Former U.S. presidents announce fund recipients
in New Orleans
By Tanya Salseth Feau, Washington
File Staff Writer
Washington - Former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton were at the University of New Orleans December 7 to announce the disbursement of $90 million in aid to universities, faith-based organizations and state relief programs that are struggling to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund has raised $110 million, Clinton said, with contributions from nearly 60,000 individual donors, nonprofit organizations, businesses and foreign governments.
Three months have passed since the hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast region.
Although rebuilding is under way and contributions continue to come in, the two former world leaders agree there is still more work to be done.
"Our doors are still open," said former President Clinton to residents of the ravaged area. "We are nowhere near enough money to make you whole."
The fund allocated $30 million for 34 higher education institutions in the hard-hit region, including the University of New Orleans, Tulane University and Loyola University of New Orleans.
"Universities and colleges are the cornerstones of communities across the region," said former President Bush. "Helping them get back on their feet is a key to long-term recovery of the Gulf."
The money will go toward repairing physical damage of equipment and buildings, paying salaries of employees who worked while schools were closed and assisting students who were forced to relocate or left school after the hurricane. The hurricane closed many local schools, forcing students to relocate to other schools across the country for the fall semester.
Forty million dollars' worth of grants will go to governor's funds in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. According to a December 7 Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund press release, this money "will be used to fill gaps and community needs unmet by local, state and national relief and rebuilding efforts."
Approximately $20 million will support faith-based organizations that assisted in recovery efforts, but are now under "extreme financial strain," said Clinton.
It is necessary to make sure that local and national churches and religious organizations "are not punished for doing such important work," he added.
Bush and Clinton also announced the appointment of two longtime public servants - former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman and former Commerce Secretary Don Evans - as trustees of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. They will guide the fund until all of its resources have been disbursed to the affected region.
The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund was launched at the request of current President George W. Bush and is a joint effort between two public charities, the William J. Clinton Foundation and the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
President Bush asked the two former leaders to head the fund-raising initiative in early September. Former Presidents Bush and Clinton had worked together before to raise funds for tsunami relief.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)