Eighteen years after the Oklahoma City bombing, a fund set up to help the injured and the families of those killed still has $10 million dollars in the coffers. Meanwhile victims say they've been denied aid for years. Rock Center's Harry Smith reports
By Anna Schecter
Rock Center
A group of survivors and relatives of those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing are outraged that there is $10 million sitting in a disaster relief fund designed to help them. Meanwhile they say they’ve been denied help for years.
“They tell us that there are all these restrictions,” said Deloris Watson, whose grandson, P.J. Allen, was severely injured in the April 1995 explosion.
NBC News
PJ Allen in the hospital after being injured in the Oklahoma City Bombing.
Watson said she was led to believe the fund was depleted because it has been so difficult over the past 18 years to get financial aid.
A year after the bombing, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation was entrusted with $14.5 million in donated money from sympathetic individuals and religious groups around the world. The money was put into a newly established Oklahoma City Disaster Relief Fund.
Then-Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating mandated that the fund be used to help with the long-term health care needs of survivors and scholarships for children who lost a parent in the blast.
Watson said the Oklahoma City Community Foundation was helpful at first, but as the years wore on, the caseworkers lost their empathy.
Click here to read a statement from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation
“It's been horrible. It has been absolutely horrible. I try not to reveal that to P.J., the struggle, the attitude, the lack of respect,” Watson told NBC News' Harry Smith in an interview that aired on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
In 2005, then-11-year-old Allen needed major surgery on his trachea. Watson, who became his sole guardian after the bombing, said the Oklahoma City Community Foundation refused to pay for the surgery directly, instead steering her toward Medicaid to cover the cost.
“Why would the state of Oklahoma have to take money from taxpayers when money's been donated to the bombing fund to meet the medical needs of the children?” asked Watson.
The Ronald McDonald House, the Red Cross and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation all pitched in to cover hospital and living expenses during Allen’s recovery and rehabilitation after the surgery.
Watson and a handful of disgruntled survivors and relatives of those killed have formed a group called the Survivor Tree.
One member, Gloria Chipman, lost her husband in the bombing. She said that though her son was given tuition money for college, her daughter was told by the foundation that her grades were not good enough for financial aid.
“You get denied so many times, you finally -- you give up,” Chipman said.
Falesha Joyner lost an ear in the explosion. She said she just wants contact lenses because without an ear, her glasses will not stay on.
When Tim Hearn's mother was killed in the bombing, he left school to raise his siblings. Last year he was denied tuition money for trade school, he said, because the Oklahoma City Community Foundation told him he was too old.
NBC News
Tim Hearn says the fund has denied him money to attend trade school.
“They can't put a time limit on when a person wants to go to school. They don't know my situation. You know, if they lost someone through a bombing or anything like that, they'd feel what I'm talking about,” said Hearn.
Nancy Anthony, president of the foundation, told NBC News there is another side to the story.
She said the caseworkers who have been helping survivors and the families of victims are caring and do the best they can to help those in need.
“I think everybody has to be realistic about what can be done and how much money can really do,” Anthony said, adding that she cannot comment on specific cases because of confidentiality agreements.
The disgruntled survivors all believe the foundation cares more about preserving the fund than providing assistance.
They said they are always pushed to state and federal programs first, resulting in a grind through government bureaucracies that has left them exhausted and angry.
“I think that they felt that we should just move on with our life. And all of us wanted to move on with our lives, but you can't move on with your life when you still have some major health issues hanging over you,” said Watson.
Allen said it has been difficult to watch his grandmother struggle through red tape to help him.
NBC News
Nancy Anthony, president of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, says the fund for the victims of the bombing has helped nearly 1000 people.
“I don't understand why they have made it so difficult for not only myself but other survivors and victims to get the medical stuff they need and surgeries. I just wish my grandma didn't have to go through all that,” he said.
Adding insult to injury
Angry survivors were stunned when they recently learned there is still more than $10 million in the fund.
Adding insult to injury, in 2005 the Oklahoma City Community Foundation decided to reallocate nearly $4.5 million away from the survivors to a variety of causes including the Oklahoma City National Memorial, other communities hit by disasters and future research on disaster relief.
“They decided to give $4.4 million away, and we're on welfare…. I can't even imagine that,” said Watson.
Anthony said she will revisit the decision to reallocate money to other causes.
“We were thoughtful about it at the point in time when we did it,” she said. “We had perhaps a different perspective of it. So that can be revisited.”
Anthony underscored that she is fulfilling the mandate the foundation was given when the bombing fund was formed, as well as following the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service.
The Disaster Relief Fund has provided $11.1 million in assistance through 16,256 transactions to 962 people, according to the foundation’s website.
Anthony said that she and her colleagues have been good stewards of the money, and that is why, with interest earned on investments, there is $10 million currently in the fund. By preserving the fund, she said the foundation has ensured that there will be money to take care of survivors in need for many years to come.
“This isn't about distributing money. It's about helping people move forward. The money is just another tool. You have to try to say, ‘What's your ultimate goal here?’ If the goal is to give the money away, well, we could've done that a long time ago. But I don't know that would've been terribly effective,” she added.
When asked if the role of the foundation was to be paternalistic, she replied, “I guess that might be what we have done, whether that's good or bad.”
Attorney Ken Feinberg, who handled the distribution of billions of dollars for victims of 9/11, the BP oil spill, and the Virginia Tech and Aurora movie theater shootings, said taking a paternalistic approach is the worst thing you can do.
“I'll never forget in Virginia Tech, one family said, ‘We're going to take our share of the proceeds, and we're going to celebrate the memory of our lost son by going to Disney World with the whole family.’ My view of that is if that's what you want to do with compensation that is due you, do it,” Feinberg told NBC News.
Having built his career on overseeing settlement payouts in the wake of massive disasters, he has been criticized by some lawyers and victims for pressuring claimants to give up their right to sue. Over the years he said he has learned a few lessons along the way.
“All the words in the world are no substitute for getting the money out the door…. Do not attempt to restrict how the funds will be used. Do not attempt to educate or explain. ‘Here's the money -- it's yours,’” he said.
When asked how he would handle the donated funds for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, Feinberg said he would determine who is eligible to receive money and how much, and distribute it within 60 days without restriction and then close the program.
Anthony said her hands are tied. She said the foundation is bound by IRS restrictions and her duty to the donors.
“We have limitations. We can't always do what [the survivors] want us to do. And I think that there needs to be a little bit of respect for trying to understand what the donors wanted. And I don't think you can say that everyone donated money for a specific thing,” she said.
Watson said she is worried about Allen’s future health care needs. He will likely need a lung transplant, and she does not want him to have to fight as hard as she has to get the aid he will need.
“I don't want him to have to go through what I had to go through from him having his trach removed,” she said.
Leave a Comment:
Firstly, this event was indeed horrible and my compassion goes out to my fellow Americans. Having said that, this is a private fund so I hope everybody will refrain from blaming the government. Actually, in the last few years government relief has worked much better than private. In closing, once again I can understand the grief. But, this fund is a gift, not an entitlement. Many people have gotten relief, but their gratefulness is not news. Once again, the media should show all sides to an issue, not just one that angers people.
Not exactly sure where your government comment comes from, Mr. Colorado, but this particular fund is a pool of donations sent from private individuals, groups (like "the Toronto Ladies Book Club") and corporations. There is no government money here. Donors expected their money to go to relieve pain and suffering from those affected by the bombing, NOT to be preserved in a foundation. Maybe you misunderstood the story? This has nothing to do with government anything - except for a greedy foundation working the gray area of IRS rules to their own advantage.
Yes, great point! another reason we should all be thankful Mitt didnt win as he wanted to privatize disaster relief. It would have been horrific!
What the @!$%# does this have to do with Mitt Romney? @!$%#ing Democrats and Liberals can't let a story be left untouched by some political bull@!$%#.
As you say yourself Clarence..what does this have to do with dems and Libs.??
I agree. I'm a Democrat and this nothing to do with politics. It's about Nancy Anthony and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to which the funds were given. There good stewards? The whole point is to help people not to earn interest.
Holly, Mr. Colorado said that it was a private fund not the governments fault, that people shouldn't blame the government. He never said it has anything to do with the government, besides complimenting them for being better than the private sector in recent years. Maybe YOU misunderstood his comment?
Wow, Cathy, you are so hateful and pathetic, you'll take an article on bombing victims and turn it into a chance to rant about Mitt! You and your kind disgust me!!!
Just wondering...how much is earned by the administrators of this fund each year? might be a good reason for them to ensure it goes on forever.....
From the writings in the article... the main purpose of the foundation is ensure they get salaries from the foundation for years to come... pay the damn bills... don't send them to welfare when the money is there for the problems the victims are having!
The real deal is simple to understand.
As long as there is money in the fund - those bureaucrats have a job.The last thing they want to happen is exactly what is needed, they need to disburse all the money as soon as possible.
there is no reason for any of that money to be "managed" to increase its size - then given to people or causes which these stewards feesl are justified to receive money from a fund which they have no authroty to divert.
The proper usage for the funds was already determined - by the many,many 16,000 plus people who gave the funds in the first place.
This is not hard to understand. The fact that families who suffered are still suffering ... while the stewards are funding causes, persons, groups way outside of the charter is reprehensible. Don't wait for the survivors to justify the funds - distribute the money .... by the 20th anniversary of the attack. then close down the whole thing. even if that means passing out a check to each and every survivor to close it down.
Nancy Anthony is paid a salary in excess of 212,000.00 per year. The fund listed 660 million in assests in 2012. Strangely, in the 2012 audit, no mention of the salaries paid, except to note that the salaries cannot exceed 7% of the fund ( $46,000,000.00 ) total for Ms. Anthony and her 19 staff members, plus retirement and medical.
The fund holds donated stock, investments, and 25 million in real estate.
I would be to curious to know how much better Nancy Anthony is living today compared to before the bombing.
"Too old" to go to school, after helping to raise his siblings? "Too old," when the ranks of nontraditional, older students (like me, who went back for her Master's in her forties) is a large and growing demographic? So large that colleges and universities are clamoring to have such students? Man, that particularly angers me!
Beoweolf nailed it: as long as the fund is there, these chairwarmers have jobs. Who knows if they are skimming from it themselves!
What is absolutely outrageous is the managers of the fund have voted to give millions to other causes rather than those affected by the bombing.
The managers should be removed. That means you Nancy Anthony and all those that support you.
Isn't Feinberg that same douche bag who wouldn't pay out in the Gulf Oil/ BP fund? Seems someone needs to find Mr. Scrooge another job. Being in charge of handing out someone else's money is not in his job description. Just out of curiosity, what's his cut out of that money? I believe it was 20k a month from the BP money. I guess we really are poor, once the rich take their cut off the top.
This is the same wherever you go in donated funds to help people and why I am reluctant to give to them. You get some high priced CEO who hires all their relatives and friends to "manage" the funds and few of them ever allocate said funds properly.
"Democrats and Liberals can't let a story be left untouched by some political bull@!$%#."
Thanks for singling out Dems and Libs only. This is not a purely Democ-rat or Lib trait, but I guess you don't mind it when a Con does, am I right?
Actually since her husband, Bob Anthony, is a prominent conservative politician it has everything to do with politics. It is just another case of conservative greed. She acts as though everyone who wants money from the fund is a drug addict, " "The perception of people, unfortunately, is that you need to give people money and that money will make them feel better. Well, it probably does make them feel better. But heroin makes them feel better for a short time, too." , but has herself been leeching off the fund for 18 years.
Oklahoma is an extremely conservative state. By this, I mean conservative as in looking the other way, refusing to change things. After 5 years, of living there, I recognized the extent of the corruption. This involves the legal, political, and private systems. I am not surprised that there is a group of people who are making large sums of money off of the tragedies of others.
Indeed this is a conservative dream to privatize everything and leave it up to charity. Romney did indeed express sentiments of getting the government out of many such things. School vouchers, disaster relief. The Republican majority house held up Sandy Hurricane relief for months while victims lived in heatless apartments through the peak of winter.
Is it lost on everyone that this man made disaster was executed by anti-government radicals in the first place?
Heck of a job Annie. You and your husband, Bob have bled the community for too long both privately and publicly. Tie for these golden spooners to retire. Correct me if they were not born between 1929 and 1945, the most entitled generation ever. The utter nerve to say money doesn't help while they help themselves.
Momology, you are so full of sh!t, I can smell you from my barnyard
Let Nancy Anthony know what you think. You can find her and her minion's contact info at occf.org.
This is ridiculous. If it is a legitimate expense, pay it. The money was to help the survivors' families not keeping the money to pay administrative costs and getting yourself a job for 20 years.
Beyond belief. Those victims deserve that money now, or actually before now. I wonder how much the adminstrators & case workers are making off of this fund? It sounds like Anthony likes being the Queen of the money tree.
“We have limitations. We can't always do what [the survivors] want us to do. And I think that there needs to be a little bit of respect for trying to understand what the donors wanted. And I don't think you can say that everyone donated money for a specific thing,” she said.
So I guess the lung transplant is out the window, because a donor didn't plan on that.
Yes, exactly what I want to know - how much are admin's being paid to 'conserve' the fund . . . and oh, just incidentally, keep paying themselves a salary . . .
WHO IS ON THE BOARD OF THIS ORG??? the board has a fiduciary responsibility to make sure it is carrying out its stated mission.
Is it a 501(c)(3)???
Has it been filing proper documentation???
non-profits should not be able to just hand out money (outside the stated mission of the org) just because it thinks some other cause is 'worthy'.
Suggest those who deserve the $$ find out when the next board meeting is, & ask them your Q's - the board can fire the admin's if they're mis-appropriating funds.
Good luck & God Bless you!
:-)
You said it all in one sentence.
Its quite obvious. The black victims are told to get Medicaid and the white victims have been helped. Would black families who have been helped please step forward. Silence... I've lived in Oklahoma City and its about as religious and racist as it gets, and for anyone to say otherwise is a liar
The old line ,,I,m black and getting screwed,, That is falling on deaf ears pal! And I bet you are already on welfare and have been for yaers
tracontech - Yeah, o.k. go ahead make this a racial thing.
Are you directly involved here? Or are you assuming something? Are you white? No. Of course how silly - you're black & screaming racism.
It's you that keeps that 'R' thing alive.
@Scott.. Are U saying Black Americans have not been screwed in this Country and society?
Are U saying there is no Racist Agenda that has negatively impacted Black Americans? If you say no, then sir you are a part of the problem.. Do your home work..
@ Tracontech.. The R.. Thing is kept alive by Racist White America.. Just ask the Nazis and the Klan, and other White power movements.. Do you think there are only 5 people that belong to those organizations or that they only exist in the South..?
Interesting - a couple of Birchers prove there's no such thing as racism on the part of whites.
Otherwise, it does look like a case of the administrators and staff preserving the fund to preserve their jobs.
Typical of relief funds and no different than the Red Cross. Call for a Congressional investigation. Problem is the case workers are probably associated or related to some dumba%# politician. The foundation personnel and its case workers make a very nice sum to do their job. They don't want the money to run out. Yes, I did some digging myself. You would be amazed how much our poor little Nancy Anthony makes to be President of the fund. Fire them all and make them go out and get jobs like the rest in Oklahoma who are unemployed. Place case managers in these positions who have demonstrated a link to some disaster such as 9-11, Katrina, East coast floods and so on. The case workers who currently work for the fund receive 14 percent more pay than Oklahoma City case workers in similar jobs. The whole process and its President are full of shi_. Investigate them for fraud and put em' in jail. You get so tired of bureaucratic scumbags (and boy does she look like one) getting into these paid positions. Kinda reminds of Bob Doles wife when she was raping the coffers of the Red Cross and telling the public there was no money!
You people are fools, how many countries can you name that made there slaves equals? I will wait.
Bull@!$%#, I bet every single one of the people quoted in this article would waive that confidentiality agreement. She's simply using that as an excuse so she can't be asked about specific cases and having to justify why someone was denied. "oh I can't talk about that" has gotten real old, lady...
Will yall please get of this race card s*&t. This story deserve better.
This Foundation has a staff of 31 people and 16 Trustees. Guess how much that costs and where the money comes from to pay all those people.
FreedomOverSympathy had this to say:
Well, I thought of a couple right off the top of my head: England and Spain. But, you could just Google it. Here's a partial list:
Venice, England, Iceland, Croatia, Norway, France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Denmark, Haiti (of course, the slaves did this themselves after a revolt), Uruguay, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama . . . okay, this is getting old.
The point is that slavery was common at one time, and now it is rare. Most countries abolished slavery at one point and made the former slaves into citizens (few of them immediately reverted to Jim Crow-like laws). A little common sense would tell you that.
"...reallocate nearly $4.5 million away from the survivors to a variety of causes including the Oklahoma City National Memorial, other communities hit by disasters and future research on disaster relief."
WTF??!!!
It's all about "Lies & Deceit" .. it seems to be the "new" American way ....
What happened to the old axiom " Truth will prevail" ..
Isn't it time to give "Truth" & "Honesty" preferential treatment ....?
EXACTLY! They want to ensure they have this money there to pay their salaries for as long as they need to work. Never mind what the fund is actually for. I'm @!$%#ING SICK of the attitudes of people in this country anymore. It's all about yourself, even if you know what you are doing is dead wrong.
I bet if it was researched we would find the money was reallocated to "the trusties" and "the staff" so that they double dip from those other programs (or perhaps even triple and quadruple dip).
Bean at Home; you Posterized FreedomOver - major slam dunk. The USA is lucky if they are in the top 15 for personal freedoms for a citizen of a particular country. The best part is FreeodomOver; made an emotional post, not based in fact - no Sympathy...lol.
The USA has become the land of the; damned if you do, damned if you don't. The one lesson people haven't learned; if you want to fight the system - you have to join the system...and hire a Lawyer - that goes for fighting the government or the private sector.
You don't give up on a claim when you know you are right - but with no lawyer, your odds of victory are slim to none. That is both sides of being damned...it's gunna cost ya.
These people are not asking for race cars and mansions. They're asking for medical bills to be covered and some g*ddamned contacts because a person doesn't even have an ear. They're not asking for this group to hand money over. They're asking for medical expenses covered; which they are -owed-.
The USA has become the land of the; damned if you do, damned if you don't. The one lesson people haven't learned; if you want to fight the system - you have to join the system...and hire a Lawyer - that goes for fighting the government or the private sector.
You don't give up on a claim when you know you are right - but with no lawyer, your odds of victory are slim to none. That is both sides of being damned...it's gunna cost ya.
-----------------------------
You hit the nail on the head above! As a former law student, and as some one who knows the system, I could not have said it better than you. Thank you for your comment.
I have been working on a legal matter for 15 years now, and it will never end till I get a lawyer/big ass law firm (and have TONS of money). I am one of those people in the damned if you do and damned if you don't position like you say. BUT, I will never, ever give up. And, you will see me on change.org soon.
But, I too was so mad at the OKC Com. Foundation. Let that guy who doled out the money to the 911 victims, dole it out to the OKC bombing victims and then close that damn foundation for good! Just like that guy from the 911 fund said!!
Timothy McVeigh wins!
Rontron, it takes one portfolio manager to manage the earnings on this 10 million bucks and maybe 5 staff to tend to the distribution of the earnings from investments to the recipients as case managers. Everybody else is a leech.
Considering the lifetime of problems for the affected people, investing the money and getting interest is a good idea to keep up with inflation and distribute the rest yearly.
The Fund was set up for the victims, but now the people employed by the Fund want to keep their jobs and pay as long as they can.
The longer the Fund is there, the longer their employment goes...
They don't truly want to help the Survivors, they want to help themselves with a job as long as they can. It's sickening!
http://www.occf.org/staff.html
Yep, there them there varmints be...
Basically an INVESTMENT firm in the guise of a community foundation.
http://www.occf.org/index.html
But I'm crazy..
Hey everybody, someone said among these posts that we should contact Kenneth Feinberg and get him down to OKC to distribute that money.
Well you can contact Mr. Feinberg via the below website. Please contact him, I already did!!
www.feinbergrozen.com
II.E A community foundation's governing body retains variance power by which it may modify any restriction or condition on the distribution of assets, if circumstances warrant. Further, with respect to assets held in trust, the governing body must have the power to replace any participating trustee for breach of fiduciary duty under state law or for failure to produce a reasonable return of net income.
http://www.cfstandards.org/standards
One of the 41 standards to be a certified Community Foundation.
Let's see..... http://www.occf.org/trustees.html
The Chairman of Trustees is a Lawyer
One is a private investor whom was nominated by a judge
Even have J. Nichols, DEVON ENERGY. Defenders of fracking
http://newsok.com/devon-energy-executive-j.-larry-nichols-defends-hydraulic-fracturing-at-capitol-hill-forum/article/3623290
Yeah, I REALLY REALLY REALLY don't like the way this smells.
Then again, I am crazy...
PPPP
That money is locked tight. They are in complete control over it and have complete say as where it goes.
Follow the crazy man's link into the rabbit hole^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
http://www.forbes.com/static/pvp2005/LIREHE9.html
I had now clue Nichols was in the top 500. Well, 2005 anyway.
Crazy speak I tell ya..
Ooops!! visiting time is over the boys are here with my "jacket" gotta runnnnnnn
CATHY 666 leave ti someone to bring poltics in...as usual a parrot stereotypical liberetard
Sounds like yet another bunch of people worried about those "who are looking for free handouts." Seen it before.
Oklahoma is an extremely conservative state. By this, I mean conservative as in looking the other way, refusing to change things. After 5 years, of living there, I recognized the extent of the corruption. This involves the legal, political, and private systems. I am not surprised that there is a group of people who are making large sums of money off of the tragedies of others.
Her own statement.
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/legacy/oversite/107cong/11-8-01/records/okcommfound.htm
Damn, guards noticed a missin' cell phone... gotta runnnn!!!
DoD
Nancy Anthony make $230,000+ from the fund.
That's so nice. Nancy Anthony makes nearly a quarter million dollars a year to tell the victims there isn't enough money for them to get needed medical treatment.
This is typical of a bureaucratic mindset. Anthony should be ashamed of herself. All the platitudes she spouts don't change the fact that she certainly hasn't removed herself interests-keep her job or her power over the victims. Every spokesperson always justifies actions in bad situations by saying " we are doing everything possible to . . ." as if to say criticism should not be responded to. Confidentiality in this case certainly benefits the foundation at the same time it is to preserve the confidentiality of those seeking help. The road to H*ll. Feinberg is right-get the money out the door and let people use it as they see fit
This was a potential problem for the 911 Twin Towers Fund allowing Rudy Guiliani to head the administrative board. A group of firefighters widows contested his leadership.
I donated money to this Fund,and was told the money would be used for Medical Bills,for injuries resulting from the bombing,and tuition for children who lost a parent.Now I learn my tax dollars are being used for this while they sit on the money.What an outrage.
OMG WTF In Our Government We Trust
I NEVER contribute to these funds because this sx$! always happens man....
"Couldn't have said it better", YOU ARE THE PROBLEM, "you don't give to funds like this because this always happens", well IDIOT someday YOU will need help and WE WILL NOT DONATE TO YOUR HELP because YOU are not worth it.
I wonder if you can bring a lawsuit on this foundation? So sorry you were duped..
The funds have become nothing more than a slush fund for those who are in charge of it..As long as the money is there they have a job taking care of it, it is a personal fund to provide them greedy caretakers a job. The rest is just BS.
This is America today. It's all about the money. Hoard all you can. Use tax loopholes to keep more. I got mine to hell with the rest of you.
I really don't know how these people can sleep at night. Oh, I know, they have absolutely no conscience. The end fits the need........their personal bank accounts. There must be some legal way to stop this.
We donated the money to help the survivors put their lives back together, not for some snotty nosed administrator to have a lifetime job at their expense. The Gov should can the whole lot of them.
The government won't but we certainly can by writing our elected officials and calling on the State Attorney General for Oklahoma to investigate and prosecute.
We, the people must demonstrate our outrage and this blatant thievery when we are giving our hard earned dollars to ease others suffering. Enough already!!
Ms. Anthony is NOT following IRS guidelines. That money was donor restricted to help the victims of the bombing. She cannot legally give it to other disaster relief efforts. It sounds like she wants to make up the rules as she goes.
She has wasted 8 years; enriching herself - instead of working herself out of a job by distributing the money to the VICTIMes and their surviving family members.
Yes, lets put the whole process in perspective. If the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers children had the dead family members here today. .. Is it likely they would have told their families to wait, if they had the funds available to make their lives easier, without having to jump through hoops at the welfare office, take on horrendous student loans, or delay medical procedures - based on the idea that maybe it would be better for them suffer for 5, 10, 15 years - then we'll see if you are still sick?
Distribute the money ... then close down the fund... its just that simple. It was never envisioned as being an endowment nor a perpetual fund.
It's a shame with people like Anthony get so caught up in their "job" that they quit seeing the WORK they are actually there to do. If one person is suffering from that disaster and there is ANYTHING that fund can do it help...it should! It's what the people that donated the money wanted, no one intended Anthony to use it for her personal philanthropy all the while lining her OWN pockets. I'd say it's time for the fund to find a new foundation president!!
I'm going to start a Nancy Anthony fund, anyone want to donate. I'm going to donate some split bamboo and ratten so we can help her see with a good ole caning. Any OKC victim that wishes can give Nancy some lashings that she deserves. Public caning is what these fund admins deserve, then we can use some of that fund $ and buy some salt for their wounds.
Caning is certainly preferable, but I'm gonna settle for a letter to my elected officials and the Oklahoma State Attorney General with a cc: Eric Holder informing them of my outrage and a copy of my bank statement indicating my contribution to the fund.
An old Jewish lady, a survivor of Auschwitz, once told me, " You gotta make noise, you must make noise! Holler!!
Right Carol Anne, when it comes to helping one of the actual victims with something as simple contact lenses because she doesn't have both ears then turning her down is about as low and dispicable as you can get when the cost is probably less than this Anthony makes on a per hour basis.
In 2005 the Oklahoma City Community Foundation decided to reallocate nearly $4.5 million away from the survivors to a variety of causes including the Oklahoma City National Memorial, other communities hit by disasters and future research on disaster relief.l
This is so completely wrong to give away funds for victims to pay for the Memorial ?
TOTALLY WRONG OUTRAG
This is exactly why I refuse to donate to any of these "disaster relief" organizations; they are a joke and do not help the victims as clearly pointed out in this article. It's sad when you have people like me who want to donate money and help, but, we know damn well the money will never reach the ACTUAL victims.
How dare they use that money for other things!!!
Yeah, like their paychecks to administer the program. How much money have they made from "administering" the funds? Bet their house is paid and they don't need a lung transplant. What a bunch of cut throat thieves/vultures. I bet they're all lawyers and manipulate the law to their favor. Ya think?
The only organization that gets our money, is the ARC, when we shop there. We also donate items to them, all the time, and the only other places we donate things to, are homeless shelters and food pantries, but we never donate cash.
The only organization I donate to in helping victims of disasters is the Salvation Army. It's proven with every document that almost 99% of what it raises goes to the victims. I won't even donate to the Red Cross anymore. It's gotten too picky about who it helps, where it helps them and when it helps them and too much goes to "administrative costs." The latest proof of how the Red Cross is becoming more and more infatuated with money, money, money and not spending it is how it blew off the victims of Sandy coming up with all sorts of excuses.
Jerry, regarding the Red Cross, I was a member of the Board of Directors of our regional Red Cross until it became crystal clear that the Red Cross is in the business of selling plasma and whole blood to hospitals and even to other regional offices of the Red Cross. I resigned 18 months into my term.
Giving blood / being an Organ Donor makes no sense IMO:
The foundation makes money .... the hospital makes money .... the drug companies make money .... but wait ... you, the organ donor, who has the most vital part of the whole process .... GETS NO MONEY. LOL talk about getting screwed.
My Father is a Vietnam Vet. He said the Red Cross use to CHARGE the soldiers to write letters to their families at home and were too hurt to write themselves. I don't know a single solitary combat vet (pre 80s) that has anything but disgust, or outright hatred, for the Red Cross...
I'd give money to Feed the Children (who actually DID give to the people and the rescue workers, food during the Oklahoma tragedy) or The Salvation Army (even though I'm an atheist and they proselytize to those they are 'serving' ). Both have good reputations, as far as donations go.
My father was hurt when a plane blew up. The Red Cross made him clean the hospital floor with a burnt back before they would let him have a donated cigarette or candy. He absolutely depises the Red Cross to this day.
I won't give money to these disaster groups either, I give to my church which in turn aids victims, maybe not monetarily but they provide medical aid, or references. Mrs. Anthony is obviously trying to become a millionaire at the expense of Murrah Building victims. If a victim has a medical need, that money should be paying for it not medicaid.
If you wish to donate money, do some research and either give straight to the victims or please give to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. It is one of the best organizations out there.
Angela LD
My Father is a Vietnam Vet. He said the Red Cross use to CHARGE the soldiers to write letters to their families at home and were too hurt to write themselves. I don't know a single solitary combat vet (pre 80s) that has anything but disgust, or outright hatred, for the Red Cross...
I'd give money to Feed the Children (who actually DID give to the people and the rescue workers, food during the Oklahoma tragedy) or The Salvation Army (even though I'm an atheist and they proselytize to those they are 'serving' ). Both have good reputations, as far as donations go.
#7.6 - Fri Mar 1, 2013 8:20 PM EST
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EXCUSE ME!!! But Feed The Children was in trouble many years ago for fraud. Look it up . I don't trust Feed The Children at all!!!!
Haggisbingo,
Dude, it was a federal building so they should send the feds right off the bat. IRS and FBI.
Reminds me of a story a fellow employee told me. He was in Vietminh during the fake war. His base was hit hard. The Red Cross came in and gave the blankets, coffee and doughnuts. When he got back the the U.S. he was billed $50 by the Red Cross. There are to many of these scams going on these days. The united fund comes to mind. They seem to operate with the same model.
I know the subject of Red Cross, Salvation Army is a little off topic, but I'll add my 2 cents.
When my mom was giving birth to her first child, my brother, it was 56 hours and she and my brother both almost died. My Vietnam-era Marine father was on a ship off the coast of Turkey. Btw, don't ask me why they didn't do a c-section, I asked that all my life and never got an answer. Anyhow, my grandparents contacted the Red Cross, because they wanted my mom to be able to speak to her husband, but they said, "Well let us know when one of them dies, then we will contact him." My grandparents distraught, the hospital suggested the Salvation Army. Within hours, my dad was on the phone with my mom. For the rest of our lives, the Red Cross sees not one penny of our donations. When my mom died, I took three van loads of our clothes, furniture, and other, sometimes brand new, items to the Salvation Army in her honor.
As for this article, these people should have been leaning on their government officials. You go to your legislators. If they don't listen, you keep going up the ladder. If you are being shoved off on Medicaid, contact the Medicaid Services office in D.C. -- they don't like to pay one penny more than they have to, they don't like people using their services when there is other money available. There is a way to pressure these people to use the money the way it is supposed to be used. It is not supposed to be a perpetual fund, it isn't an investment fund, if that woman wants to be in charge of an investment fund, move to Wall St. This is a fund to be handed out for specified purposes, and when it is empty, it is empty. Someone needs to put her in her place. These people have been going about it all wrong, and they have really screwed themselves. I don't mean to blame the victims, DO NOT take it that way. I just mean that someone with some knowledge of how to get the government to work for you -- and you can do it, there are tricks -- should have been contacted. And you don't stop contacting people until you have what you want. You don't argue with these people, as soon as they are a concrete door, you learn to go around them and learn who can smash it down. Learn who wouldn't want that door to be there and get them involved. I sure wish I could help them out, but they have put themselves in a bad place by not doing this the right way from the start. Good luck to them, I hope the publicity gets the ball rolling.
One of the few charities I have faith that helps the intended recipients is Doctors Without Borders. They did lots to relieve the suffering of victims of the Haitian earthquake. The rest of them, even the S.A. are too top heavy and even if their intentions are in the right place, operating costs take up too much of donated moneys.
Yeah, there are some very good legitimate relief efforts........this one seems to be the poster child for the worst.
This makes me so angry that fire is coming out of my ears.
Don't fart. You might blow yourself up.
spitting nails
Fire is coming out of my ears too!!! Let's help these people, directly!
I do wish Rock Center hadn't been rescheduled to 10:00 pm on Fridays. It runs opposite Blue Bloods, a really good cop show. I love Rock Center and don't want to have to miss it because it competes with Blue Bloods.
You could record it....
I'm not sure the term "thoughtful" would be the way Anthony described the decision to direct $4.4 million away from victims. Instead, Anthony told the Tulsa World in a Nov 4, 2012 interview: "When we got to the 10th anniversary and saw this big hunk of money, we sort of looked at the other issues."
"big hunk of money" Really? Of course there was a "big hunk of money": not only were denials of assistance routine, that the fund existed was not in the extensive list of clients until after the investigation broke in the Tulsa World on Nov. 4, 2012.
As revealing are her earlier comments to the Chicago Tribune. At the 10 year anniversary, while Deloris and P.J. struggled with unfunded surgeries in a children's hospital out of state, Anthony was busy talking to the press: "The perception of people, unfortunately, is that you need to give people money and that money will make them feel better. Well, it probably does make them feel better. But heroin makes them feel better for a short time, too."
Heroin? This is a highly compensated president of a $640 million dollar foundation, who is married to a powerful politician in the state of Oklahoma?
After the World Trade Center collapse, Anthony felt the need to disparage the Oklahoma City victims by saying: "There's a culture of victimhood, made up of people whose identity as victim of the Oklahoma City Bombing gave them importance and visibility they'd never had before."
Her buzzword, due to in part to her visibility in her community, combined with a prized political position held by her husband, was picked up by the OKC newspaper - known for their extreme conservatism and "us vs them" attitude: "victimhood" was used at least twice in editorials, according to a voice message from Oklahoman reporter Randy Ellis.
That culture of contempt for bombing victims threads throughout OCCF, verified in Anthony's own words in a 2001 New York Times Q&A where she states if she had one thing to do over, she'd train employees at OCCF not to respond to anger with anger. It's easy to understand why her employees were angry: they weren't yet in their multi-million dollar facility in the center of thriving downtown OKC. Maybe now they have nicer digs, they're over it.
The victims and survivors of the OKC bombing, otoh, are not over it. As if Anthony had ever once offered an apology for her cruel words and deeds, the treatment received in the past precludes OCCF from continuing to deal with bombing victims. An official from the state of Oklahoma needs to heed the offer made by Kenneth Feinberg: ask him to come to Oklahoma, where he has offered pro bono to clean up this mess.
Will somebody please call Mr. Feinberg NOW? After 18 years, I believe it's time.
Agreed, send in FIENBERG!!! Please!!!!
Get rid of the "manager" and bring her up on misappropriation. This is just ridiculous....
YES SEND IN FEINBERG!!!
I got an idea. Lets look him up and call the heck out of him and tell him to come!!!! Let's have a demonstration in DOWNTOWN OKC too!!
Email me! I am in! Ppopeye@hotmail.com
Brutal fund. What is her compensation for administering this fund? The money was donated IN GOOD FAITH by individuals that wanted to help the victims. Money was given with the understanding that it would benefit the victims, not the fund administrators. It was not meant to be running in perpetuity, it was not a meant to be a long term investment but for the here and now.
Spread the money around to the remaining victims and close the fund out. That is why the money was donated. If any of the administrators kick up a stink about losing their golden egg, relieve them of their duties and charge them with misappropriation or something like that. They are vile people.
She rakes in a salary of $212,000 yearly PLUS benefits. She also has a "staff" of 19 to assist her still. This is just completely OUTRAGEOUS !!!!!!!
really so a person who wasn't harmed in the bombing has recieved approximatel3.5 million dollars over 18 years while people think they need to beg for an operation? I say have all the survivours sue her for her salary + damages+ the 4.4 Million that was given to others besides them. And then distribute the money as was first expected
I've always known Oklahoma, is a little 4th world state but this tops it all. Those in charge of the relief fund are kowtowing to special interest groups, looking to give the money to someone else other than those it was intended for. Time for all those working on the fund to resign and a clean group to come in. Some of those who were injured in the disaster would be good candidates as they have first hand experience. Really sad day for Oklahoma, rated last among the 50 states thanks to this willful failure to do what is right.
Voyager~
You can speak your opinion, as you're entitled to, but I'll be goddamned if I'm going to sit here and let you badmouth the people of Oklahoma. You don't know dick. In the 2 decades I spent in Oklahoma, I met the finest, most honest, hardworking people I've ever known. You spew bogus data out of your ass like you know what you're talking about. I have never seen such public outpouring of support when the Federal Building was blown up. I was there that April morning, I personally worked with hundreds of volunteers in awful conditions in what looked like a war zone, blood and gore, stench and in worse conditions you've ever offered a free hand in, I imagine. We spent days down there in that hole,nobody bitched, but we all cried together when we left and supported each other when we went back in. Those that couldn't get dirty handed out water and food for volunteers and victims alike. Oklahomans are honest, intelligent, real people. It's apparent that you got more balls than brains. "4th world state", you're a clever prick, aren't you.
General,
Sir, I was born and raised in the Texas panhandle just across the border from Oklahoma and I have many close relatives, as well as family land in Oklahoma. While what you say is true, none of those people appear to work at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. And that foundation by its' very nature 'represents', with or without the permission of other Oklahoman's, people's view of the State.
While your statement is true, you need to direct your ire toward the people responsible at OCCF. They are the ones tarnishing everyone's good acts, nature, and name. They are also 'conducting an independent audit' of the fund, or at least their board is. I don't care who they hire (which was a firm from Missouri) at the end of the day that firm works for them, and will find them in compliance. Only an outside investigation, preferably at the federal level to remove any possible state bias (as it appears Mrs. Anthony is very 'well' connected politically in OKC) would be the appropriate course of action.
The state should probably take Mr. Feinberg up on his offer and let him distribute the remaining money, and then the DOJ should investigate the organization, using non-local personnel, for possible fraud. Especially with the allocation of 4.4 million dollars toward outside causes.
Also note the math, the fund was given 14.5 million to manage, it has over 10 million remaining and 4.4 million was given to outside causes unrelated to the funds mission statement (fraud). That means OCCF has only distributed interest for administrative costs and 'valid' claims as deemed by them. I'm sure that their administrative costs probably suck down over 50% of that distributed money amount as well.
voyager2k "I've always known Oklahoma, is a little 4th world state"
You are an ass. I've been there for extended stretches on consulting jobs and the only thing wrong with that state is the politicians, who by the way, are lawyers by trade. From schools to medical care to liquor laws, the politicians and religious zealots have their hands in everything and this is yet another example. If you follow the money trail, it all leads back to greedy and crooked politicians scamming anyone or anything they can, To imply that the people of Oklahoma are somehow different and "4th world" is something only a complete idiot would say.
John, you're making his point. What makes the 3rd world the 3rd world isn't simply economics. Its the corruption of the leadership and the powerless of citizens to do anything about it. That sounds like the point that you were making.
John, I don't disagree with your statement in the least, but, if the people of Oklahoma feel they are being misrepresented, the best solution there is, is to vote them out of office in the next election. Like people are so fond of saying, "You get the representation you deserve".
I thank everyone for their kind words about my home. I must disagree with John Bryant's comment "You get the representation you deserve." Oklahoma is no different than any other state in the Union.
When voting, everyone hopes their candidate has been properly vetted, and speaks the truth, but let's not be naive here. As Americans, we all "deserve" the best, but sometimes, even in State elections, it's a crap-shoot.
Getting back to the subject. For a fact, and I have the proof to back it up, everyday people can move mountains. We just have to know which one.
It would reflect better on all of you from Oklahoma if you were more outraged at this story than comments about your state. Face it, you are let your fellow citizens down because you have not watched and questioned what has been going on in your state. You might have been with the victims the first day or the first year, but you left them on their own after that.
This is not an anomaly for Non-profits. They'll milk the fund for as much as they can , as long as they can. A Good size fund like that can last a lifetime if all it does is cover the overhead of the "administrators".
You can't tar all non-profits with the same brush. They do not all operate in this manner and many are there to do the service they provide. This is a different kind of situation as it evidently operates as a foundation versus a standard 501C3 organization. I would like to know what kind of restrictions any donors put on funds they donated and what IRS restrictions they are talking about. It sounds to me that some folks have made a career out of working at this foundation instead of just taking care of the victims and survivors. I would think an audit is in order and those who are supposed to be getting the help should perhaps get together and hire an attorney. I think it is outrageous that they would be directing them to get taxpayer funded assistance instead of helping them pay for the medical procedures they need.
This is a very large community foundation, administering numerous "funds". Maybe it has grown faster than its ability to administer funds out the door? If you look at the website and the information posted -- there is a heavy emphasis on investment and return on that investment ... it is part of the need for foundations to manage their funds to preserve the capital (where needed) in order to deliver more program.
However, in this case, it does seem that the emphasis is more on preserving the fund, rather than delivering the program. There are ways of achieving her stated goal of having funds available in the future... and still deliver service today.
It is ironic that she turns down a "need today" for the potential of a "need tomorrow". Hope the intended recipients can hang around long enough for that tomorrow!
BS - the people in the Aurora Theatre shootings have had their fund divided between all of the eligible people and will get a check - not wait years and years for NOTHING - What a Crock of Political Crap and EVERYBODY KNOWS IT
It's been 19 YEARS since this bombing. How long do they need to support themselves by "managing" money that was donated in good faith that it would help the victims? My guess is until it runs out and can no longer pay their outrageous salaries.
I would imagine many of the victims feel overwhelmed with the prospect of lawyers and going to court. They need to get together and file a class action suit, and share the burden and the profit. That way, nobody would have to feel like Jack trying to kill the giant.
is this really a big suprize....quick to take money but never to give it out to the people that it was intended for. Not sure what to make of this. i don't trust the government one bit, nor do i the media any more.
madplumber: this is a private fund.
you KNOW the gov't has their hands in this, don't fool yourself now....
This isn't the government OR the media.....
if the 10 mil were making 20 % yearly they could generate 1.5 milion per year to the victims and families and have 500K for G&A expenses. A portfolio manager costing 150K and 5 staff at 70K. WTF are they doing?
How many victims and family members are there to help?
I think the link to government here is her husband. Be interesting to see how much goes into his campaign coffers
Madplumber: The media uncovered this situation and we wouldn't be here talking about it without the work of the Tulsa World.
Madplumber? It was the MEDIA that brought this story to light. It was first reported in the Tulsa World - where a series began on the topic 11/4/12. You can find several articles and links to documents all in one spot at tulsa world okc bombing. And then, don't forget, you are posting in the comment section of NBC news, who also did a story on the topic. Not sure which "media" you insinuate is a problem here - but Tulsa World rocks! NBC rocks! NOBODY would know this injustice exists but for the hard work of Ziva Branstetter and Anna Schecter.
Can we blame Obama for this? After 15 years waiting money just setting there but Dick Cheney and the Bush friends collected the katrina funding quick. Boehner will likely hold on to the Sandy Funding to assure Obama knows his place. But citizens are still to pay their taxes by April 15th.
Or maybe you could get your mind out of the political gutter, pathetic Jackie!!
entrepreneur ?
Its a good slush fund for someone. Not victims. Kind of like bailing out the banks.
Well, you know, if the fund is depleted, some cushy foundation jobs will be lost. Lesson: when a disaster nets public donations set up a timeline to dole them out and include a requirement that unable or under age beneficiaries are assisted with setting up trust funds.
I have had some experience with these foundations and the so called self proclaimed administrators. It never takes very long once people are put in charge they believe they have some mandate to keep the money as long as possible so they can pay for their salaries and benefits most time for life, instead using the money that good Samaritans intended it to be used.
I would consider if any of the money raised and or interest has been dispersed to any source other than the donors intents of the fund being established would be considered criminal.
Take care of the victims as it was intended. Secondly get rid of the entire foundation administrators.
I would like to know what Nancy Anthony's, president of the Oklahoma City Community, salary is and what benefits the fund is paying for her. I would also like to know the same things about the rest of the officers of the OCC. Their decision to allocate $4.5 million away from the survivors to a variety of other causes should have thrown up a red flag along with numerous bells, whistles, and alarms.
Rick this was stated above in another comment. $212,000 plus benefits and I'm sure some expenses thrown in there. A lot more then she or her organization probably ever gave directly to any one beneficiary to pay for things the needed.
the foundation claims to have given 10million to I think it said 636 people? so they each got aprox 636k dollars while shez raked in a cool 4 million herself? this woman needs to go to jail!
George,
I'd call BS on their numbers without a cutthroat outside and completely unconnected independently funded forensic accountant, who represents the victims, going over every single investment, return, and distribution ever made by that fund.
Cnlht~My "ire" was directed at exactly who I meant it for. Everybody agrees that the greedy officials mismanaging the funds are at fault. I needn't beat that horse. I was aiming for the ass (persona non-gratis) that faults Oklahomans in general as being a "4th world state"(such clever use of an undeserved metaphor *rolls eyes*). My "ire", good sir, is mine and rightfully so, and I thank you for not telling me where to direct it. When you tell me where to direct my "ire", it portrays you as pompous, without provocation, no less. You might do yourself a favor and work on your comprehension skills.
There should be a COMPLETE AUDIT of the entire fund! The Foundation needs a new person running it. I can just see her looking down her long, crumbling nose at people requesting help with that "I dont like victims" look.
CAN HER ASS!
It looks as if an independent auditing firm HAS been engaged to examine the issues that were raised in this article and by others (no mention of this in the article) so, hopefully there will be some changes made once the results come out.
I reviewed the community foundation's website to confirm this.
I looked at their website and didn't see that. Where did you find it?
Boyd? The "audit" was called for by OCCF, paid for by OCCF. Two firms were asked to audit before a third was found who would to do it.
There are irregularities with the audit, unfortunately. They have a toll free number to take calls regarding the investigation, and problems are emerging. For one, the auditors use a speaker phone and victims claim they've heard people in the background commenting and laughing. The person conducting the call backs on the line today tried to establish that he'd had prior contact with a victim who've never heard from him before. There's more - too much for here. All these creepy irregularities make me think: OCCF is preparing themselves for the courtroom. :( The audit is discouraging.
Holly,
You're correct, and let us just state it plainly for those at home. The auditors are hired by the OCCF. They are going to find the OCCF pure like the wind driven snow, no matter what the press releases say about their independence.
This story broke initially in the Tulsa World on November 4, 2012. The newspaper allows public access, where all the stories and related documents can be seen from one page:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/continuingcoverage/default.aspx/OKC_Bombing/80
It seems to me that one of the issues is that the OK City Community Foundation was the wrong organization to handle the fund. The foundation is more long-term focused, in terms of endowment and capital preservation, while the fund, as Mr. Feinberg essentially put it, was meant to be spent. With the clash between the two philosophies, it appears that the foundation's long term goals won out over the short to mid-term needs of its intended beneficiaries.
Unless I missed it, wonder what Nancy Anthony and the staff are drawing in annual salaries?
$272K with a 74 K a year expense account according to last filing.
I may have been high on that, sorry. 232K
Her salary for the prior year is available on guidestar.com She's not poor. As one victim put it: the only people who get checks written in their names from the bombing fund are employed by OCCF.
WTF????
sticky fingers every where
For all those asking - the administrator's salary is 232K. No wonder she doesn't want to actual disperse the money to the victims.
And when I saw her picture, I thought she was a victim.. she looks like a monkey lady.
And she is denying people money for medical procedures? Her butt should be in jail for Fraud!
It sounds like they are trying to maintain salaries as long as possible.
Exactly, to the tune of more than 2 million annually plus benefits that (wth) include RETIREMENT ! Outrageous. Someone needs to bring this woman down.
lmfao at the monkey lady comment