Kenny Rogers stood in the blistering heat of the Southwest desert, and President Reagan participated in front of the White House. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck joined hands with participants in Disneyland. There were parties at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif,, and Battery Park in Manhattan.
But there were lots of gaps in between, and a lot of people did not send in their pledges, resulting in a net of only $15 million for the hungry and homeless after all costs were paid.
Organizers have found themselves on the defensive because the cost of mounting the event was $14 million to $16 million. Even though the cost was known in advance, its size in relation to donations hurt credibility.
"It was a net good," said Robert Hayes of the National Coalition for the Homeless in New York. "But they spent too much to raise too little and promoted a national extravaganza empty of content."
Sounds like every day under this administration.