(RNS) — The executive director of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund resigned her post July 14 after prominent members of the fund's religious advisory committee quit and harshly criticized the manner in which the fund made grants to houses of worship.
Fund co-chairs Don Evans and Alexis Herman announced that Mary Ann Wyrsch would be replaced by Constance Berry Newman, an executive with a Washington lobbying group, while acknowledging the concerns stated by former committee co-chairs, Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas and the Rev. William H. Gray III of Philadelphia.
The fund, which has awarded $65 million to various hurricane-related causes, has earmarked $20 million to help religious organizations and $1.5 million of that sum has been approved for 38 recipients. Bill Pierce, a spokesman for the fund, said some of those recipients have received checks and others are in process. In addition, “hundreds” of other grant applications are being evaluated, he said.
Jakes and Gray questioned the financial oversight of the fund that was established by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.
Jakes said “checks were flying out the door” before their committee could verify that grant applicants truly had a need. Gray called the fund “a philanthropic FEMA,” referring to criticism of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Katrina last year.
Gray said the majority of the nine-member committee has resigned but Pierce could not confirm resignations beyond Gray's and Jakes's.