Posted on August 19, 2008

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9/11 Charities Struggle to Continue Operations As Funding Wanes

Several of the remaining organizations established in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 are closing, trimming their budgets, or reconsidering their purpose as funding diminishes, the Associated Press reports.

The groups, which offered a broad variety of programs and services designed to help families of the victims, relied largely on an American Red Cross long-term relief fund which distributed its last $40 million earlier this year. The last grants included nearly $1.4 million to South Nassau Communities Hospital on Long Island, which shut down counseling programs for thousands of family members and first responders when the Red Cross funding expired. One of those programs, the World Trade Center Family Center, recently changed its name to 9/11 Forward to help participants look to the future.

While programs treating ailing ground zero workers exposed to toxic dust can still seek funding from Congress and state and city government, counseling and community programs don't have that option. "Many donors, in terms of mental health services, begin to ask the question whether the trauma is really related to 9/11 anymore or not," said Melissa Berman, CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. "I think many donors feel a sense of responsibility to make a one-time response to this kind of disaster, but rarely an ongoing one."

But ongoing is precisely how charities such as the World Trade Center United Family Group see their mission. "The effects of 9/11 continue," said executive director Anthony Gardner. "We need to be able to be there for people who need us."

Westfeldt, Amy. “9/11 Aid Groups Close or Adapt as Money Wanes.” Associated Press 8/17/08.

Primary Subject: 9/11 Response
Secondary Subject(s): Human Services
Location(s): National, New York, New York City

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