A chipped painting of a white field and a bold red cross on cinder block in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, is the legacy of foreign aid after the 2010 earthquake. The same iconography is also visible in my own wallet on a blood donor card. Chartered by the United States Congress in 1881 and imbued with a rich heritage, the cross symbolizes action taken to support others. Unfortunately, the American Red Cross is not considered noble in Haiti. Former Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive believes the 500 million dollar Haitian relief fund was used by the organization for purposes other than promised infrastructure, as change never visited the community. Now seven years later, I urge Americans wanting to help those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma to donate to established charities headquartered in the affected areas of Florida and Texas and to charities which prioritize low overhead and transparency.
In glossy pamphlets, Haitians were promised extensive improvements including new homes, sanitation systems and roads. Sadly, the American Red Cross failed to create a viable plan, learning building projects in Haiti are limited by archaic land laws. Organizations which already have ties to an impacted area like Volunteer Florida or the Greater Houston Community Foundation are less likely to make this mistake as their previous work has made them conscious of potential challenges the city may face as they rebuild. This allows the organization to set educated and deliverable goals to benefit the Americans left devastated by these storms. Also, as these charities’ entire missions are to serve these populations, they will continue to be integral in restoring these communities after national and international relief organizations leave.
Before hurricane season even began this year, H.R.1327, American Red Cross Transparency Act of 2017, was introduced on the floor of the House. This bill has become increasingly more necessary as more claims of corruption have been leveled against the leadership of the American Red Cross, an organization historically protected against Government Accountability investigations due to its status as a federal charter and not a federal agency. While the claims against the American Red Cross have never been proven, I believe it is best to donate to organizations which are known to prioritize service over profit. Utilizing tools like Charity Navigator, a website dedicated to rating charities based on their financial transparency, you can maximize the impact of your donation by giving an educated contribution.
In Andy Weir’s “The Martian” it reads, “If a hiker gets lost in the mountains, people will coordinate a search. If a train crashes, people will line up to give blood. If an earthquake levels a city, people all over the world will send emergency supplies. This is so fundamentally human that it’s found in every culture without exception. Yes, there are assholes who just don’t care, but they’re massively outnumbered by the people who do.” I am proud to be part of a population so willing to give — over 350 million dollars have been raised in less than three weeks for those impacted in Texas by Hurricane Harvey. However, an important part of philanthropy is understanding the impact of a donation. By giving to local organizations instead of national and international organizations, you are supporting long term rebuilding. By giving to organizations which publish their financials, you can feel more confident you are directly benefiting those in need.
