Reaching Out to Help
By James Kelly, Managing Editor
For this week's follow-up to "An American Tragedy," our 52-page special report on the Gulf Coast disaster of 2005, we dispatched more than a dozen reporters and photographers to the region and assigned 20 reporters in Washington and elsewhere to investigate why things went so badly. In the coming weeks and months, we'll continue to cover this story in the fair and comprehensive way readers have come to expect from the world's leading newsmagazine. Be sure, as well, to check our continuing coverage each day on TIME.com where last week we made news by detailing exaggerations in FEMA Director Michael Brown's resume.
On this page last week, we pointed out ways to aid the Katrina relief effort through groups like the Red Cross. So far, Americans have donated at least $670 million, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, far outpacing the levels of giving after both 9/11 and the Asian tsunami. At right, you will find a few more suggestions for helping.
James Kelly, Managing Editor
HOW YOU CAN HELP
o BUSH-CLINTON KATRINA FUND 212-348-0132 bushclintonkatrinafund.org Ex-Presidents Bush and Clinton have already helped raise more than $80 million, which will be disbursed to special funds set up by the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
o N.A.A.C.P. 866-996-2227; naacp.org The civil rights group has opened five command centers in the South to deliver food, water and supplies to displaced residents. The group has partnered with MoveOn.org to find housing for 600 victims.
o JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER 212-258-9800; jalc.org New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis and Elvis Costello headline a Sept. 17 benefit concert that will air live on PBS.
o SHARE OUR STRENGTH 800-969-4767; strength.org Windows of Hope, started by New York City chef Tom Valenti immediately after 9/11, has teamed with the hunger-fighting group SOS to organize a national "dine out" on Sept. 27. Most of the funds will be used for immediate relief, with a portion devoted to helping storm-ravaged restaurants in the Gulf.
o LOUISIANA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION NETWORK 225-928-1315 leanweb.org LEAN has dropped food in the decimated St. Bernard, Washington and Plaquemine parishes and pledged to aid in the long toxic cleanup.