TheLoop21.com

By: Devona Walker (Add to your loop)
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 09:29

How come no one's questioning the Red Cross?

Some are using the earthquake in Haiti as an opportunity to discredit musician Wyclef Jean. He’s a young, black male entertainer. And he’s doing something they don’t like— bringing attention to a humanitarian effort that does not fall in line with their "us against them" rhetoric. If you watch how Fox News and the like have covered the crisis in Haiti, it’s as if they are pissed off there isn’t more looting going on. See here, here and here.

There may be some unanswered questions about Jean’s Yele Haiti foundation. There appears to be about $100,000 he paid back-up performers and whatnot, associated with a benefit concert. But this is a charity he started out of his own pocket. Most of what has been reported about Jean appears miniscule compared to the organization’s tangible good works.

Meanwhile, no one questions the American Red Cross, the nation’s largest relief agency; an organization that has been mired in scandal, both personal and fiscal for roughly a decade, the agency who has received the lion’s share of relief funds for Haiti, about $147 million, $25 million alone from $10 text donations.

Woes at the ARC

Issues at the American Red Cross did not begin with 9/11. But in its aftermath some of the organization’s internal issues came to light. It was revealed that hundreds of millions of dollars donated to the ARC to aid survivors and their family members were actually used on Red Cross operating expenses, trying to plug a funding gap at the agency. Then a few short years later, the American Red Cross was embroiled once again for its response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. 

In New Orleans and the coastal flood plains of Mississippi, even though the ARC’s coffers were swollen with money to address the disaster, the ARC did not immediately open shelters, provide food and other necessities to people closest to ground zero.

"The Red Cross has been my biggest disappointment," said Tim Kellar, the administrator of Hancock County, Miss in a New York Times article. "I held it in such high esteem until we were in the time of need. It was nonexistent."

Even some of ARC’s own volunteers were disgusted.

"I will never, ever wear the Red Cross vest again," said Betty Brunner, who started volunteering in 1969 when Hurricane Camille destroyed her house. She quit in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina, over the ARC’s weak response.

Two days after Hurricane Katrina, there were no shelters in New Orleans and very few in the coastal communities. 

But that’s not even the end of ARC’s problems. It has gone through six presidents in the last nine years, several of whom were forced out. One was fired for having an inappropriate “sexual relationship with a subordinate.” 

"We learn from every single disaster," said Gail McGovern, the ARC’s current president. "What we learned from Katrina is that we can't do this alone."

"We have been working very hard to gain the trust of the American public. This outpouring of generosity is a sign of that trust and a very strong desire to help the people of Haiti," she added.

McGovern has been at the helm of the ARC since 2008. Her primary goal when she was hired was to get the ARC to clean up its act. She had to turn around the agency’s finances. They laid off one-third of its employees, about 3,000 people, during McGovern’s two-year tenure. When she took over, the ARC faced a $210 million deficit. It received $100 million in emergency funds from Congress and has since been able to reduce that gap to about $35.5 million.

But even in light of this tangible history of mismanagement and fiscal abuse, no one is giving the “donor beware” speech about the ARC.

I delve into issues at the ARC a little hesitantly because in times like this when there is so much dire need and times are so tough at home, even the slightest doubt can be a justification not to give. 

You should research a charity to ensure the money is going where is it suppose to go. There are sites who track philanthropies and can guide you on their legitimacy. But you should not allow a few manipulative, trash-talking conservative bloggers prevent you from giving.

I only bring up the ARC's fiscal problems for the sake of comparison.

The real point here is examining the motives of folks who are trying to unearth scandal and lay it at Jean's feet. Why? Perhaps, it is because he's Haitian. He's the face of those suffering in Haiti. So, in their mind, who cares? 50,000 dead. 200,000 dead. They are poor. The government is corrupt. We've got our own problems. Is that the jist of it?

Devona Walker is TheLoop21.com's senior financial/political reporter and blogger. She can be reached at devona@theloop21.com.

Should 'We are the World' have been remade for Haiti?

Yes, it's inspiring

Maybe, it could be better

No, the original was fine

I don't know

I haven't seen it to decide