Leon Helmsly more Charitable than Trump except when it comes to Scientologist programs
Trump’s miniscule donations have also been dwarfed by the charitable contributions of Leona Helmsley, whom Trump took great pleasure in mercilessly skewering. Helmsley, who died in 2007, left billions to her charitable trust, which last month alone made donations totaling $12.93 million (or nearly twice what Trump’s foundation has donated in the past 20 years).
In the aftermath of national tragedies like September 11 and Hurricane Katrina—when public figures worth a fraction of Trump were donating seven figures to relief organizations—the billionaire apparently misplaced his checkbook somewhere in his triplex atop Trump Tower.
Helmsley, by comparison, gave $5 million to the American Red Cross when New Orleans was submerged, and, post-9/11, she gave $5 million to the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.
In 2006, Trump’s foundation did give $1000 to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Fund, a controversial Scientology program (co-founded by Tom Cruise) that promoted a “purification rundown” for firemen and others who inhaled toxins while working near the smoldering remains of the World Trade Center.