Red Cross Exec Doesn't Know What Portion Of Donations Go To Harvey Relief : The Two
Brad Kieserman
Editor's note on Sept. 1: Some listeners and readers have asked why NPR pressed Red Cross operations and logistics executive Brad Kieserman about how much of the money his organization receives will actually be spent on helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey. NPR's questions were follow-ups to several years of reporting by NPR and ProPublica about shortcomings in the organization's disaster relief operations and misleading claims about its finances. NPR has asked several times in recent years to speak with Red Cross President and CEO Gail J. McGovern. Those requests have been turned down. Prior to this latest interview  NPR asked again. The organization said McGovern was unavailable  but did make Kieserman available.
In an interview with  Morning Edition host Ailsa Chang  Red Cross executive Brad Kieserman  was asked about reports that the charity has unusually high administrative costs.
"We are committed  I am committed  my team is committed to using our resources and donor dollars in a way that best helps the people of Texas " said  Kieserman   vice president of disaster operations and logistics.
 Kieserman  said that as of Wednesday morning the Red Cross had spent $50 million on Harvey relief  mainly on 232 shelters for 66 000 people.
Chang: Through donations  how much of every dollar goes to relief?  Kieserman : Yeah  I don't think I know the answer to that any better than the chief fundraiser knows how many  how much it costs to put a volunteer downrange for a week and how many emergency response vehicles I have on the road today. So I think if he was on this interview and you were asking how many relief vehicles in Texas  I don't think he'd know the answer and I don't know the answer to the financial question I'm afraid.
Editor's note on Sept. 1: Some listeners and readers have asked why NPR pressed Red Cross operations and logistics executive [TGT] about how much of the money [TGT] organization receives will actually be spent on helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey. NPR's questions were follow-ups to several years of reporting by NPR and ProPublica about shortcomings in the organization's disaster relief operations and misleading claims about its finances. NPR has asked several times in recent years to speak with Red Cross President and CEO Gail J. McGovern. Those requests have been turned down. Prior to this latest interview  NPR asked again. The organization said McGovern was unavailable  but did make [TGT] available.
In [TGT]was asked about reports that the charity has unusually high administrative costs.
"We are committed  I am committed  my team is committed to using our resources and donor dollars in a way that best helps the people of Texas " said  Kieserman   vice president of disaster operations and logistics.
 [TGT]said that as of Wednesday morning the Red Cross had spent $50 million on Harvey relief  mainly on 232 shelters for 66 000 people.
Chang: Through donations  how much of every dollar goes to relief?  [TGT] : Yeah  I don't think I know the answer to that any better than the chief fundraiser knows how many  how much it costs to put a volunteer downrange for a week and how many emergency response vehicles I have on the road today. So I think if he was on [TGT] and you were asking how many relief vehicles in Texas  I don't think he'd know the answer and I don't know the answer to the financial question I'm afraid.