Donations ?

[Moiraine]

As many of you people probably do, I get lots of mails asking for donations for this or that cause. Unfortunately they are all good causes, and if I wanted to give money or time to them all, I would need 60 hours a day and the income of a nabab ...

If you guys give money and/or time to charity, what causes do you chose to give them to ? And on what basis do you chose to which organizations you give them to ?

Personnally, most of the money I give goes to organizations that promote children education in poor countries. Because I feel I am lucky to have been born in a country where education is a given, and I feel it is my duty to give some children the chance to a better life that I have myself received. And because the fish they will further catch with their own developed abilities will be their own, not mine.

I didn't make a poll out of this thread because when you make a poll, you get only what you put into it - nobody can check a litle box that isn't there. While I am expecting to get replies that I haven't thought of myself. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Mainly Cancer related charities as I have lost friends to that disease. I have also done work with my mother for a children's charity, as she used to be involved with the charity's regional co-ordination group.

[the new JR Jansen]

That's very commendable of you, Moiraine. What i would also suggest is giving something to charity organisations that do work closer by. What i mean is that mostly the charity organisations that work abroad get the most exposure and therefor also the most support. I'm not saying that these organisations don't deserve it and aren't doing a good job. But don't forget to look in your own country too. I don't exactly now which organisations you have over there but take the 'Make a wish' foundation in the US. They try to make the dreams of termanally ill children come true and i find that as good a cause to support as any other.

[Cloudbringer]

Mostly to food banks (in the form of food or money) and medical research (my grandmother died of lukemia when I was young and other family and friends have had diabetes, cancer, heart disease etc) and to children's organizations.

I guess I tend to help support the band (music) and sports teams at some local schools too, since I buy things from the kids at church/work or in my neighborhood who are raising money for those purposes. I like to help the kids make the money because otherwise their schools can't offer them trips to particpate in contests/parades etc and use their marching band skills or to buy uniforms and afford a late bus to take them home after track or football practice.

I also give at my church, where some of the money goes to needy local families at Christmas or Thanksgiving and some goes to international missions (we help buy books for kids in developing nations in Africa, for one thing, medical and building supplies for others there as well).

[ 03-06-2003, 09:55 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

Due to recent discoveries of wide spread abuse and fraud in this country, I no longer give any donations to "organized" charities. Most of the Major groups, like United Way and Red Cross here are paying their leaders six and seven figure salaries, while mere pennies per dollar go to the people who need it. I have chosen to give directly to certain individuals that I became aware of through their good works. One is a Nun (yes she is catholic) who takes in hard to place orphans. She does good work, lives in a modest way and does not cheat the kids by hoarding wealth for herself.

I am sure there are dozens andhundreds of fine people in the United Way and Red Cross, they are still part of a money making process which is about profit and this offends me.

I used to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign.

Edit: Oh and I try to remember to donate to IW now and then

[ 03-06-2003, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Moiraine]

JR Jansen, I also give money to the "Restaurants du coeur" (close to France as you are, you must know what it is). For those who don't know, it is a French organizaton that gives meals to homeless and poor people in Frence. Its particularity is that it was set up by the regretted French humorist Coluche (who died in a bike accident, we still miss him very much ), and on top of the work of many people, every year French artists gather and give several big dedicated concerts whose benefits go entirely to the association. I have never been to the concert, but I buy the CD and now the DVD every year. [img]smile.gif[/img]

MagiK, there also have been abuse in France - the most famous incident being the leader of the "League against cancer" who was convicted of having used the charity money for personal purposes. That is why an institution has been created, that gives a prize called "Prix Cristal" to associations that show clarity in their financial information. The fact that the organization I chose to sponsor education for children had received that prize twice in the last 10 years has been a strong argument in my choice. Haven't you got any such institution in the US, that would give you such a guarantee ?

[Rikard_OHF]

I gave money to Nature orginations as the WNF and devolpment programs in Africa, where they learn people how they can make their own food, instead of just giving food

My primary school used to have a project where everybody gave a 25 cents per month to support 4 foster parents children

Good question Moiraine...I don't know. Since I found this Nun and some of the other people who work with her, I tend to make most of my charitable donations to her directly. I do also donate food to various homeless shelters, rather than money.

[Larry_OHF]

As for organized charities, I support JDRF.
That is Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. They are known to give the highest percentage of the money received to the acutal research. Something like 85%. The next highest is The National Cancer Society, which is like 65%...or maybe a little higher.

I also donate Tithing and Fast Offerings to my church, and since I am the Clerk and Secretary for my church, I know exactly where the money is going. Two families have been helped greatly with thier bills this month. One had too many doctor bills to be able to keep their heat and water running, and another had just lost his job and could not feed his family. I am glad to have the ability to be in such a position to actually see the church members' money working for the needy.