United Way: ‘Need Goes On’

This is a plea for moderation in public reactions to recent stories in The Times about United Way. If we’re not sensible about this, the wrong people are going to get hurt--badly.

Mistakes may or may not have been made on the administrative side of United Way, but the damage to those people served by United Way (in terms of reduced contributions and canceled pledges) could well exceed by many times the amount of disputed expenditures.

We can’t let this happen. United Way is a major, community-wide charity and the weak, the children and those bruised by society need it. As a community, our first priority must be to protect the cash flowing to these needs. Then, as a second priority, we can see about what are and what are not proper personnel costs for United Way executives.

I’ve already sent in my extra contribution to help out.

JOHN ABEL

Malibu