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SENATOR MITCHELL RELEASES HIS FINAL QUARTERLY REPORT ON AMERICAN RED CROSS LIBERTY FUND DISTRIBUTION TO FAMILIESSenator Mitchell Praises Red Cross for its ‘Excellent Service to America’
WASHINGTON, February 3, 2003 — The American Red Cross has received the final report from Senator George J. Mitchell, Independent Overseer of the American Red Cross Liberty Disaster Relief Fund, detailing the progress made over the past year in carrying out the Liberty Disaster Relief Distribution Plan that was released one year ago. “I believe the Plan’s implementation has gone a long way toward meeting the needs of those who suffered losses, honoring the intent of the donors, and providing assistance consistent with the mission and traditions of the Red Cross,” Senator Mitchell said. “The Plan has been administered in a transparent, fair and compassionate manner.” In December 2001, Senator Mitchell agreed to serve in a volunteer capacity to oversee the development and implementation of a plan to spend the balance of the donations in the Liberty Fund in a manner that best meets the ongoing and long-term needs of those affected by the September 11, 2001 attacks. In developing the plan, Senator Mitchell sought out input from the families directly affected, donors, other charities and Red Cross workers with long-term experience assisting in the aftermath of disasters. The plan was unveiled January 31, 2002, and Senator Mitchell has issued a series of reports every three months detailing the Red Cross’ progress to ensure that implementation of the plan is fully transparent and accountable.
“We were honored to have Senator Mitchell join our efforts in this unprecedented September 11 relief operation," said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO, American Red Cross. "He brought great compassion, wisdom and leadership to the work we are doing. His strong will and steady hand guided the Liberty Fund forward to the greatest benefit of those in need. Senator Mitchell’s leadership in developing the Distribution Plan will prove invaluable as we continue to help in the recovery for years to come.” As of January 31, 2003, and in accordance with the Mitchell plan, the Red Cross has already used $741 million from the Liberty Fund to help more than 55,000 families cope with the death of loved ones, serious injuries, physical and mental health concerns, financial loss, homelessness and many other effects of the attacks. Of that, $596 million was in the form of direct financial assistance to families of those killed and seriously injured, along with displaced workers, residents and emergency personnel who were seriously impacted. Depending on the individual needs of those affected, this financial assistance included up to a full year’s living expenses, estate and special circumstances cash grants and more. Additionally, $99 million has been spent on immediate disaster relief, which included serving more than 14 million meals to families and emergency workers, providing crisis counseling for over 238,000 individuals and operating 36 service delivery sites throughout the impacted states. Millions of donors from the United States and around the world gave just over $1 billion to the Liberty Fund in an unparalleled show of care and concern. The remaining balance of the Fund will be used in accordance with the Distribution Plan primarily to provide additional financial assistance and long-term services, including mental health care, to those directly affected. “The Red Cross is one of the great institutions in our society and in history,” Senator Mitchell added. “The Liberty Fund has served and will continue to serve the needs of tens of thousands of individuals and families who will grow stronger over time. The Red Cross will also grow stronger and, as a result, thousands of Americans will be able to lead better, safer, and more meaningful lives.” Full details of Senator Mitchell’s final report, along with the Liberty Disaster Relief Fund Distribution Plan, previous quarterly reports and expenditure breakdowns, are available on the Red Cross website at www.redcross.org. The Red Cross will continue to provide relief for those with ongoing needs for months and years to come based on individual needs. Any family or individual in need of assistance or support related to September 11 is urged to contact the Red Cross at (866) GET-INFO. Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 30,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.
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