The September 11th Fund Final Report Details How Many Were Helped and How
NEW YORK, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The September 11th Fund announced today
that it has completed its mission and is dissolving. Created by The New York
Community Trust and United Way of New York City on September 11, 2001, the
Fund was formed to set policies and make grants to meet the immediate and
longer-term needs of affected victims, families and communities.
Unprecedented in numerous ways -- from the enormity of the attack to the
tremendous volume of donations from people across the globe -- the Fund
collected $534 million from more than two million donors. It addressed the
broadest range of victims with the widest range of needs. Hundreds of
experts, academics and agencies helped design the emergency and longer-term
programs which were implemented through 559 grants totaling $528 million. The
Fund was also first to ask people to stop sending donations. In January 2002
it asked donors to redirect contributions to long-standing community issues
since its resources, when combined with those of other charities, were
appropriate to accomplish its goals. In addition, through an unprecedented
collaboration, the American Red Cross will continue funding the 9/11 Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Program after January 1, 2005.
A Final Report detailing how more than 100,000 people were helped is
available after December 8, 2004 on the Fund's website at
http://www.september11fund.org. In addition to descriptions and statistics,
the report contains articles from 20 business and community leaders including
New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Special Master of the September
11th Victim's Compensation Fund Kenneth Feinberg, Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts
III, Continuum Health Partners' CEO Stanley Brezenoff, former Hispanic
Federation President Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez, and CBS Executive Vice President
Martin D. Franks.
The Fund leaves a legacy of information and lessons learned about planning
for disaster assistance, collecting and sharing information after a disaster,
how to address the unemployment needs of a changing workforce, and even how to
close a charity.
Notable statistics from the Final Report include:
* The terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 2,973 people from 800 cities
(figure does not include the 19 hijackers). The Fund provided assistance
to victims and surviving families no matter where they live, reaching
people in 41 states and 16 countries.
* Leaders of the broadcast networks and entertainment industry raised
$129 million on September 21 through the telethon "America: A Tribute
to Heroes."
* $261 million in cash assistance was delivered to more than 45,000
individuals supporting more than 100,000 people.
* $78 million ($36 million in income support) was provided to more than
11,000 displaced workers who enrolled in what became the largest
employment program of its kind in the U.S. 2.2 million hours of
occupational training and one million hours of English as a Second
Language were provided.
* $54 million helped thousands of small businesses and non-profits in New
York City and Reagan National Airport to survive.
* $36.9 million was spent to help more than 100,000 people find help
through hotlines, resource guides and case managers.
* $32.2 million supported 15,000 parents and kids by providing free health
care.
* $12.1 million helped 10,000 people find new hope through mental health
and substance abuse counseling.
* $11.8 million sustained 20,780 people with free legal assistance for
issues such as settling an estate, procuring death certificates, and
applying to the Federal Victim's Compensation Fund.
* Over $10 million supported art therapy, child support groups,
after-school programs and more for 25,000 students who experienced the
terrorist attacks firsthand or were traumatized by the evacuation or
relocation from their schools.
"We reflect on our work of the last three years with a mixture of sadness,
pride and gratitude," noted Board Chairman Franklin Thomas. "There is sadness
about the attacks and all the horror and damage they caused that will never
fully go away. We are proud of the agencies that did their best to help as
many victims, their families and affected communities as possible. And we are
thankful to have had the opportunity to help."
"There was no one right answer to the questions we faced and little in the
way of similar experience to guide us. We had to reach victims from the entire
Metropolitan area as well as those from other parts of the country and other
countries. It was important to help people quickly, but also to meet their
longer term needs; to help those most directly and immediately affected, and
also address the larger impacted communities; to reach all the victims
including those who do not understand English, and those whose life
circumstances made them reluctant to seek assistance. We created programs that
were effective and also fair; and that minimized red tape, but were not
duplicative of what was adequately provided by others."
- Carol Kellermann, Executive Director and CEO, the September 11th Fund
Background on the September 11th Fund
The September 11th Fund was established the day of the terrorist attacks
by The New York Community Trust and United Way of New York City to meet the
immediate and long-term needs of affected victims, families and communities.
The Fund works by making grants to nonprofit organizations and agencies with
the expertise to meet a wide range of needs quickly. The Fund is chaired by
Franklin Thomas, and governed by a board drawn from United Way, the Trust, and
the civic and business community. 100 percent of donations are used for
grants; administrative costs are raised or donated separately. Find more
information about specific grants and details about the Fund at
http://www.september11fund.org.
Contact: Jocelyn S. Weiss - 212-561-7464
SOURCE The September 11th Fund
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Related links:
http://www.september11fund.org
CONTACT:
Jocelyn S. Weiss of The September 11th Fund,
+1-212-561-7464
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