W000237
Thursday, November 08, 2001 11:44 AM
No Double Dipping
I am writing in response to the request for public comments on how the
victims compensation fund should be distributed. I strongly believe there
should be limitations on double dipping into multiple charitable donation
funds and that financial need should be a factor is awarding distributions to
victims' families.
Like many Americans, my husband and I wanted to do something to help
following the September 11 tragedies. We made a large donation to the Red
Cross without really thinking about how, exactly, this money would be spent.
I guess I thought it would be used in the rescue effort or to help families
of lower income workers (such as food service or cleaning staff) who died in
the attack. I also wanted to help families of the rescue workers who died
rushing to assist others.
A month after the tragedies I read an article that focused on the widows of
men who worked for an investment firm in the World Trade Center. They were
complaining that they were barely getting by on their husbands' final
paychecks of Sept 14 and money from the Red Cross. One woman complained that
she had received "only" $5,000 from the Red Cross and that she just hadn't
been able to make ends meet. She had already used the money to buy a new
SUV. I would imagine these husbands' salaries were much higher than my
husband's and mine combined. While it is tragic that this woman lost her
husband, I would think his paycheck plus $5,000 should be enough to get her
by for a month. I began to regret being so quick to make a donation.
A few days later I read an article in our local paper about how local
charities were suffering because people had donated so much to the 9/11
funds. This article pointed out that charitable donations alone were enough
to make each victim's family millionaires many times over. In addition they
will receive social security, life insurance, and probably eventually law
suit settlements. Meanwhile other worthy causes were suffering. I began to
wish I could ask for my money back.
So, yes, please do whatever you can to see that my hard-earned money goes to
those who really need and appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Oakdale, Minnesota