[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
[September 18, 2001]
[Pages 1122-1124]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Honoring Charitable Organizations
September 18, 2001

    Please be seated. Welcome.
    Last week America suffered greatly. Thousands of our citizens lost 
lives. Thousands were hurt, but thousands of our citizens rose to the 
occasion to help. Last week was a really horrible week for America, but 
out of our tears and sadness, we saw the best of America as well. We saw 
a great country rise up to help.
    Tens of millions of dollars and thousands of hours and tons of food 
and clothing have all been donated to help rebuild shattered lives. 
Americans' love for America was channeled through our Nation's great 
charities, and as President of this great land, nothing made me more 
proud. In the week since the attack, our compassionate and generous 
citizens have led the first phase in the war on terrorism. They have 
sustained and strengthened the homefront.
    Today I'm joined by representatives of charities which have brought 
relief to citizens in New York City and Virginia and Pennsylvania. We've 
got representatives of firefighters, police officers, entrepreneurs who 
have helped out all across America. We've got many good citizens here 
who represent the large national charities like the American Red Cross, 
the Salvation Army, and the United Way. We've got folks here in the 
Nation's Rose Garden who represent the community-based programs and 
faith-based programs, firefighter and police associations, local 
businesses, nonprofits. Large and small, these important charitable 
efforts are saving lives and, as importantly, are restoring hope.
    I'm also joined by Libby Pataki, the 
better half of the Governor of New York; 
Tony Carbonetti, the chief of staff to 
Rudy Giuliani; and my friends and former 
fellow

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Governors--actually, they're Governors; I was a former Governor--Jim 
Gilmore and Tom Ridge. These Governors and their 
wives and the mayor of New York have shown 
impressive leadership--impressive leadership--in the face of the 
challenges that faced their cities and their States.
    They put public agencies on full alert to provide immediate 
assistance to victims and their families. And for all those who helped, 
our Nation is most grateful. They've called on the men and women of the 
National Guard to help maintain calm and order. And we thank those who 
wear the uniform as well. And they've led and supported valiant 
rescueworkers in New York City and northern Virginia, whose bravery is 
seared into our national consciousness.
    I was honored to be able to stand amidst the rescueworkers--and 
looked in their eyes and saw the determination that would make all 
Americans proud. In spite of their exhaustion, in spite of the fact that 
they had worked themselves into a state of total fatigue, they still 
wanted to keep fighting on for their fellow brothers and sisters trapped 
in the rubble.
    Mayor Giuliani, and Pataki, have led New York City through its most difficult 
of all days, and they have done so with class and bravery and 
distinction. And we owe them a debt of gratitude. The mayor, the 
Governors, all New Yorkers, have demonstrated the very best American 
values to a world that has been watching to see how our Nation would 
react.
    The world watches the great country called America, and they say, 
``What will they do? What will Americans do?'' And what they've seen--
the best of America. They've seen leadership; they've seen courage; and 
as importantly, they've seen compassion.
    Last evening marked the start of Rosh Hashanah. In Jewish teaching, 
this holy day is the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is a 
season of renewal and of hope, and people of every faith, all across 
America, embrace that spirit of renewal and hope.
    Funds in New York and Washington are providing food, clothing, and 
financial help to husbands and wives and sons and daughters who suffer 
mightily. Citizens near Ground Zero in New York have provided 
sandwiches, drinks, and clean clothes to the tired and hungry 
rescueworkers. And in one of America's greatest traditions, a handful of 
entrepreneurs from Springfield, Virginia, collected $600 by selling 
lemonade and gave it to the Red Cross. These acts of generosity and 
kindness are spreading all across America.
    There are challenges that remain for those who suffer today. Make no 
mistake about it: We've got a lot of work to do as a nation. And these 
good efforts, these good, charitable, compassionate efforts need the 
full support of Americans everywhere.
    People all across the country are asking how they can help. What can 
they do to provide hope? What can they do to help heal the wounds by 
helping their fellow Americans? Well, there are many ways to contribute. 
Local stores and businesses on Main Street America are collecting money 
to send to appropriate relief and help agencies. National media 
organizations are helping collect; Internet portals providing an 
interesting opportunity for people to contribute and provide their help. 
Many of the charities, themselves, welcome donations through web sites. 
So I urge my fellow Americans to continue contributing through web 
sites. If you're interested in helping, call up one of the great 
charities of America and contribute.
    Thus far, I'm proud to report, through the web sites of our 
charities, Americans have donated $55 million in 7 short days.
    Some of America's high-tech leaders, AOL/Time Warner and Microsoft, 
Amazon, eBay, Cisco Systems, and Yahoo have joined together in a private 
effort to encourage online giving so that we can funnel resources to 
help our citizens in need. They

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have formed what's called the American Liberty Partnership. It has a web 
site called libertyunites.org. And this will help Americans find out how 
to help.
    If a concerned American wants to help a neighbor in need, even 
though the neighborhood might not be right next to each other, they can 
get on libertyunites.org and find out how to help. And I urge my fellow 
Americans to do so. Americans can not only make online donations, they 
can figure out where to send food, where to donate blood, where to give 
clothes. They can find out how best to donate their time.
    Now, it's important to realize that at this moment, many of our 
charities are overwhelmed by the public response. That's the kind of 
problem we like in America. But because the portals may be jammed, 
because the phones may be busy is not an excuse for Americans not to 
continue to fight to help their neighbors.
    And so, I ask my fellow Americans to be patient with those charities 
that want their help, to keep trying to give, to not lose sight of the 
mission. And that is, we'll fight terrorism on all fronts; we will not 
be terrorized so that our hearts are hardened.
    Nobody can threaten this country. Oh, they may be able to bomb 
buildings and obviously disrupt lives. But we're too great a nation to 
allow the evildoers to affect our soul and our spirit.
    Today I herald the soul and spirit of America with live examples of 
people who have made a huge difference in those who suffer and those who 
hurt. This is a great land. It's a great land, because our people are so 
decent and strong and compassionate.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 11:46 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Elizabeth Pataki, wife of Gov. 
George E. Pataki of New York; Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York 
City; Gov. James S. Gilmore III of Virginia and his wife, Roxane; and 
Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania and his wife, Michele.