More Than $1.2-Billion Raised for Katrina Victims

Americans have given more than $1.2-billion to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The donations now nearly

match the $1.3-billion that American charities raised to provide relief aid after the South Asian tsunamis.

The pace of giving continues to be faster than after the 2001 terrorist attacks. It took more than four weeks after the attacks for charities to raise $1-billion; more than $2.2-billion was eventually raised to help victims.

Even though Americans have continued to give in the weeks after Katrina struck, it is still unclear whether charities will raise as much as they say they need for relief and recovery efforts.

For example, the American Red Cross, in Washington, says that it needs $2-billion to pay for its relief work. The charity has raised $807.8-million, by far the largest amount among the more than 50 charities now raising money for short- and long-term relief efforts.

The Salvation Army, which has its headquarters in Alexandria, Va., has raised the second-largest sum, $145-million. The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, started by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, has raised the third-largest sum, with $100-million so far.

At the Salvation Army, Major George Hood, national community-relations secretary for the group, says that giving is tapering off. “I think the big gifts have been made,” he says.

Other charity officials agree, and add that the pace of online donations has slowed. However, several organizations report that a steady stream of dollars are still arriving, driven by donations from benefit dinners and concerts, donations coming in the mail, companies matching their employees’ gifts, corporate and foundation grants, and large individual gifts.

Alice G. Archabal, who oversees fund raising for America’s Second Harvest, in Chicago, says that the pace of giving is not as “fast and furious” as immediately after the hurricane struck.

But recent large donations, such as a $500,000 wire transfer from an individual in California, have helped the group raise $15-million so far.

“Compared to our normal fund raising, we are real busy still,” she says. “And the need is definitely there.”

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has also seen a spike in donations for its disaster-relief work, as gifts from members of its 11,000 church congregations pour in to the national office in Chicago.

“We haven’t experienced a lag in giving at this point,” says Kathryn Sime, director of the church’s world hunger and disaster appeal. The group has raised $6.8-million so far.

The list of corporations, foundations, and wealthy individuals continues to grow, totaling $438-million in donations so far, according to a tally by The Chronicle.

The scope of the storm prompted many charities to raise money, including groups that don’t usually work on domestic crises.

The U.S. Fund for Unicef will donate half the proceeds from its Trick-or-Treat for Unicef program to help raise money for Katrina relief efforts this year. This is the first time in the program’s 55 years that money raised will benefit American children.

Only a handful of charities, including the Red Cross, have set a goal for how much money is needed for their hurricane relief work. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, in Washington, hopes to raise $1-million to support the rebuilding of historic places in the affected areas.

“This is the first time we have done anything on this scale,” says Richard Moe, the group’s president. No other American city has as high a concentration of historic districts as New Orleans, he says. “The human needs come first, but at the same time these people need places to come back to.” So far the group has raised $200,000.

Charity officials say they are carefully watching whether donations for hurricane survivors will affect giving to other causes.

“We’ve had a record season,” says the Salvation Army’s Mr. Hood. “But at some point, you just have to wonder how long will the public reach in their pockets?”

Elizabeth Schwinn and Ian Wilhelm contributed to this article.