EXCLUSIVE: The American Red Cross has refused to disclose how much money it raised from its annual ball after dumping Mar-a-Lago for a smaller and less glamorous venue to protest Trump's 'racist' remarks about deadly Charlottesville rally
The American Red Cross will not reveal its proceeds for its ball held at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida, after switching from Mar-a-Lago
In the past, Trump's resort was the favored venue, raising $570,000 after expenses in 2017, $496,445 in 2016 and $925,000 in 2015
The event would have suffered a steep decline in proceeds since Mar-a-Lago can fit 750 guests compared to the 400 at the musem
A press release from April said that three galas, including the one at Norton, 'raised over $2M'
But it failed to specify that the figure was before expenses were deducted
Based on the filings with the Palm Beach town clerk, just slightly over half of the proceeds from the Red Cross Ball actually wind up going to the Red Cross
Unlike Mar-a-Lago, which offers valet parking under canopies, the Norton had no valet, leaving guests running for cover when it rained on the day of the event
Ronald Kessler, a former Washington Post and Wall Street Journal investigative reporter, is the New York Times bestselling author of 'The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game' and 'The Season: Inside Palm Beach and America's Richest Society.' Kessler and his wife have regularly attended the Red Cross Ball and are also regulars at Mar-a-Lago as guests of Trump
The American Red Cross is refusing to disclose its financial results after it dumped Trump's Mar-a-Lago as the venue for its International Red Cross Ball and instead held the venerated event at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The town of Palm Beach requires charity events to disclose their financial results.
Records show that when the Red Cross Ball was held at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach in 2017, it made $570,000 after expenses, $496,445 in 2016, and $925,000 in 2015.
The event would have clearly suffered a steep decline in proceeds since Mar-a-Lago can fit 750 guests compared to the 400 guests the museum can accommodate.
The decision to change venues came after Trump made remarks that were perceived as racist about the violence in Charlottesville in August 2017, saying there were 'very fine people' on both sides.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7083667/American-Red-Cross-refuses-disclose-proceeds-dumping-Trumps-Mar-Lago.html