Response to Hurricane Katrina
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans opened their hearts to the victims. They also opened their wallets. The Red Cross received over $1 billion in donations as a result. Many small non-profits, however, struggled. Hardest hit were those who promote social justice, who care about children, families, people of color, and the poor. These groups often live on a financial precipice because social justice is not as 'cool' as it used to be. Things got much worse after 9/11 and, after two decades of operation, the Child Care Action Campaign closed its doors in 2003. This failure was a direct result of a significant drop-off in giving after 9/11. Today, the Red Cross has raised almost $1 billion in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and expects to hit $2 billion over time. The dire effects on the rest of the non-profit sector are likely to be magnified this time, given the scale of Katrina was so much larger than the events of 9/11.
It would be ironic if the American people, awoken to the plight of the poor by pictures from New Orleans, ended up hurting the very groups that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the poor. So, when you think about where to direct charitable funds, I hope you will think seriously about the organizations who are often in financial distress. They will need our help now more than ever. Relevant organizations include the American Association of People with Disabilities, Catalyst, Children's Defense Fund, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Labor Project for Working Families, MOTHERS, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, 9to5 - the National Association of Working Women, the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and Legal Momentum: Advancing Women's Rights. No doubt there are many other worthy non-profits, but the point - that we need giving to extend to organizations beyond the Red Cross - remains. Let's not make the disaster that was Katrina even worse.
