Relief Fund for injured triplets... kind of seems weird to me

[Anonymous]

This seems weird to me. All of a sudden there is a splashy website asking for donations for the Petrelli family. (Triplets injured in Bethesda fire) You can select all the way up to a $1000 donation, pay by credit card. www.petrucellirelieffund.com
So can someone tell me if this family is really "in need"? They are living in a million dollar neighborhood. Did they not have insurance? This just seems sort of money grubbing to me. I can see asking for prayers but that "donate now" button is sure pretty prominent. Is it just me?

[Anonymous]

There is a loooong thread on the fire in the Gen'l Parenting forum -- http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/34446.page Addresses your concern (others feel the same -- why not a fund for the firemen?).

[Anonymous]

At the risk of offending...Oh what the hell, yeah. I totally agree. I'm quite sure Mr. lobbyist -- Rudy Giuliani's BFF -- can come up with the cash for some new digs.

I think the family was pretty tied into the Mont. Co. moms of multiples clique so I think they started the effort. It's the rich giving to the rich. I'm sure there's a similiar effort for the firefighters who bravely risked their lives too. (cough)

[Anonymous]

why all the hating - just because they have a million dollar house? Maybe they're mortgaged to the hilt and don't have any cash on hand for their immediate needs. If you don't think that they deserve a donation, don't give them one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why all the hating - just because they have a million dollar house? Maybe they're mortgaged to the hilt and don't have any cash on hand for their immediate needs. If you don't think that they deserve a donation, don't give them one?

I'm sending them a Wal-Mart gift card for 25 bucks. I'm sure Ami Susan (I think that's her name) will really appreciate that. They can get a couple cans of SPAM or a case of Hawaiian Punch to tide them over? Or maybe a new christmas sweater to cheer Mom up! I'm sorry those people don't need charity -- can't we worry about people who have real financial worries? This family doesn't need money. I'm poor and I wouldn't allow anyone to set up a website begging for me. I'd be pissed if my friends did that actually. It's gross, sorry.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I was shocked too. The smallest amount you can donate online is $25 - and the suggested donations go up to $1000.

The family didn't start the fund; it was a multiples group. But I can't imagine why they would let the group do it.

[Anonymous]

I'm shocked too--by the mean-spiritedness on this thread. If you don't want to donate, then don't (and I haven't). But for heaven's sake, why in the world criticize the very existence of the fund? There are all sorts of charities that many people don't find worthwhile--speaking only personally, I get annoyed at charities that ask for money for animals when there are so many people going in need--but do we demand in high dudgeon that they cease, or talk about how grotesque/tacky they are?

Again speaking personally, we are not poor and we are also insured, but if we had a similar tragedy, I would be very grateful for any outpouring of support,--and that includes financial, even if we technically wouldn't "need" it the way some truly poor people would.

Bottom line: why criticize any gesture of goodwill to anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked too--by the mean-spiritedness on this thread. If you don't want to donate, then don't (and I haven't). But for heaven's sake, why in the world criticize the very existence of the fund? There are all sorts of charities that many people don't find worthwhile--speaking only personally, I get annoyed at charities that ask for money for animals when there are so many people going in need--but do we demand in high dudgeon that they cease, or talk about how grotesque/tacky they are?

Again speaking personally, we are not poor and we are also insured, but if we had a similar tragedy, I would be very grateful for any outpouring of support,--and that includes financial, even if we technically wouldn't "need" it the way some truly poor people would.

Bottom line: why criticize any gesture of goodwill to anyone?

I agree with this post. I have no plans to donate, but I have no issues with anyone who wants to donate and I am not offended by the request for donations. We all have a choice in how we spend the money that we have and we all have different views on who is worthy and who is not. I am assuming that the people who are donating think that this is a worthy cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked too--by the mean-spiritedness on this thread. If you don't want to donate, then don't (and I haven't). But for heaven's sake, why in the world criticize the very existence of the fund? There are all sorts of charities that many people don't find worthwhile--speaking only personally, I get annoyed at charities that ask for money for animals when there are so many people going in need--but do we demand in high dudgeon that they cease, or talk about how grotesque/tacky they are?

Again speaking personally, we are not poor and we are also insured, but if we had a similar tragedy, I would be very grateful for any outpouring of support,--and that includes financial, even if we technically wouldn't "need" it the way some truly poor people would.

Bottom line: why criticize any gesture of goodwill to anyone?

I agree with this post. I have no plans to donate, but I have no issues with anyone who wants to donate and I am not offended by the request for donations. We all have a choice in how we spend the money that we have and we all have different views on who is worthy and who is not. I am assuming that the people who are donating think that this is a worthy cause.

It's a way for people [their friends] to give them some money for immediate needs AND get a TAX write-off. Now I wonder if the donators are gettingan under the table payback down the road. Ouch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have no issues with anyone who wants to donate and I am not offended by the request for donations.

I suppose the issue is, and I'm sure you've thought of this, is that the existence of the donations site makes it sound as if the family is in need, when in fact, they are not. Not compared to the way other victims of catastrophes are in need. But the families in SE who lose their homes might not have web designers on call to make them a snazzy solicitation vehicle.

[Anonymous]

I do not live in a million dollar home but I live in adequately insured home and I know my coverage includes money for necessities and for lodging in case of a fire - right away - so i wouldn't be on the street or destitute. I would guess owning a million dollar home one would have at least that type of coverage if not better.

I would never allow someone to collect money on my behalf if I was not really in need. I would feel uncomfortable and tell them to stop.

[Anonymous]

Some people here are "assuming" too much... Maybe this family just lost all their savings in the recent stock market crash... maybe they are in debt till their necks... of just maybe, they are so worried and involved with the care/treatment of their triplets that they don't even know there is this fund?

I mean, come on! If I had triplets that were bad injuried in a fire accident and were under intensive care, I would NOT be hanging around with some mom's group to even talk about a fund raiser! I would just be GLUED to the hospital facilities praying my ass off!

[Anonymous]

Cheesy and suspect for sure, but it is not the first time I have seen something like this. Doesn't warrant this kind of attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not live in a million dollar home but I live in adequately insured home and I know my coverage includes money for necessities and for lodging in case of a fire - right away - so i wouldn't be on the street or destitute. I would guess owning a million dollar home one would have at least that type of coverage if not better.

I would never allow someone to collect money on my behalf if I was not really in need. I would feel uncomfortable and tell them to stop.

The family might not realize that the group is asking for donations on their behalf.

And who knows, perhaps the hospital bills are costly and their insurance may not be paying much of it - burn units are long duration-type stays. You think delivering a baby and staying 48 hours in a hospital is expensive? - think about the skin graphs, the pain medications, the 24/7 care, etc. for 4 family members (triplets + dad)!

I'm sure the recovery and health of their family is weighing heavily on their minds and not what some website is doing (not to mention not having any control over it).

[Anonymous]

I would not jump to the conclusion that these people don't need help.

Owning a million dollar house does not mean that they have a million dollars. In this market, they could be underwater on their house.

Do we know anything about the cost of their medical care, and how much of it is covered or not?

The family will have to relocate for some time, which costs money.

I know they are probably better off than some poor family, but I don't think that is the point. Or if it is, maybe some of the concerned people can set up a web site to support people they feel are really in need.