The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 26

A-26 THE RECORD. SUNDAY. MAY 25. 1986 Are Americans tiring of mass charity events? II I.I.UIII..IIL.II HIM "1 i A -jf'V I 1 I I Whatever the amount raised, however, it also has to cover the project's operating expenses estimated at $12 million the largest portion of which will pay Hands Across America's 345 employees, including state directors, state press aides, logistics team members who planned the route, and some office workers. Last year, through the release of the single "We Are the World," the USA for Africa album, and related merchandising (T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, etc.) the parent group of Hands Across America raised approximately $45 million for African famine-relief efforts.

Unless there is a last-minute turnaround, Hands Across America could fall short of that earlier fund-raising success. A week ago, organizers estimated that only 2.5 million of the 6 million people necessary to connect the human chain had signed up and made their donations for a spot on the route, which runs through 16 states plus the District of Columbia. The project, however, did receive a morale boost Friday when President Reagan announced he would participate. Ken Kragen who is also the manager for singers Kenny Rogers and Lionel Richie has issued an open invitation to the public to join the line, even without the minimum donation. Hands Across America volunteer marshalls monitoring the route will ask participants who haven't paid to send donations to the organization's Los Angeles headquarters.

The project's organizers have also announced the first "sanctioned" gap a 94-mile stretch of In a preview of today's Hands Across America, about 2,800 Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco yesterday. people linked hands across the desert between the Arizona towns of Tonopah and Ehrenberg, citing health and safety considerations. Organizers have reportedly conceded that desert areas in New Mexico and west Texas also are likely to have large gaps. Inmates at New Jersey's Railway State Prison volunteered to help Hands Across America fill those gaps, but failed to receive permission from prison authorities. So the prisoners are going to do the next best thing form their own quarter-mile human chain within the walls of the maximum-security prison.

From the start, Hands Across America has been criticized as a commercial vehicle for corporate sponsors. More than 750 companies have donated funds, services, supplies, or purchased miles to be manned by their employees. The two biggest contributors have been Citibank-Citicorp, with a donation of about $3 million, and Coca-Cola. Although spokesmen at FROM PAGE A-l raise between $50 million and $100 million. Since then, however, the anticipated number of participants hasn't materialized, projected fund-raising figures have been revised downward, and organizers are acknowledging that at least one desert stretch of the route will remain unmanned.

In New Jersey where the 88-mile line, requiring 120,000 people, will run through 40 towns, including a dozen in Bergen County approximately 80 percent of the line is full. Emma Byrne, press secretary for the New Jersey office of Hands Across America, said last week that the largest gaps in the state exist in Bergen County. Of the 67 segments constituting the 13.5-mile route in Bergen County, 48 have open spaces of varying lengths. Analysis Ms. Byrne yesterday said Hands Across America computers indicate New Jersey residents have pledged more than $1 million to stand in line, and that she expects another 20,000 people to join at the last minute.

But, Ms. Byrne said, New Jersey organizers shared the national coordinators' worst fear that Hands Across America would become "clumps across America." "We're afraid that in some areas there will be clusters of people, so many that we won't be able to accommodate the overflow," she said. "And yet in other areas we might have I hate to say the word bare spots." The latest official national estimate, as of Friday, was that 3 million people would participate. The link-up is scheduled at 3 p.m. EDT.

At a recent press conference at the New Jersey headquarters of Hands Across America in Newark, Kragen said: "I'm not going to be crushed if the line doesn't connect. No attempt to help the homeless and hungry should ever be judged a failure." Why the national shortage of hands? Some speculate that all the past year's charity events including Live Aid, Farm Aid, Drive Aid, and Comic Relief have resulted in charity burnout. Peter Hansen, spokesman for the United States Committee for UNICEF, recently warned: "With all these benefits, it's a real concern that we're quickly going to reach the saturation point." Bob Geldof, Irish rock singer and organizer of the Live Aid concerts, even coined the term "compassion fatigue" to describe what 13.5-mile route sftx Colony's 35 might happen if the number of charity events continues to multiply. "Compassion fatigue" has not stopped Geldof, however. He recently organized Sport Aid, a series of global sporting events that will culminate with a race at the United Nations today, to raise more funds for the African famine victims.

The strongest criticism of the Hands Across America project seems to be from the participants themselves, irked at what they describe as the project's lack of organization. Many people who said they signed up weeks ago had not received their route locations last week, nor their commemorative certificates, T-shirts, sun visors, or pins. Participants said calls to the national headquarters generally have not proved helpful. Gail Anderson of Allendale says she donated $35. As the day for the event drew near and she still had not received her route location, she made several calls to the Los Angeles headquarters.

Each time, she was promised that the location information would be mailed soon. Lesser-known charities "I finally received it on Monday, but none of the merchandise I was promised," said Ms. Anderson, who added that she'll still take her spot on the line in Teaneck. "I think the lack of organization is terrible, but I still believe that what they are doing is important. Next time I give money, however, I'm going to hand it to a group or poor person in the area." Spokesmen for some established charities criticized the failure of organizers to specify which charities would receive the Hands Across America funds.

"Sure it's a concern that no charities have been named," said Salvation Army Lt. Col. Ernest Miller. "It's also a concern they have not sought our advice or that of other organizations that, like us, have been involved with the hungry and homeless for years." Marty Rogol, executive director of USA for Africa (the parent foundation of Hands Across America), said the nonprofit organization rejected participation in the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Instead, Rogol has said USA for Africa, using the advice of a still-to-be formed 35-member domestic force, will seek out lesser-known charities that have tried but failed to secure funds through traditional avenues.

Project organizers have scaled down their estimates of how much money the Hands Across America project is expected to generate. They now talk of raising about $50 million, no longer mentioning their earlier, optimistic projection of up to $100 million. traveling toward Philadelphia, where it will come back into the state across the Ben Franklin Bridge. The 15-mile spur the only one on the line will be entirely in Camden County. For those planning to go to the line, project organizers have offered several tips: Plan to come early.

Participants should arrive 1 to lVz hours before the 3 p.m. event. Marshalls will be on the route beginning at noon. Drive in car pools or use public transportation, where available, to avoid traffic and parking problems. Be comfortable.

The event will take place rain or shine and people should dress appropriately. They are also encouraged to bring suntan lotion, folding chairs, snacks, or sandwiches. Bring a radio. The United Stations Network will broadcasting a national simulcast beginning at noon and will provide the signal to link hands. Do not bring alcoholic beverages.

Clean up after the event. BARBARA JAEGER IfYWUll 0Ug uuOTls uul While others pick 'n choose sale Crib Warehouse chooses to reduce everything! BABY FURNITURE HIGH CHAIRS STROLLERS CAR SEATS CARRIAGES CRIB MATTRESSES NURSERY ACCESSORIES Hands across Bergen Coca-Cola wouldn't divulge the amount of the company's donation, the company reportedly put up $5 million in cash, then spent another $5 million in cooperation with its bottlers for advertising and other services. For the links in the human chain the local participants the most troublesome aspect has been a nagging feeling that amid the big corporate sponsors and the Hollywood glitz, they've gotten lost. BONUS NO. 4 TAKE AN EXTRA 10S CRIB MATTRESS with crib purchase! Good thru Sat.

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2 RAIN SHIELD with any stroller Good thru Sat. 53186 BONUS NO. 3 BABY ON BOARD with any car seat Good thru Sat. 53186 The Hands Across America line in Bergen County will cover 13.5 miles and a dozen towns. After crossing the George Washington Bridge into Fort Lee (Hudson Terrace to Bigler Street to Main Street), the route will head west, passing through Leonia (Fort Lee Road), Teaneck (DeGraw Avenue), and Bogota (Main Street to River Road to Fort Lee Road).

In Hackensack (Court Street to Essex Street to Polifly Road), the line will go south through Has-brouck Heights (Terrace Avenue), Wood-Ridge (Hackensack Street), and Rutherford (Erie Avenue to Park Avenue to Ridge Road). The Ridge Road route will continue through Lyndhurst and North Arlington. From North Arlington, the line will pass through the Hudson County towns of Kearny (Kearny Avenue), East Newark (North Fourth Street), and Harrison (North Fourth Street to Harrison Avenue) before heading southwest through Newark, New Brunswick, Princeton, and Trenton. In Trenton, the line will cross the Lower Trenton Bridge in Pennsylvania, BILT RITE INFANT TRAVEL CRIB Now $39 Goes anywhere! DECORATOR CHAMPS NURSERY LAMPS WALKERS Now Great Crib Warehouse tl assortment! Safe and durable! LOWEST PRICES CENTURY ON NETTING FOR CAR SEATS CRIBS, BASSINETS, Now As Low As. PLAYPENS, STROLLERS CHAMPS UMBRELLA STROLLER Now FISHER PRICE TACLE Now Quality and convenience! 1 CRIBS 1" nni-r ENTIRE COLLECTION OF CRIBS BABY FURNITURE REDUCED FOR THIS EVENT! Other top fund-raisers The Associated Press Hands Across America hopes to raise $50 million or more today, which would make it one of the biggest one-time fund-raising events ever.

Here are some other recent big ones: $33 million Jerry Lewis muscular dystrophy telethon, Labor Day weekend, 1985. $30.1 million Easter Seals telethon for the disabled, March 8-9. $25 million U.S. pledges for "Live Aid" concert for African famine relief, July 4, 1985. $18.5 million "Weekend of Stars" telethon for cerebral palsy, Jan.

18-19. $9 million "Farm Aid," Sept. 22, 1985. $7 million "Lou Rawls Parade of Stars" telethon for United Negro College Fund, Dec. 28, 1985.

$2.4 million "Comic Relief" broadcast for the homeless, March 29. 07 A CiliB Not applicable to prior tale 0 ffSRiL 467 Main OOUE See for yourself whst everyone is talking TO CQLQUT3 CIM3 VJAnZllO Street, Hzc.kzr.z2pW (cpozWo Gccrs) Phono: 342.