Mitchell to Oversee Red Cross Fund

Former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell will oversee a plan to disburse $350 million left in the American Red Cross fund for Sept. 11 attack victims and their families, the charity announced Thursday.

Red Cross officials also said they will have given out nearly half of the $667-million Liberty Fund by year’s end, exceeding their November pledge to disburse more than $270 million by Dec. 31.

The charity has been spending the $317.5 million on emergency housing, psychological counseling and other needs directly related to the terrorist attacks.

The organization has distributed $139.6 million in direct cash assistance to families of victims, Red Cross officials said at a news conference.

“We are honored to have George Mitchell join our effort,” said David McLaughlin, chairman of the American Red Cross Board of Governors.

“He brings great compassion, experience and leadership to the work we are doing. We are confident his strong will and steady hand will guide the Liberty Fund forward and do so to the greatest benefit of those in need,” McLaughlin said.

Mitchell, who is from Maine, has spent his post-Senate life trying to negotiate peace in the Middle East and Northern Ireland.

As independent overseer of the Liberty Fund, Mitchell will supervise the development and execution of a plan to distribute the fund’s balance, said Harold Decker, chief executive of the Red Cross.

The distribution plan is scheduled for release by the end of January, Decker said.

The Red Cross was heavily criticized for saying it would use a portion of the Liberty Fund for projects not directly connected to the attacks.

In November, the charity reversed itself and said all Liberty Fund money would go to people harmed by the Sept. 11 attacks.