Government Aid

Jonathan G.S. Koppell raises a major concern about the threat to philanthropy in America (“When Private Hands Do the Public’s Work,” Opinion, Dec. 19).

Americans are extraordinarily generous. In the 14 years of its existence, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger has raised enough money in the Jewish community to make grants totaling almost $20 million to agencies (without regard to their religious affiliation, if any), many of which are engaged in education and advocacy with respect to the scandal of hunger in the U.S.

Clearly, the private sector’s responsibility should and must be a supplement to the safety net that our government is required to provide. Efforts to shift the burden to charities will result in disaster--not only for those needing the aid but for those whose goodwill is the source of charitable contributions.

Charities are expected to replace $197 billion in government benefits by the year 2002. The problem is that total charitable giving in that year is expected to be $4.7 billion. Contrast this with 1996 when government programs cut poverty in half. Federal programs lifted 27 million people above the poverty line while the private economy would have left 57.5 million below the line. With record budget surpluses in this country today, 25% of children under 6 live in poverty. Let’s put the laboring oar back where it belongs--in the government’s prudent expenditure of our tax dollars where they are so sorely needed.

BARBARA H. BERGEN

Associate Director, MAZON

Los Angeles