September 11 Donations Hit $1-Billion

More than $1.04-billion has been raised by charitable organizations working on relief and recovery efforts after the September 11 tragedy, according to the latest Chronicle of Philanthropy estimate.

Five weeks after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, donations have slowed down for most disaster-relief organizations, but the American Red Cross continues to report substantial giving.

The Red Cross has raised $452-million. While Internet donations surged in the first few weeks after the attacks, they have slowed considerably. The Red Cross raised $62-million in online donations in the three weeks after the crisis, but only $2-million since. The charity said donations of $5,000 or more made to local Red Cross chapters across the nation are the driving force behind the growing disaster-relief fund.

Among other highlights:

• The September 11th Fund -- created by the New York Community Trust and the United Way of New York City -- has brought in $171-million. In addition, the United Way is overseeing distribution of $150-million from the the September 11th Telethon Fund.

• The Salvation Army has raised $35-million.

• Families for Freedom Scholarship Fund, an education fund for children of victims being promoted by Bill Clinton and Robert Dole, has raised $8.9-million.

• Catholic Charities USA has raised $5-million.