OG has worked for a very large, name-brand charity (which shall remain nameless) and agrees there is reason to be concerned about how mmuch of the money gets to the victims. Because it's not all for the kids. . .

foxnews.com/oreilly

Who's Minding the Money?

This is a partial transcript from The O'Reilly Factor, October , 2001.

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the Back of the Book segment, as you know, we are following the money trail. Americans have pledged about a billion dollars to help the families of the terror victims. Right now, the United Way is controlling much of that money. And as I said in the Talking Points memo, no one from that organization have consented to come on and explain what's going on.

Joining us now is Daniel Borochoff, the president of the American Institute of Philanthropy. I got it, philanthropy.

All right, now look, we love to have you on the program, you know that, but we would have much rather had somebody from the United Way.

DANIEL BOROCHOFF, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHILANTHROPY: Really?

O'REILLY: We got a -- yes, I mean, because I got a lot of questions for them, and I bet you do too.

BOROCHOFF: Yes...

O'REILLY: And we got a letter for them, we got a letter from them about two hours ago now, thinking about coming on, but I think they have a responsibility to come on.

What would, what would your question be to the United Way, Mr. Borochoff?

BOROCHOFF: Well, we, we, we, we need more public accountability here, and I think -- one thing, I wanted to be on this show now to encourage the public to get the United Way to answer some questions about what they're doing. I mean, look at their -- go to their website site, September11fund.org, and what do they say that they're doing? They're helping the victims of the families and community, and that's about it.

They mention three groups that they're funding. You know, and we keep -- as the public, we keep dumping money on them, and then we're not asking for more specifics.

O'REILLY: Well, here's my question...

BOROCHOFF: We really need that.

O'REILLY: ... here's -- I mean, I'll pop these questions right off, and I'm hoping they'll come on and they can copy these questions down and answer them— is that it's been four weeks now since this terrible terror attack...

BOROCHOFF: They haven't even formed a committee yet...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROCHOFF: ... isn't that outrageous?

O'REILLY: But wait a minute, wait a minute. They -- they...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROCHOFF: ... even have a committee...

O'REILLY: ... have -- they have...

BOROCHOFF: ... I mean, outrageous, it's outrageous.

O'REILLY: Mr. Borochoff, wait a minute, let me get the question. They have paid out less than 10 percent of the money they have in hand to their middlemen...

BOROCHOFF: Yes, they don't...

O'REILLY: ... they don't see -- they have middlemen...

BOROCHOFF: ... million.

O'REILLY: ... all over the place. What?

BOROCHOFF: Yes.

O'REILLY: So they have paid out less than 10 percent of the $87 million. The $87 million's getting interest. Number one, I want to know where that interest. Does that go to the United Way? Where does that interest go? Because that's an enormous amount of money that they're getting every day just having the $87 million in the United Way bank.

BOROCHOFF: Well, that — that...

O'REILLY: And number two, why, why, is it taking so long to get this money to the middlemen? And why do you need middlemen, because that's just another layer of bureaucracy?

BOROCHOFF: Well, keep in mind the United Way, that's the way the United Way works. They work through intermediaries. They don't give it out directly. But I think it, I think it's strange that— why would it take them so long to put together a group of people to make the allocation decisions? I think we have to watch out for politics here and make sure that these 20 people are representing the interests of the public and to find out what's going, what's going on. I think that's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

The interest, you know, it's — they've got $300 million, they — they only got about $80 million yet. That's not the major point right here. I mean, interest will go — will be part of the fund and will go for the — for the...

O'REILLY: All right, but here's the point...

BOROCHOFF: ... purposes.

O'REILLY: ... here's the point. You have a lot of families that are suffering now terribly. They're suffering. And the don't need the extra pressure of being able to pay their bills and to have things because they're wiped out. They need the help to alleviate their suffering. They don't need it in six months, they need it now.

And I think Americans, this outpouring of generosity, unprecedented in the history of mankind, a billion dollars, or I am sorely disappointed that all of this money has not been accounted for, and our government doesn't seem to care. There's no one in charge. The attorney general of the New York State, Spitzer, came on and said he doesn't know where the money is. He doesn't know. Nobody knows. United Way knows, but they're...

(CROSSTALK)

O'REILLY: ... not here to tell us.

BOROCHOFF: Six hundred billion of it is from — $600 million, I'm sorry — $600 million of it is from the Red Cross and the United Way Fund, so that's — we need to watchdog that. That's what we really need to keep, keep an eye on here.

I mean, there's very little regulation in nonprofit field, even outside of...

O'REILLY: But at least the American Red Cross came on. I mean, the woman in charge of it was very eloquent, and I had no problem with her.

But these agencies, particularly the United Way, which has had trouble in the past, as we said, their former president's still in jail, making 300K, they got a big overhead here, right? This is a big business, this United Way.

BOROCHOFF: No, no, it's about 12 or 15 percent that's, you see you got another layer of, because then each nonprofit group has their administrative costs and fees. So I don't like them saying that every dollar collected will go to the victims and the family, because that's not true, because then it goes to an agency that does have, you know, some overhead costs.

And see, they're running commercials — I saw a commercial a couple of days ago. I spoke today with the communications director. And she wasn't even aware of these commercials that they're running. I mean, the American public should not let them get away without of this lack of accountability...

O'REILLY: Well, we won't.

BOROCHOFF: ... this lack of disclosure...

(CROSSTALK)

O'REILLY: Mr. Borochoff, I...

BOROCHOFF: ... 800 number, and all is they do is ask for your money, they don't even tell you about what they want it...

O'REILLY: Trust me.

BOROCHOFF: ... for. Go to their Web site.

O'REILLY: Trust me on this. I'm giving the United Way a couple of days to show up, all right? Because I want to be fair. If they don't, it's not going to be ha — it's not going to be pretty for them.

BOROCHOFF: If you tell me they're just...

O'REILLY: It's not going to be pretty for them.

BOROCHOFF: ... from their information, I hope...

O'REILLY: We, we want...

BOROCHOFF: ... that's true.

O'REILLY: ... answers, microanswers about all of this money, and we're entitled to it. Mr. Borochoff...

BOROCHOFF: But it's up to the public...

O'REILLY: ... always a pleasure...

BOROCHOFF: ... it's up to the public not just, you know, you and me, Bill, to ask...

O'REILLY: Well, that's why we're here...

(CROSSTALK)

BOROCHOFF: ... before you give the money, ask them what they're going to be doing...

O'REILLY: All right, but they may not tell you the truth. THE FACTOR will get the truth.

(CROSSTALK)

O'REILLY: ... Mr. Borochoff. And thank you very much.

BOROCHOFF: Sure, my pleasure.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Answers

The United Way Responds

This is a partial transcript from The O'Reilly Factor, October 9, 2001.

BILL O'REILLY, HOST: All right, joining us now to put things into perspective, from his point of view, is Ralph Dickerson Jr., the president of the United Way New York City. Well, I'm glad we could finally get you on, Mr. Dickerson.

RALPH DICKERSON JR., PRESIDENT, UNITED WAY NEW YORK: Nice to meet you, Mr. O'Reilly.

O'REILLY: It breaks your heart to hear those three people, does it not?

DICKERSON: Very much so. And I think the most important thing is that nobody, no families or victims, should go without service. And the most important thing we have to do is try to find service for those individuals.

O'REILLY: But, it's four weeks, and you're sitting on a bunch of money, and...

DICKERSON: Well, it's not quite -- it's not quite four weeks.

O'REILLY: Yeah, it's four weeks from today that this terror happened.

DICKERSON: Well, the most important thing is we got the fund started, people started contributing, and in just a matter of two weeks, we really kind of sprung into action right away. We already have about $9 million out to individual agencies. We're very much focused on families, and we're really already doing a very effective job.

O'REILLY: Well, I don't -- see, I've got to challenge you on that. If I brought in four people, and that's all I brought in so far, and all four of them say they have not heard one word from the United Way, they don't have any contact with you at all. You've got 5,000 families, approximately, that you've got to service here. That's not an awful lot.

DICKERSON: But, it's really larger than that. If you think about it, it's maybe close to 15,000 when you look at the individual families and the children involved.

O'REILLY: Well, we're talking primary people, here. We brought in spouses...

DICKERSON: But you -- yes, but you also have to focus on the entire families. Look, let me tell you something...

O'REILLY: All right, but why haven't these three heard from you?

DICKERSON: You know, Mr. O'Reilly, most people are just now coming forward to really recognize that they really need some service. Already there have been 5,900 families served by Safe Horizons already. There's been a number of counseling agencies that have best really sprung into effect. People are being served. Dollars are out on the street. People are really receiving service. And I want to -- I want to...

O'REILLY: All right. But less than 10 percent of the money that you've raised for the September 11 Fund, and that was a big fund with a special with the movie stars and everything, has been distributed. Now, do you have to be cautious about giving the money? Do you have to take this long?

DICKERSON: Well, I tell you what. There's both an immediate need of cash assistance...

O'REILLY: Right.

DICKERSON: ... rental payments, mortgage payments.

O'REILLY: Right.

DICKERSON: There's some longer-term needs. You know, I think the most important thing, Mr. O'Reilly, is that we learned in Oklahoma and Columbia that in order to rebuild people's lives, in order to make sure that there's service available for people, you got to respond right away, but you also have to make sure that there's service available for people.

You heard Mr. Alario say he's not sure what he needs right now. And agencies have to be there. And we will be there.

O'REILLY: But you know what they need more than everything -- anything, Mr. Dickerson? They need a call. They need some reassurance. They need some confidence, they need some relief.

DICKERSON: Right, right.

O'REILLY: And your agency hasn't called them.

DICKERSON: Well, the...

O'REILLY: They haven't -- wait. You haven't called them. You know, and if you need more people to get on the switchboard and pick up the phone, then get them, because that's what they need.

DICKERSON: That's -- that's right. You invited me here, administration I want to make sure that all the confusion about making sure people get service is eradicated. Look, our job is to make sure 100 percent of the money goes, and it will go that way. Look, the United Way, and all the United Ways around the country, have a history of delivering service to people.

We give away $100 million a year. Over the last ten years we've given away a billion dollars. And so it's not unusual for us to respond to these kind of issues. No, we don't want people to go unserved. No, we don't want -- make sure that people have services best to our ability.

But we're going to make sure that things happen...

O'REILLY: All right. You're...

(CROSSTALK)

DICKERSON: ... are going to be there...

O'REILLY: ... putting -- you're telling me you're going to, you're going to, you're going to...

DICKERSON: We already have.

O'REILLY: ... and I'm telling...

DICKERSON: We already have.

O'REILLY: Look, we had three people sit here four minutes ago to say they never heard from you once.

DICKERSON: Look, I want to tell you something.

O'REILLY: Can you explain that?

DICKERSON: I want to tell you something.

O'REILLY: Can you explain it?

DICKERSON: There are a number of people who have not come forward, and there are a number of agencies...

O'REILLY: All three of them have said that they...

DICKERSON: ... have not responded.

O'REILLY: ... they, they, they filled out the forms...

DICKERSON: I understand that, and I want to make sure...

O'REILLY: ... and so on. But shouldn't you be tracking them down?

DICKERSON: But the most important thing, agencies will track them down. This has only been a very short time period. And I can assure you that the agencies who are receiving money, whether it's the Red Cross, Safe Horizons, or the Legal Aid Society or even the agency that had to replace its ambulances, we already made sure that dollars and cents were available to them.

People will get service, and yes, we want to know. Now, if you'd help us...

O'REILLY: Oh, I'll help you, you know, I want...

DICKERSON: ... any time -- any, any time anybody...

O'REILLY: ... these three people to be taken care of tonight.

DICKERSON: I want to tell you something.

O'REILLY: You got it, you got their names?

DICKERSON: Absolutely, and I'll make sure that that happens.

O'REILLY: All right.

DICKERSON: As well as...

(CROSSTALK)

DICKERSON: ... agencies.

O'REILLY: Now, listen, we got a lot of people watching this tonight, in the same boat that these people. What should they do? Tell me what they should do, Mr. Dickerson.

DICKERSON: I think the most important thing is, when we find people who have not received service, if they'll call the United Way, if they will call Safe Horizons, 212-251-2500, if they will call, we will make sure that these people...

O'REILLY: Give the number again, slowly, 212...

DICKERSON: ... get -- 212-251-2500.

O'REILLY: ... 2500.

DICKERSON: Or any United Way in their country.

O'REILLY: All right. And you're going to guarantee me that those people are going to be...

DICKERSON: Let me tell you something. We guaranteed the moment we decided to set up the September 11 Fund that 100 percent of the money's going, and that everybody's going to receive support.

O'REILLY: All right. I'm a -- I think you're an honest man. I'm going to take your word. But I'm going to watch you, Mr. Dickerson, I'm going to watch you.

DICKERSON: I hope together we can work on this. Let me tell you something. We are very much committed to this.

O'REILLY: All right.

DICKERSON: This is an unusual situation...

O'REILLY: You keep us posted and I'm going to have you back every three weeks for an update, all right?

DICKERSON: I'd be glad to do that.

O'REILLY: OK.

DICKERSON: Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly.

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

Good for O'Reilly!

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001

After he nailed the United Way guy, I told Sweetie that if he got hit by a bus I was going after O'Reilly, LOL! Then I said, quickly, "No, I'm not, he's really an asshole--but a GOOD asshole!"

-- Anonymous, October 11, 2001