on total contributions is wrong. The last point I want to make is that Bill O'Reily should start his own charity organization. People can donate money to his charity and he can get it out to the victims the same day it comes it with no overhead expenses. I would like to see if he is able to accomplish this for over 50 years. If he truly believes what he is saying he should take personal responsibility and DO IT! He could spend his energy helping others instead of attacking others. Just my point of view. Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. Anna Cotter --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.295 / Virus Database: 159 - Release Date: 11/1/01