Authored by Carey Wedler via TheAntiMedia.org,
Though the Red Cross has a historical reputation for providing relief to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies, the organization’s practices have tarnished its name over the last few years.
Amid the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010, the Red Cross reportedly accepted nearly $500 million in relief money but built only six homes with the funds even though they claimed they had provided homes to 130,000 people. These failures prompted some Haitians to advise the world against donating funds to the Red Cross.
The organization was accused of diverting resources and supplies to bolster its public image during Hurricane Sandy. As an investigation by NPR and ProPublica found:
“The Red Cross national headquarters in Washington ‘diverted assets for public relations purposes.’
A former Red Cross official managing the Sandy effort says 40 percent of available trucks were assigned to serve as backdrops for news conferences.”
The outlets reported that “[d]istribution of relief was ‘politically driven instead of [Red Cross] planned,’” noting many organizational failures.
Further, a report released last year by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley found that 25% of funds donated to aid in relief for victims of the earthquake was actually spent on internal costs. That amounted to roughly $124 million.
Now, amid the hurricane in Texas, the Red Cross is admitting it currently doesn’t know how the funds it’s receiving are being spent.
NPR’s Morning Edition interviewed Red Cross executive Brad Kieserman to ask how the funds will be distributed. Kieserman said that as of Wednesday morning, “had spent $50 million on Harvey relief, mainly on 232 shelters for 66,000 people.”
“Through donations, how much of every dollar goes to relief?” NPR’s Ailsa Chang asked him.
But he responded without actually providing an answer to her question:
“Yeah, I don’t think I know the answer to that any better than the chief fundraiser knows how many, how much it costs to put a volunteer downrange for a week and how many emergency response vehicles I have on the road today. So I think if he was on this interview and you were asking how many relief vehicles in Texas, I don’t think he’d know the answer and I don’t know the answer to the financial question I’m afraid.”
She pressed him about the Red Cross’ previous failures and misallocation of resources. According to NPR’s transcript:
“Is that still happening? Such a substantial percentage of donations going to internal administrative costs, rather than to relief?
“Kieserman: It’s not something I would have any visibility on. I can talk about what it costs to deliver certain relief services.
“Chang: Yeah.
“Kieserman: But the way the internal revenue stream works, uhh …
“Chang: You don’t know what portion of that amount.
“Kieserman: Not really.
“Chang: You don’t know what portion of that total amount is for relief.
“Kieserman: No, I really don’t. I wish I could answer your question, but it’s not something I have visibility on in the role that I play in this organization.
The executive ultimately claimed that “The folks I work for are very, very attentive to cost effectiveness and cost efficiencies in making sure that as much as every dollar that we spend on an operation is client-facing.”
Slate reporter Jonathan Katz also reported the organization declined to disclose how much money they had spent or raised so far. Katz ultimately urged readers not to contribute to the Red Cross.
The Red Cross continues to face criticism and urgings for individuals who want to help to take their donations elsewhere. The Independent reports that over the weekend, Dan Gillmor, author and professor at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, advised against donating to the Red Cross. Many other social media users have expressed similar sentiments.
Despite the Red Cross’ failings, however, there are still many organizations doing important work.
The group A Just Harvey Recovery lists a number of local efforts accepting contributions. The Cajun Navy, a volunteer effort that previously rescued victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Louisiana floods last year, has also been working round the clock in Texas and is accepting donations. There are many organizations and shelters working locally to provide relief and essential services. If you would like to contribute or volunteer, you can find some of them here, here and here.
Comments
Hold your money until we know what the full scope of the damage is.
I will never donate to Red Cross. When the CEO of a “charity” is making mid six figures and does not know where the money goes… Something there is rotten.
In reply to Hold your money until we know by ET (not verified)
Ever since Red Cross misdirected the 911 money from the vicitms of 911 to other places, I stopped giving to them. Give directly to folks or a reliable church group doing stuff on the ground there imo.The Red Cross-911 scandal was so bad the head of the Red Cross resigned. After the 9/11 disaster people united to raise $530 million. The American Red Cross decided to put over $200 million of that money into long-term goals or administrative costs. Shouldn’t this money be used in aiding disaster efforts instead of using it for future plans? This is a strange way of distributing money. It is said that only $40 million of the $530 million has been distributed to families of victims. Donors thought the money donated was going straight to families but more than 6 weeks after the disaster, thousands of families affected had not received any help from American Red Cross. The American Red Cross used this money donated from a huge catastrophe to make their non-profit organization stronger. http://learnbeforeyoudonate.weebly.com/red-cross-scandals.html
In reply to I will never donate to by Manthong
Same here.After 9/11 I gave both the Red Cross and The Salvation Army $1,000 each. Then I learned that Red Cross diverted the donation.I didn't usually donate to the Red Cross, but it seemed to be one of the things to do after 9/11.I learned my lesson.Now, I donate exclusively to the Salvation Army from that experience, and my own personal experience with the Salvation Army during multiple hurricanes in Florida.The exectuve for disaster relief with the Salvation Army makes a salary of roughly $12K per year, plus housing. Most of their workers are volunteers. Their low overhead puts better than 95% of donations to the purpose intended.There is no other charity, save small, localized ones, that beats that ratio.
In reply to Ever since Red Cross by Son of Loki
Salvation Army is one of the good outfits. Over 95% of their donations go toward helping others and not on bureaucracy.
In reply to Same here. After 9/11 I gave by HedgeJunkie
Agree entirely. Of course none of the leftists will contribute to that organization...because religion.
In reply to Salvation Army is one of the by Gardentoolnumber5
People should not give their hard-earned money to organizations, religious or not, just because they ask. http://wp.me/p4OZ4v-18O
In reply to Agree entirely. Of course by bh2
Good news! The Red Cross was given Millions for disaster relief in Haiti. They then went and built a wopping 6 homes. Thats it. I believe the Clintons where involved, that might explain where some of the money went. There are beter charities, do your homework before you give.
In reply to People should not give their by sincerely_yours
About the scam known as the Clinton Foundation:charlesortel.comHe has been conducting his own forensic accounting investigation for a few years. Everytime he turns over a rock, he finds more dirt.
In reply to Good news! The Red Cross was by MozartIII
Chelsea Clinton chimes in.https://twitter.com/TheGreatFeather/status/904053271089819648What a spoiled, disconnected sociopath!
In reply to About the scam known as the by azusgm
No -- the Sally Ann is just as crooked as all the others, spending most of the funds on real estate and other investment holdings. I used to work for them before I quit in disgust. The guy who'd worked there before me also quit.They talk a good talk, though, and add the fake Christian smarm, but it's all just talk. Like every other brand-name charity, their first priority is making money, not distributing it.
In reply to Salvation Army is one of the by Gardentoolnumber5
I use this site- https://www.charitynavigator.org/
In reply to Same here. After 9/11 I gave by HedgeJunkie
I've read this same story about Red Cross vs The Salvation Army over and over again.Administrative costs are much lower than those at Red. Cross.Goodwill is another "charity," but it's been taken over by corporate bosses.Red Cross is your best bet.
In reply to Same here. After 9/11 I gave by HedgeJunkie
I met a commander of the Salvation Army and he was a pompous a hole strutting around his office in his all white uniform while his little servants waited on him. He has an 11 million dollar budget was all I picked up on while there. So what? It's donated money not his (or was it) ;/. Red. Cross Knight Templar logo yeah that money isn't going anywhere purposeful.
In reply to Same here. After 9/11 I gave by HedgeJunkie
They are not even trying to safe face, they are just being simply cynicals now..they know that lots of people are asleep, naive or still believing in the dinosaurs fairy-tale.. I've been living in Houston for 18 years. So, I know the city well. During the three days of the hurricane harvey, I was driving around the city, because if it is true that Harvey was one of the most severe storm that we have gonne thru, it is also true that there are many streets that do not get flooded and it was some of those street i used to get around during the 3 day storm. Now, almost all of the severe flooding happened near the creeks, bayou, and rivers therefore, the residents near them were the most affected. On the other hand, when I returned home and turned the tv on one could see the mayor of houston giving interview on interview. But nothing was done. He would say that people were being rescued that the national guard was in town but believe me i did not see no national guard around houston what I did see was people helping people, neighbors helping neighbors, churches helping the community and so for but no national guard, few fire department helping. Please if you want to donate do not give to government agencies that includes the red cross. Instead, donate to churches, community organizers. When you see a politician on tv saying that they have or are helping do not believe them, it is just propaganda...
In reply to Ever since Red Cross by Son of Loki
I just wrote a check to the Louisiana Cajun Navy. You can find them here then scroll down and jump over to their Facebook page for more information.http://www.louisianacajunnavy.org/God bless them.BTW, the Red Cross has a US congressional charter. Did not know that.
In reply to They are not even trying to by DON QUIJOTE
They are a covert intel group.
In reply to I just wrote a check to the by azusgm
Mid six figures lol... that's fucking funny. The county chairs are making over 100k. Try low Eight figures with bennies and fringes for the overall head.
In reply to I will never donate to by Manthong
The CEO is making six figures because they built a marketing system that collects seven figures. The CEO is not paid on how well the Red Cross performs during disasters.
In reply to I will never donate to by Manthong
I don't give to charities where the CEO makes more money than I do. Period.
In reply to The CEO is making six figures by auricle
I like food banks; one in every disaster spot! They need the money for the most part.
In reply to I don't give to charities by New_Meat
I discovered about ten years ago that the Red Cross is a total scam. My daughter, who was a student at that time, worked just ONE DAY for the Red Cross and realized what total bullshit their organization was. Her specific task was to canvas for funding by going door-to-door across the city. On his first assignment, my daughter was sent to a poor neighbourhood where it was apparent that most residents could barely manage to pay their monthly bills for groceries and rent. Yet, somehow generosity and kind-heartedness would get the better of most of them, and many were willing to make a single donation of $20 / $25 cash up front. Do you think the Red Cross was satisfied with such "measly" donations? Oh no! Canvassers needed to explain to their targets that the organization only took donations by credit card, with friendly payment schedules that would enable donors to pay certain amounts on a monthly basis... $5, $10 a month.... with the pitch that giving 25 or 50 cents a day was really not a big deal after all. In other words, poor people were being pressured into using their credit cards for making donations that were far more substantial that one-off cash payments. My daughter immediately felt uncomfortable solliciting money from people who seemed like they were the ones who may have needed financial support themselves. So she quit her job that same day and told me what happened.When I heard my daughter's story, I was livid. The next day I made a few phone calls to the Red Cross, letting them know in diplomatic terms how I felt about their rather shady canvassing methods. I spoke to a senior Red Cross representative who feigned shock and disbelief, telling me that their canvassers were not instructed to insist on credit card donations, that cash payments or cheques were indeed also accepted. The representative also told me that they would "look into it" and get back to me, thanking me for informing them.Weeks went by, with no follow-up call whatsoever. So a wrote a letter to the senior person responsible for the Red Cross in my region. Never got a reply from them. So there you have it. Don't be surprised with what you're reading today about the Red Cross. They are a wolf in sheep's clothing. My advice is for people to stay away from them.
In reply to I will never donate to by Manthong
They are not even trying to safe face, they are just being simply cynicals now..they know that lots of people are asleep, naive or still believing in the dinosaurs fairy-tale.. I've been living in Houston for 18 years. So, I know the city well. During the three days of the hurricane harvey, I was driving around the city, because if it is true that Harvey was one of the most severe storm that we have gonne thru, it is also true that there are many streets that do not get flooded and it was some of those street i used to get around during the 3 day storm. Now, almost all of the severe flooding happened near the creeks, bayou, and rivers therefore, the residents near them were the most affected. On the other hand, when I returned home and turned the tv on one could see the mayor of houston giving interview on interview. But nothing was done. He would say that people were being rescued that the national guard was in town but believe me i did not see no national guard around houston what I did see was people helping people, neighbors helping neighbors, churches helping the community and so for but no national guard, few fire department helping. Please if you want to donate do not give to government agencies that includes the red cross. Instead, donate to churches, community organizers. When you see a politician on tv saying that they have or are helping do not believe them, it is just propaganda...
In reply to I discovered about ten years by 20-20 Hindsight
Blood suckers. A great article BTW. Well worth the time to educate one's self.http://rense.com/general28/ddosb.htm
In reply to Hold your money until we know by ET (not verified)
That was a great article. Every now and then Rense hits it out of the park. I will be following that medical dentist's work. The Thule society is completely legit also, Sutton investigated that. Rockefeller, the Rothschild frontman who is akin to Soros today, didn't just about own our entire oil industry but he also destroyed our medical system and it was intentional.
In reply to Blood suckers. A great by El Oregonian
That dentist was making documentaries about how the US was funding ISIS way back in 2015. He seems to avoid the Zionist issue some but not entirely. He also made documentaries about vaccines."...owner Ari Emanuel is connected to the White House, concealing the CIA’s financing and arming of ISIS. The Emanuel brothers are radical Revisionist Zionists. Ari and the CIA largely directs the “Militant Media” on every side of the Judeo-Christian / Muslim divide. They are complicit with Sheikh Al Thani of Qatar in devil-doing..." documentary
In reply to Blood suckers. A great by El Oregonian
Clinton's are the shadow CEO of the Red cross
In reply to Hold your money until we know by ET (not verified)
The Red Cross has been on the (((International Cabal's))) shitlist ever since they estimated a total of 270,000 died in KZ camps in the Holocaust- a far cry from Muh 6 Bazillion
Clicked on article looking for this comment. Was not disappointed.
And lo and behold the author of the article is weasel faced jew
In reply to The Red Cross has been on the by totenkopf88
first order of business for the red cross in Haiti - build a hotel for their employees...Not one cent for these crooks!
You didn't expect them to stay in Haitian hotels did you?
In reply to first order of business for by Grumbleduke
Walmart asked me to donate to the disaster relief..... I didn't for this exact reason.
Charities are operated solely for the benefit of their employees. They may make the required 5% spending level but keep the rest for themselves. Fancy headquarters, multimillion dollar salaries for executives and other perquisites are the name of the game. Charities are US IRS (US Infernal Revenuer Satanists) approved Scams. Just look at the KKK (Klinton Krime Klan) "charity" for all the proof you'll ever need. Keep your money for yourself where it'll do the most good.
Here ya go!
Why Haitians Don't Want You to Donate to the Red Cross
It’s time for the world to recognize the web of cronyism and incompetence that organizations like the Red Cross and Clinton Foundation so often represent.
https://fee.org/articles/why-haitians-dont-want-you-to-donate-to-the-re…
Former IRS commissioner
fired from Red Cross
http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/dont_mess_with_taxes/2007/11/forme…
https://www.propublica.org/article/red-cross-ceo-has-been-misleading-ab…
In reply to Charities are operated solely by gregga777
I have been trying to raise money for CCSA.US basketball team. I have no overhead. ALL money goes directly to equipment the kids need. Got banned from zerohedge for ONE post. I have been here 6yrs, befor that. My school is a 501c3 non-profit school. gf.me/u/bt32n8
In reply to Charities are operated solely by gregga777
Checked out your 'school' as best I could online. Website not updated since 1/2015? About $1 million in revenue at that time? 140 students. Is enrollment less or more now? Too many admin staff for a 'mission'? How much are they paid? Is the Pastor paid for school involvement? Has 'mission' become business or is it already a racket? There is probably plenty of money among the church congregation and parents if they actually cared about your pet project. I would not give a penney to you, and you should be embarrased 'pan-handleing' on this or any other website. Can't you see Jesus just shaking His head at you in disbelief?
In reply to I have been trying to raise by I Quit
CBS and Fox cover Trump at the shelters handing out food and talking to folks to get a first hand look at things. he also donated $1 million of his own money to the Harvey releief efforts. CNN and MSNBC ignore it completely as does the alt left WaPo.Meanwhile, the Clinton Foundation allegedly embezzled Haiti relief money.Liberalism, the Clintons and the DNC are diseases.
George Clooney can hand a few million to Soros but has not donated a penny to the suffering in Houston. Oh yeah, where's Meryl Streep?Ellene Degenerate?Michael Moore?Al Gore?Anderson Cooper?Cheapskate hypocrits.
Ellene gave $50K to JJ Watt fund drive.
In reply to George Clooney can hand a few by Handful of Dust
Dats mighty white of her: Although DeGeneres just runs a talk show and hosts awards and stuff (her net worth is $200 million), she makes about $65 million a year approximately. $50k is less then she paid for her last car.
In reply to Ellene gave $50K to JJ Watt by all-priced-in
If she makes 65mm a year and is worth 200mm, where has her money been going for the decades she has been on television? Up her nose?
In reply to Dats mighty white of by Handful of Dust
Lets see. $65M a year and donated $50k. Wow, she donated .076% of how much she makes. What a flake...
In reply to Ellene gave $50K to JJ Watt by all-priced-in
She's another libtard hypocrit.
In reply to Lets see. $65M a year and by incharge1976
All living comfortably in their 10,000+ square foot homes while telling the working stiffs watching them how to donate. Anyone on tv is an actor, only concerned with ratings so that sponsors will give freely. Truth, honesty and concern for their fellow man's wellbeing have NOTHING to do with what these scumbags are about.
In reply to George Clooney can hand a few by Handful of Dust
"Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley found that 25% of funds donated to aid in relief for victims of the earthquake was actually spent on internal costs. That amounted to roughly $124 million."
Internal costs of $124 million? For what? A telephone, desk, and website? Fuck the Red Cross! Money grubbing leeches.
Salvation Army for the win. Great organization doing it right. Peace.
Them or Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse. He is also not shy about attacking what he considers evil in this world
In reply to Salvation Army for the win. by Secret Weapon
95% of the money will go to the crooked politicians, this is why I never donate...
They are not even trying to safe face, they are just being simply cynicals now..they know that lots of people are asleep, naive or still believing in the dinosaurs fairy-tale.. I've been living in Houston for 18 years. So, I know the city well. During the three days of the hurricane harvey, I was driving around the city, because if it is true that Harvey was one of the most severe storm that we have gonne thru, it is also true that there are many streets that do not get flooded and it was some of those street i used to get around during the 3 day storm. Now, almost all of the severe flooding happened near the creeks, bayou, and rivers therefore, the residents near them were the most affected. On the other hand, when I returned home and turned the tv on one could see the mayor of houston giving interview on interview. But nothing was done. He would say that people were being rescued that the national guard was in town but believe me i did not see no national guard around houston what I did see was people helping people, neighbors helping neighbors, churches helping the community and so for but no national guard, few fire department helping. Please if you want to donate do not give to government agencies that includes the red cross. Instead, donate to churches, community organizers. When you see a politician on tv saying that they have or are helping do not believe them, it is just propaganda...
In reply to 95% of the money will go to by Gold Banit
The Salvation Army squeezes a nickel into a dime. I love their motto, "Doing the Most Good."