Donations Pour In to Assist Families of Attack Victims

By ANNE-MARIE O’CONNOR

Sept. 15, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

A New York-based fund for victims of the terrorist attack continued to grow rapidly, with officials announcing Friday that it had raised a whopping $70 million.

And California urged residents to take advantage of a special state fund that could provide as much as $70,000 to the family members of the dead and injured.

New York’s Sept. 11 Fund has raised more than $20 million a day since Tuesday night, and more big corporate donors stepped forward Friday.

“It’s just mind-boggling,” said Ani Hurwitz of the New York Community Trust, which is helping United Way of New York administer the fund.

Atlantic Philanthropies pledged $10 million to the fund. AOL Time Warner raised $8 million in two days, and Texaco and Chevron donated $5 million each, earmarked for the Red Cross.

Bank of America pledged $1 million, and Siemens contributed $2 million and notified employees at its 193 offices worldwide that it would match their donations. Microsoft gave $5 million on Thursday.

At the same time, relatives began to call the California Victims Compensation and Government Claims Board, which covers victims of crimes--including terrorism--and their loved ones. It is offering to pay for everything from psychological counseling to burial costs for eligible state residents.

One of those who sought out the fund was a man whose two brothers died in the World Trade Center, said Fran Clader, a spokeswoman for the program. She took the man’s call and helped him fill out an application over the phone.

The man could qualify for grants for counseling, burial costs and medical expenses, Clader said.

“He was very upset. He was crying,” Clader said. “He dropped the cell phone and had a hard time speaking. He was having a hard time putting words together.”

Those eligible for the program include California residents and their parents, siblings and children who are also residents, Clader said.

Legislation proposed this week by state Sen. Mike Machado (D-Linden) and supported by Gov. Gray Davis would also make grandparents, grandchildren and mothers- and fathers-in-law eligible and compensate California resident survivors even if the victim lives in another state, she said.

“This is just such an awful tragedy we want to do what we can to try to provide them some relief and allow them to be able to seek counseling and not worry about how they’re going to pay for it,” Clader said.

The fund, which has disbursed more than $1 billion to crime victims since 1965, is financed by fines, fees and penalties paid by offenders ordered to pay restitution by the court.

The hotline number is (800) 777-9229. Operators will handle calls from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

“We want to encourage any victim or family member of someone killed or injured to please give us a call,” Clader said. “There’s money here we can help them with.”

Grief counseling is one of the top priorities for organizations receiving money from the Sept. 11 Fund, according to Jeanette Brown, a spokeswoman for United Way of New York City.

Donations continue to grow around the country to funds for the victims’ families.

Las Vegas-based Park Place Entertainment, the world’s largest gambling company, said it would donate $1 million to a yet-unnamed organization, with the stipulation that it go to the families of firefighters and other rescue workers killed in the attack.

More than $85,000 was collected Friday at an American Red Cross drive-through donation event at Dodger Stadium.

Jackhammers and saws are being sent by demolition businesses around the country to help New York remove the rubble.

“People will do anything,” Hurwitz said. “They just want to do what they can.”

But authorities are warning the public about solicitation scams by telephone, e-mail and in person. They urge people to make sure their donations are going to reputable organizations.

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How to Help

How to contact some of the major funds accepting donations:

* Sept. 11th Fund

c/o United Way

of New York City

2 Park Ave.

New York, N.Y. 10016

(800) 710-8002

https://www.september11

fund.com

* American Red Cross