As French Elites Stall on Notre Dame Rebuilding Promise, Everyday Americans Begin Stepping Up

On April 15, the upper regions of the Notre-Dame Cathedral — where wood framing was most prevalent — went up in flames and brought ruin to the second floor, the roof and the spire of the magnificent and historic structure.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, wealthy families and famous individuals in France pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to restore this medieval cathedral, in a show of national pride.

However, they have yet to donate any funds, ultimately providing an opportunity for the “little guy” to make a mark on the reconstruction, according to The Associated Press.

“The big donors haven’t paid. Not a cent,” said Andre Finot, a senior press official at Notre Dame. “They want to know what exactly their money is being spent on and if they agree to it before they hand it over, and not just to pay employees’ salaries.”