(MONEY Magazine) – Contributing to the nation's healing process has rewards of its own, as the Irving Berlin Music Co.'s Bert Fink can tell you. His organization administers the publishing rights and royalties generated by Berlin's "God Bless America," which has played an inordinately large role in helping soothe the country's wounds. Most of the song royalties--some $6 million since 1940--go to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, which stand to pull in a substantial sum in the aftermath of the attacks.

Notable performances include an impromptu rendition by members of Congress in front of the Capitol; Diana Ross's soulful version at a Mets game, the first in New York City after the attacks; and a surprise appearance as the finale in Broadway's Tony Award-winning show The Producers. Celine Dion's rendition during the Sept. 21 America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon is likely to generate upwards of $20,000 alone.

Then there are the dozens of new requests for merchandising uses: music boxes, tissue boxes, bookmarks and blankets--which on average bring in 10% of total sales or 8[cents] per unit. Religious groups and schools are granted free use. But, Fink has generously overlooked unsanctioned uses as well--in a Prudential ad in the New York Times, for example, and in the window of a New York City gym. Says Fink: "It's just tremendous that the song has struck such an emotional chord."

--STEPHANIE D. SMITH