Do you only donate to major illnesses?

[Toby'sFriend]

Originally Posted by In a hurry
Seems like people who are so caring could be a bit more caring in the way they actually treat people.

well neaner neaner neaner.

You know what? The question was asked and I answered as truthfully as I could regarding the subject. I have no qualms at all about the money I donate and the choices I make regarding how it helps people.

I don't feel the need to list out here the charities and people that I do give to in order for you to pick over and decide that this cause is better than that cause or whatever. My huband and I give our money to causes and people, and yes even sometimes dogs, that we feel it will benefit in the most positive way.

That is all you need to know.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Awww... come on. Leave me out of this one

Sorry.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You totally misunderstood my smilie. I meant the *OP* is doing a bit of pot stirring in addition to the "adoption fundraiser" thread. I too was offended that some were not caring b/c they would not give charity towards an adoption.

Whew!!!

I'm new to that smiley and thought---Oh no....I wasn't trying to do that.

Thanks!

 

[Chicago526]

*ahem* Everyone should donate according to their own concience. *ahem*

Last year we donated to:

American Red Cross
United Way
US Humane Society
And my own organization (my employer), which I won't name for obvious reasons.

I've also given change to various "change cups" located at cash registers across the Chicago area, including Panera Bread (food banks) and McDonald's (Ronald McDonald House). And I donated items to a thrift shop operated by a woman's shelter. DH has been known to give homeless people at the train station a few bucks, does that count?

So I guess, with the exception of the change and the shelter, we give to the "biggies". DH and I are in the process of paying off some debt, once we have a bit more in the way of "cash flow" I hope to increase and diversify our donations. I'd like to add diabetic and parkinson's research, and a few local (really local) charities to the list.

 

[Crankyshank]

You know I really think the insinuation that I (and others) are lacking in caring because we don't agree with the premise in the other thread is uncouth, offensive, and really takes the cake.

Just because you don't agree with how I feel about *one* fundraiser doesn't mean I am not a caring person. Maybe I'm more caring than you because I care enough to help the many instead of the one. The fact you all but asked for a laundry list of organizations we donate to so you can pick it apart is just wrong.

 

[kdibattista]

You know I really think the insinuation that I (and others) are lacking in caring because we don't agree with the premise in the other thread is uncouth, offensive, and really takes the cake.

Just because you don't agree with how I feel about *one* fundraiser doesn't mean I am not a caring person. Maybe I'm more caring than you because I care enough to help the many instead of the one. The fact you all but asked for a laundry list of organizations we donate to so you can pick it apart is just wrong.

Just for the record (as the OP from the adoption fundraising thread), I NEVER insinuated that anyone was not caring for not wanting to participate. Just wanted to clarify because I'm sure my thread will get locked sooner or later.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just for the record (as the OP from the adoption fundraising thread), I NEVER insinuated that anyone was not caring for not wanting to participate. Just wanted to clarify because I'm sure my thread will get locked sooner or later.

I don't think anyone thinks you did.

 

[kdibattista]

I don't think anyone thinks you did.

I hope not... just wanted to put it out there.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I hope not... just wanted to put it out there.

FTR--I know I didn't think you thought that. But many of those who sided with you and in that effort made it very clear that those who dissented were uncaring. That is how your thread took a turn for the nasty. There would have been no problem with this thread (other than I am not a fan of laundry lists) had the OP not made the snide remark that was clearly in reference to your thread and was totally uncalled for an inappropriate. I'm sure they do not know any one of us personally so they cannot without a shadow of a doubt say that we are uncaring. Those whom I help or assist as I am able and feel called to do--would vehemently disagree as would those who are helped by all the other caring posters.

 

[Crankyshank]

Thank you Lisa, that was exactly my point

 

[cardaway]

What I think was lost before is that the people you know, family and close friends, don't need a fundraiser to help. Those are put on to get more funds than the friends and family can give.

IMO it's as simple as asking if you would put on or give to a fund raiser for somebody to adopt, go on vacation (not a band trip, one family vacation), or to buy a new car.

The vacation one is the one I'll expand on. Most of my donations go to two places. The Boys and Girls club that I went to as a child and The Make a Wish Foundation. In many cases "Wish" is about sending somebody on vacation. But would I give to just any family that decided to go to WDW, but couldn't afford it, ummmm.... no.

 

[Nana Annie]

Was up last night with the baby and was thinking about where my donations have gone in the last year...

Donation to help a family we know go to a "Fragile X" conference
Donation to help a local family struck by disaster to go to WDW.

I guess that I see lots of good causes, but they don't have to be major/national/deadly for me to want to help when there is a need.

So...do you only give to the big stuff? That seemed to be what was bothering so many people in the other thread. That this was a non-deadly, personal issue. I see that most of the things I support are personal, and don't involve the threat of death.

No, I don't just donate to the "big stuff". The smallness of the request in the thread you are referencing was not what bothered me. However, I do just donate to "organized" fundraisers. They can be as big as United Way or as small as the PTA collecting money for a family in need.

My question to the OP - was the family going to the Fragile X conference or the family going to WDW doing their own fundraisers? Or was there a group that was fundraising on their behalf? To me, that makes all the difference in the world. Unless it is a close friend or relative, I will not donate to people asking for money for themselves.

I loved Olena's remark that her Sorority sisters were actively fundraising. I would donate to that. To me, there is just another level of accountability if a group is doing your fundraising for you. There is a reasonable expectation that the the recipient would feel they would have to account to the group on where the money is going, lessening (admittedly by a small percentage) the chance of abuse of the donated funds. Otherwise, if I just hand a check to a person fundraising on their own behalf, there is nobody looking over the shoulder whether the money is really being used for the said cause, or just being put into the family bank account for other stuff.

And just to make it perfectly clear, before somebody reads something into this post that is not there, and since this thread has already been targeted as a veiled continuation of the adoption thread - I am, in no way, insinuating that the OP of the adoption thread would abuse funds for her beer n beef fundraiser she is contemplating throwing herself for her adoption fees. I do not know her, so could not make that leap. In fact, she seems sincerely and honestly committed to her quest for motherhood. However, no matter how sincere and honest I felt the recipient was, my donation would only be forthcoming if that family of over 200 firefighters she said she had were doing the fundraising for her. Or some other group such as a church group. That to me just seems to make it a bit more legitimate.

Just my opinion on where my money goes.

 

[In a hurry]

What I think was lost before is that the people you know, family and close friends, don't need a fundraiser to help. Those are put on to get more funds than the friends and family can give.

IMO it's as simple as asking if you would put on or give to a fund raiser for somebody to adopt, go on vacation (not a band trip, one family vacation), or to buy a new car.

The vacation one is the one I'll expand on. Most of my donations go to two places. The Boys and Girls club that I went to as a child and The Make a Wish Foundation. In many cases "Wish" is about sending somebody on vacation. But would I give to just any family that decided to go to WDW, but couldn't afford it, ummmm.... no.

The vacation was planned by a separate group of people just to give the family a break from a horrendous year. It was one of those things where one family had a condo, we had tickets we hadn't used, because we bought APs instead, etc. Would I normally donate to a vacation, no. But these folks had been thru the death of the mom, 2 major floods of their business, a downtown fire, and the dad was diagnosed with Hodgkins (whick he is beating still!) The son's teacher died in a car crash...let me just say that lightning struck many times, and we were all happy to put them on a plane for a weeks break. We ran the store (fun) and all benefitted.

I can't remember who asked, but the Fragile X folks didn't have a fund raiser, but I knew the trip would be a financial stretch.

You know, I see the points made, and I think that part of me has just reacted so strongly because it seems the world has become so jaded and callous. And I will say that those of you who are so careful run a lesser risk of being ripped off. I guess that at this point of my life I am willing to risk that, to help in a way that I see as positive.

 

[Disney Doll]

I actively participate in fundraising for the American Diabetes Association donating time, money ,and items to be used in fund-raising raffles, because it has affected my life personally in several ways, I feel it is a good cause, and I feel that the money goes toward research which will help end this almost epidemic disease that gets little or no press coverage because its effects are not immediately seen, as is the case with a disease such as cancer. There is not a lot of Hollywood support for diabetes, liek there is for disease such as breast cancer or HIV, so it tends to get swept under the rug and fade into the background.

I also tend to donate to veterans assistance programs and animal charities such as the Humane Society. I also donate either money or items to women and children's assistance programs, especially those that assist victims of domestic violence.

Beyond that, I help where I see a need. If someone was my close friend and wanted to adopt a baby and needed some financial assistance and they were doing a fundraiser for them, I'd probably go and contribute. Having suffered through infertility, perhaps I can "see" the need a bit better.

I also tend to prefer to give anonymously, especially if it is a local family that has fallen on hard times.

For anyone to make a comment that choosing or not choosing to give to a particular cause is more or less caring is presumptuous. Since DH & I are the people who earn the money, we are the people who will decide where it goes, thanks.

 

[In a hurry]

I don't see giving or not giving as being caring. I see judging/insinuating/calling names to be uncaring. You are right all have the right to give as they see fit. There are too many needs in this world to just follow my or anyone else's pet causes!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You know, I see the points made, and I think that part of me has just reacted so strongly because it seems the world has become so jaded and callous. And I will say that those of you who are so careful run a lesser risk of being ripped off. I guess that at this point of my life I am willing to risk that, to help in a way that I see as positive.

I was in a very curious predicament over the holidays. A few years ago, we sponsored a family that had triplets. The mom was declared completely infertile and this triplets came after 10 years of infertility with no assistance. We sponsored the family for christmas and it was a great success. Someone I happened to know and send the e-mail to worked at a Mall (as in ran the whole mall) and got Dillards to donate a shopping spree and then had a contact that they were able to get a vehicle for the family. All done in love--no strings attached. Just something my group did and it was very well received.

This Christmas--again, they found someone in need. I felt very weird about it. Very tragic situation. The girls involved were trying very very hard to make do. People donated lots of things for them. They took a turn for the worse in less than 1 month. They got horrible boyfriends (drugs, criminal records), they lost their jobs, and they quit school.

Sometimes gut instict is there for a reason. I do not feel vindicated for not donating--but I would have felt completely foolish had I done so. There were signs based on home visits my friends made that indicated that the success of our generosity woudl be a very very huge long shot and too risky for me to donate in good faith knowing that poor judgement would result in teh donation being squandered.

In my heart I wanted to help--but I knew that not nice people would take advantage of the girls b/c it was an ongoing issue with no relief in sight.

It doesn't make me uncaring. I wanted to help. But I choose not to enable. It was a very sad situation, and what we chose to do instead--was just a better use of resources.

I don't see giving or not giving as being caring. I see judging/insinuating/calling names to be uncaring. You are right all have the right to give as they see fit.

As far as the judging and calling names--if you go back and read that thread very carefully--you will notice that the first slingshots were delivered via those who supported the OP. Nobody judged the OP for it--we were doing our best to explain why we disagreed with the idea.

There are too many needs in this world to just follow my or anyone else's pet causes!

And you do not know enough about anyone on this board to make such a remark. These "pet" causes--people have VERY close attachments too. VERY close.

Ever have to take your dead child's Christmas presents back to a Toy store b/c they died before Christmas? I haven't--but I accompanied someone who did. It isn't pretty--and it was painful...and it wasn't my kid. Can you imagine how the mom felt?

Those who live in glass houses....

 

[C.Ann]

The largest portion of my donations goes to St. Jude Childrens Hospital..

 

[cats mom]

We have a file that we keep donation requests in. As a family we go through them and decide together where to allocate our donation $$. This is a once a year thing.

Sometimes things do come up that are immediate needs and we make that type of donation on top of our yearly commitments if we feel strongly about the cause.

Of course we donate more to things that touch us personally. This year the biggest chunk of our money went to:

Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis

For me personally... yes, I'm more likely to donate to more serious illnesses. However, since the kids have equal voting power... we have supported many different types of charities over the years.
Animal rescue type things seem to appeal to them most.

I did draw the line when we got a letter from a family we know asking for donations for their daughter to play on a traveling volleyball team.
It outlined the many costs associated and stated the reasons why she wanted to play and how it would be beneficial to her.
Anyone who donated would get a newsletter with pictures and updates on the teams' progress.
Ummm, OK.... No doubt it would be beneficial to her, but I really felt like asking people for donations for that was in VERY poor taste.

Maybe I should have explained my reasons for objecting to that one and let the kids vote anyway, just couldn't do it though.
That request got thrown away and never made it to our annual meeting.

 

[In a hurry]

And you do not know enough about anyone on this board to make such a remark. These "pet" causes--people have VERY close attachments too. VERY close.

Ever have to take your dead child's Christmas presents back to a Toy store b/c they died before Christmas? I haven't--but I accompanied someone who did. It isn't pretty--and it was painful...and it wasn't my kid. Can you imagine how the mom felt?

Those who live in glass houses....[/QUOTE]

LISA
Are you kidding me? My sons were killed on Christmas eve by a drunk driver. I gave birth to a 1 lb. baby the next day. Don't tell me about dead babies and Christmas toys. I know exactly how that mom felt, except I couldn't even grieve my boys because I was praying every second of every day for the next 2 motnhs that their lsisiter would live.

If you read waht I said you would have seen that I believe that it is a good thing that everyone has their own pet causes. There are so many needs in this world.

 

[02bBarbie]

after this past day on the CB, I think I'm going to up my contributions to SBDH - Society for Beating a Dead Horse