A Generous Response Begins to Slow

A Generous Response Begins to Slow: "A Generous Response Begins to Slow

By Elizabeth Williamson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 14, 2005; Page A25

More than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross said yesterday it has collected $610 million in donations and channeled about one-third to the stricken region, though it cannot yet say exactly how the money was spent.

The Red Cross donations account for 80 percent of the $788 million in hurricane relief contributions, a pace of giving greater than any in U.S. history, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which tracks post-disaster relief totals. In recent days, though, the volume of contributions has begun to slacken. That could present a problem for the Red Cross, which so far has raised about half of what the organization estimates it will need for hurricane relief, as well as for other charities."