Red Cross Offers to Return Donations
The American Red Cross, under fire for its use of money raised since the terrorist attacks, said it will return donations to any contributor who requests a refund.
The emergency relief group, which has collected about $500 million since Sept. 11, touched off a controversy last month by announcing that not all of the funds would go to victims of the attacks.
More than $200 million will be held in reserve in case it is needed for other terrorist attacks, the group said.
The question of how the money should be used played a part in Red Cross Director Bernadine Healy’s recent decision to resign at year’s end. Some lawmakers in a congressional oversight committee accused the group of taking advantage of the tragedy to bolster its budget.
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