It's certainly not right to be taking credit for something that the government is already doing. It is very serious for a charity to give the impression that it is doing what the government is doing.

The Red Cross is a brand name, and people automatically pick it for donations. But there are a lot of local groups who could use assistance and reimbursement, and the Red Cross isn't willing to do that.

The Number 1 reason Americans give is because they're asked.

I would think if she wants to do something beneficial for Katrina victims, she shouldn't be making the decision that the vendor is her son.

In the past three years there's been a decline in giving to human service-type organizations. People need to step up to the plate and give extra.

When a big disaster happens, it heightens the philanthropic impulse.