Soliciting funds for "learning experience" trips

[Burnedout]

I am helping to send my cousin's kid (17) to Paris and Spain this summer. She is an amazing artist and it is an art program through her private high school.

Her parents are paying half and she is coming up a little short on her half.

I am giving her about $300 for the trip and then a couple hundred more for spending money.

I toured Europe a lot in high school and college (I paid), and those experiences were amazing - so I want others to have the same opportunity.

Helping my nieces and nephews is a lot different IMO. The only other time I donated was a family friend who's daughter went to India for 12 week with a program that taught seeing skills and set up sewing coops for women who had been sex slaves. An issue I care about, a reasonable trip that I couldn't ever make and she spent the year working and writing grants for supplies. Her whole summer cost her $2500. It wasn't a travel agency trip.

We sent our kids in trips and they had to earn half. No begging allowed. If my kids could do that at 13 through 18 a 21 year old should be able to swing it.

 

[ceemys]

The kids fundraisers where you actually buy items are OK. I make my kids do it (I will take it into work). I always tell them not to feel like they have to but only if they want to buy something. They also have to write thank you notes when the items are delivered. But for the first time my daughters Kindergarten school this year actually wanted us to give money for nothing. They wanted us to ask people for money. They didn't even give a goal or what it was for. Sorry, I don't do that. I just threw it away.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I received these letters from my nieces when they were in high school for European "mission" trips. I'm pretty sure most Europeans have heard the good news! These are the nieces with the wealthiest parents, too. Although I usually try to foster good will within the family, those letters went straight into the trash bin.

 

[PatchPixie]

Those letters are TACKY and only encourage entitlement in young people. My nephew is on a HS baseball trip right now and all he did was sell lotto tickets and the parents held a Casino Night to raise money. A local club let them hold a fundraiser breakfast one morning that the students actually worked and my nephew complained about it. SPOILED!!

And next week my sister will rant about how he has no work ethic hello??

 

[sk!mom]

I received these letters from my nieces when they were in high school for European "mission" trips. I'm pretty sure most Europeans have heard the good news! These are the nieces with the wealthiest parents, too. Although I usually try to foster good will within the family, those letters went straight into the trash bin.

I get these requests a lot for Mission Trips and you bring up a big part of my problem with it- people who want contributions so that they can travel to places that have churches, religion, etc... The world is actually a very small place in terms of information and spreading messages. Start a Facebook page or Twitter account to spread your message and you can reach many people all over the world free of charge. If you're truly concerned for some of the causes then fundraise for them and donate the money rather than spending it on a trip for you to see their difficult situation yourself.

As an ironic side note...my DH and I recently ran into Australian missionaries who had come to our city to start a church. So Australian Christians are supporting them as they start a church to reach Texans! Really?? There are 4 churches within walking distance of my house in Texas where we don't walk, we drive. Seriously this is the Bible Belt where church people still knock on your door on Saturday and invite you to church.

 

[eMd]

The kids fundraisers where you actually buy items are OK. I make my kids do it (I will take it into work). I always tell them not to feel like they have to but only if they want to buy something. They also have to write thank you notes when the items are delivered. But for the first time my daughters Kindergarten school this year actually wanted us to give money for nothing. They wanted us to ask people for money. They didn't even give a goal or what it was for. Sorry, I don't do that. I just threw it away.

Completely agree. I don't mind buying cookie dough, or candy, popcorn, etc if it helps pay for a school trip. I used to sell candy when I was in chorus as a way to pay for my trip to New York for broadway shows every year in high school. The trip was on a Saturday, so we didn't miss any school, and we had to sell candy to try to offset the cost for ourselves. If we didn't sell all of our candy we had to come up with the money on our own. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it was okay to ask people for money without offering a service or good.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

I received these letters from my nieces when they were in high school for European "mission" trips. I'm pretty sure most Europeans have heard the good news! These are the nieces with the wealthiest parents, too. Although I usually try to foster good will within the family, those letters went straight into the trash bin.

I fully agree with your response on principal and in action,

Just wanted to share with you, though, that Europe is mostly unchurched these days.

Most of those gorgeous cathedrals and lovely stone country churches are "mostly museums" (a quote from a Hillsong Church- London worship leader on KLOVE radio yesterday ), not actual functioning congregations sharing the Gospel- more a political presence than evangelical.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/u...ual-state-says-mission-group-spokesman-26757/

But, yes, there is a great problem of vacations that are somewhat mission-related in nature.

That being said, I gave a little money (because a little is all I have )
to my son's college room mate (Liberty University) who is a Youth Ministry student
on an eight month mission trip ministering to the people of the Maela refugee camp,
which houses nearly 50,000 displaced people from Burma in the border area of Mae Sot, Thailand.

Now THAT is a real mission trip...

 

[sk!mom]

I fully agree with your response on principal and in action,

Just wanted to share with you, though, that Europe is mostly unchurched these days.

Most of those gorgeous cathedrals and lovely stone country churches are "mostly museums" (a quote from a Hillsong Church- London worship leader on KLOVE radio yesterday ), not actual functioning congregations sharing the Gospel- more a political presence than evangelical.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/u...ual-state-says-mission-group-spokesman-26757/

But, yes, there is a great problem of vacations that are somewhat mission-related in nature.

That being said, I gave a little money (because a little is all I have )
to my son's college room mate (Liberty University) who is a Youth Ministry student
on an eight month mission trip ministering to the people of the Maela refugee camp,
which houses nearly 50,000 displaced people from Burma in the border area of Mae Sot, Thailand.

Now THAT is a real mission trip...

Many people everywhere are "unchurched" but for me the point is that there are churches and they have the opportunity to attend. I suspect that many people don't appreciate people from another country coming in and acting like they're heathens who need to hear their message. A group traveling there for a week or two is a vacation not mission work.

Now offering aid at a Refugee camp for months is a whole different situation.

 

[disykat]

As an ironic side note...my DH and I recently ran into Australian missionaries who had come to our city to start a church. So Australian Christians are supporting them as they start a church to reach Texans! Really?? There are 4 churches within walking distance of my house in Texas where we don't walk, we drive. Seriously this is the Bible Belt where church people still knock on your door on Saturday and invite you to church.

I agree with you, that's funny! There's mission work to be done anywhere, whether it's in your own backyard or across the world. However, it's a funny notion that they're fundraising to come here while we fundraise to go there.

 

[Pigeon]

Many people everywhere are "unchurched" but for me the point is that there are churches and they have the opportunity to attend. I suspect that many people don't appreciate people from another country coming in and acting like they're heathens who need to hear their message. A group traveling there for a week or two is a vacation not mission work.

Now offering aid at a Refugee camp for months is a whole different situation.

Yeah, I'm not supporting cultural imperialism.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I can not stand any of these. Even, run/bike trips annoy me, though in lieu of a grad gift would be fine. We had a family member go to Alaska to run a marathon for Leukemia foundation and solicited donations. Let's be honest, if you really wanted to help the organization, you would pay your own expenses and make sure every donated dollar went to the charity.

If I want to help out an organization I will donate directly, not fund your "helping" vacation! I have looked into these travel/charity trips. You have to fund raise a certain amount over your expenses. BTW- local run/bike for a charity are a completely different beast.

Don't even get me started on the "Team in Training" group. What are they in training for, to travel in luxury and be INCREDIBLY rude on a race course because they have been told "you are so good that you can do anything you want"? RUDE RUDE and RUDER groups come out of that and they do travel well. And most of them are poorly trained for their races. (So they lie and get their team members in "fast corrals" because "we need the extra time and we are "Team in Training"" LOL! ) Your money is going to "fun trip" IMHO!

In High School I had to pay for my senior graduation trip with my friends, and every ski trip I went on with my school. I currently run road races with the Alzheimer's Association and frequently ask for donations, but I pay for all my travel expenses and the money goes directly to the AA. My cousins have written a couple checks out to me personally, I just cash them and then go on the site to process the donation on their behalf so they get the tax incentives. My parents have always instilled in me, if I want something I have to save and work hard for it. Definitely makes you appreciate things more that way.

I have friends that do this. One is doing St. Jude right now. She' gets a donation. The friend who told me she was doing Team in Training got and no donation (and her race is in Hawaii Go figure!)

That is when I get the name of the school and call AND call the manager at Target and say that unless this stops I will no longer go to that Target to shop.

I do not wish to be harassed when I am going shopping. I don't mind sales outside as much, but I do expect that when I say no they back off.

As for donating $$ to close friends or family members for trips/experiences, I honestly don't mind giving a bit, depending on what it is for.

Dawn

Actually if the poster had walked into Target they would have been out there in a second. It's against their corporate policy to allow this and they are aggressive! That's why the kids were in the parking lot. Target won't let them NEAR a door and will run them off if they catch them.


I have given money to one friend's kid who was doing something special and I knew it was going to be such a stretch for the family. And I gave my niece a larger then normal birthday gift last year for spending money for her trip to France. (SHe was suppose to earn half the money and parents paid for half. She didn't make her half, but her dad "loaned" her the money and she is paying him back by giving him half of each paycheck this year from her job.)

 

[mickeyboat]

I have attended a spaghetti dinner (and donated generously) to the family of a girl who was planning a trip to Ireland. I sent a check to the high school debate team which was planning a trip to the regional debate competition. I did not however, send money to my cousin who was pursuing post graduate education in another country. I would be mortified if my children solicited donations for their vacation!

 

[livndisney]

Actually if the poster had walked into Target they would have been out there in a second. It's against their corporate policy to allow this and they are aggressive! That's why the kids were in the parking lot. Target won't let them NEAR a door and will run them off if they catch them.

Not in this case-they were standing at the door asking for money. Target GS did not seem to care at all.

 

[lady9]

My niece is going on a trip to WDW. My brother and SIL are not well off, work hard for their money. My brother asked that instead of gifts for Christmas or birthday, money for her trip would be appreciated. I don't have a problem with that. However, it is still not enough to cover her trip so he said that she was available for work. I called and asked her to come help me clean out my cabinets for $20 for 2 hours of work. She said she'd let me know, that was in January, haven't heard from her yet. My brother was angry, but that's another story. From my perspective, she's waiting for her parents to just pay it and knowing them, they'll pay it (or grandparents will) because they wouldn't want her to be left out of the trip. I guess this now falls into the category of "Not my problem!"

 

[AndreaDM]

Thanks for all your opinions, makes me feel like I did the right thing by tossing the letter. Now, what to say the next time I see her mother so is one of my best friends. I won't bring it up unless she does, and if she does I'll remind her about all the hospital bills we still owe, the same hospital she works for.

 

[Aliceacc]

Thanks for all your opinions, makes me feel like I did the right thing by tossing the letter. Now, what to say the next time I see her mother so is one of my best friends. I won't bring it up unless she does, and if she does I'll remind her about all the hospital bills we still owe, the same hospital she works for.

Let her know that you've already decided which charities to support, and that you've sent those charities donations. But let her know that you'll help her write a resume and cover letter if she wants to find a job to help her finance her trip.

This "kid" is 21 years old!

 

[jperrot1]

What if you donated $1000.00 and she doesn't reach the $6000.00 cost?

 

[Darcy03231]

I fully agree with your response on principal and in action,

Just wanted to share with you, though, that Europe is mostly unchurched these days.

Most of those gorgeous cathedrals and lovely stone country churches are "mostly museums" (a quote from a Hillsong Church- London worship leader on KLOVE radio yesterday ), not actual functioning congregations sharing the Gospel- more a political presence than evangelical.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/u...ual-state-says-mission-group-spokesman-26757/

But, yes, there is a great problem of vacations that are somewhat mission-related in nature.

That being said, I gave a little money (because a little is all I have )
to my son's college room mate (Liberty University) who is a Youth Ministry student
on an eight month mission trip ministering to the people of the Maela refugee camp,
which houses nearly 50,000 displaced people from Burma in the border area of Mae Sot, Thailand.

Now THAT is a real mission trip...

That is something I would donate to as well. That is definitely a real mission trip.

We have two gentlemen from our church who do three month mission trips to areas where there has been a natural disaster. One is a plumber and one is a carpenter. Our church does fundraising throughout the year to help defray the costs - - yard sales, pot luck suppers with silent auctions, etc. - - but many members, including myself make cash donations. These are men with specific needed skills going to help rebuild communities. To me that defines a mission trip. Sometimes the trips are within the US (They went to N.O. for two years in a row) and other times it is outside the U.S.

 

[nhmommy]

The kids fundraisers where you actually buy items are OK. I make my kids do it (I will take it into work). I always tell them not to feel like they have to but only if they want to buy something. They also have to write thank you notes when the items are delivered. But for the first time my daughters Kindergarten school this year actually wanted us to give money for nothing. They wanted us to ask people for money. They didn't even give a goal or what it was for. Sorry, I don't do that. I just threw it away.

Not that I would want schools going around just asking for money,but when I have a friend or family member approach me with a junk for sale book I usually ask if I can just donate cash instead. I figure it cost me less and gives the school or sport team the full donation rather then loosing a percentage to the fundraiser.

 

[klangkat]

I'm a college student and I have just finished writing my 12,000 word dissertation on WDW. Maybe I should have asked people to help fund my 2012 trip as it was a "research trip"...

Heavy sarcasm there of course, would never dream of asking people for money like this. I do a lot of charity work also, and we fundraise for that - but we offer services in return, not just outright begging.