Dear Sun Spots: Could you please tell me the names of the countries that have given money to the United States for relief towards Hurricane Katrina victims and how much and to what department was it given? – No Name, No Town.
Answer:
Unfortunately, Sun Spots could not begin the mammoth task of finding out the amount of money collected and to which departments. It would be impossible to tell, as costs continue to rise and contributions continue to be made both worldwide and here in America.
However, according to an Associated Press article posted on The Washington Post Web site, Americans have donated just a little more than $1 billion to charities aiding families displaced by the disaster. That pace of giving exceeds the rate in the two weeks following the Sept. 11 attacks on America, and in the two-and-a-half weeks after 2004’s massive tsunami.
Stacy Palmer, editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, believes the total amount of donations could eventually hit $2 billion.
The bulk of donations are going to the American Red Cross, which as of early last week had collected $762.5 million, while the Salvation Army garnered $85.7 million, according to Palmer. An initiative started by former U.S. Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton has attracted $100 million in donations, Palmer said.
Among the celebrities to offer individual donations, actor George Clooney has given $1 million to the United Way Hurricane Katrina Response Fund, courtroom thriller writer John Grisham has given $5 million to a relief fund he and his wife set up to aid Mississippi residents, and hip hop star Jay Z has given $1 million to the Red Cross.
Palmer estimated that roughly half of the $1 billion collected for those displaced by Katrina comes from corporations, and half from individuals.
So far, the largest corporate donation has come from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the retail giant, which has given $15 million to the Bush-Clinton effort. The Walton family, which owns a majority of the retailer, donated another $15 million.
Other corporate donations have come from Exxon Mobil Corp., which staked $7 million to the charities, and General Electric Co., which is giving $6 million to The American Red Cross. General Electric is also providing $10 million of services and products such as water purifiers and medical devices. Miller Brewing Co. has promised up to $1 million to the American Red Cross and 15 truckloads of water each week this month. Starbucks Coffee Co., meanwhile, has promised $5 million in a five-year period.
Also among those mustering support for Katrina families are athletes. Two National Football League games incorporated a fundraising telethon from ABC’s Times Square studio in New York City. The telethon raised money for the Bush-Clinton Katrina fund, and callers donating money were to get to speak with their favorite football player. The NFL, its owners, clubs and players have contributed nearly $10 million for hurricane relief.
Sun Spots believes none of these funds above takes into consideration those raised by communities here in Maine and throughout the US by collecting, contributing, children selling lemonade, school bake sales and more as the entire country tries to help out. It’s likely it may be years before the true costs will be known.
Dear Sun Spots: Can you please tell me why Matt Lauer and Katie Couric leave the Today Show early every day? – P.L.B., Bethel.
Answer: Sun Spots has tried the contact number for The Today Show several times, but the answering machine box remains full and unable to accept messages. Perhaps you might like to try writing to them at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.
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