Spreading the Magic - need some help & feedback

[rayelias]

IF (BIG IF) this were to work and even be feasable, we're going to need some help.

Let's start up a "Spreading the Magic" charitable organization. Every year, we find 12 people who've done exceptional, outstanding deeds in their communities and reward them by giving their family a trip to WDW!

We raise tax-deductable funds, buy some DVC points, hook up with an airline to get them to donate free airfare, hook up with someone else to provide park tickets, and hook up with someone to provide money for the dining plan. Or, worst case, we raise the funds on our own - not nearly as hard as you may think - read on.

If we start small and give away 12 vacations a year - we'd probably need a 2 BR, because of avg family size (1BR & Studios only sleep 4). So, that brings out point cost to around 30 a night * 5 nights = 150 points. So, we'd need 1800 points and about $10k a year for dues. We could change the lives of 12 families every year.

Any airline execs on the DIS? We need approximately 96 round trip tickets to Orlando every year (avg 12 families X 8 (2BR sleeps 8)). With an avg ticket of $300, that's just a mere $28,800 a year out of your airline's budget. Think of the PR!

We're also going to have to raise about $22k for 6 day park-hoppers (unless Disney wants to donate them). In addition, we'll need about another $4k for the dining plan.

OK - Here's what cash we need (approximate #'s):

$40,000 annually DVC financing (5 years)
$10,000 annually for dues (increasing 5%)
$29,000 annually for 96 airline tix (increasing 6%) unless we can get them donated
$22,000 annually for 96 park-hoppers (increasing 8%)
$ 4,000 annually for 96 dining plans (increasing 6%)
=======
$105,000 annually to change the lives of 12 families.


JUST from the 100,000 members of the DIS, do you think we could find just 500 to donate $100 (tax deductable) and just 1,100 more to donate just $50 (tax deductable) to change the lives of 12 families? I'm sure more than 1.5% of the DISsers would be happy to help! Seems easy to me!

OK you attorneys and tax accountants, we'll need some pro-bono work from you setting up the corporation legally, preparing all the paperwork, filing the required forms, and preparing any annual reports (taxes, etc.)


Who's in? Let's hear some feedback!



(the preceeding is (c) 2006 Ray Elias and all rights reserved, so don't steal my idea)

 

[noodleknitter]

You are being facetious, right?

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would think you would need to have approval from Disney to do this.

 

[rayelias]

Actually, no. I am serious. I think it would be a wonderful idea to do something like this.

I can't imagine I would need Disney's approval to do whatever I wanted with my points. I can give away my points now to whomever I want. What do they care if I also purchase park tickets for them, too (in their name, of course)?

I have to say, this isn't the immediate reaction I was expecting.

 

[sajetto]

I have to say, this isn't the immediate reaction I was expecting.

I'm a naysayer. Do what you wish with your points. I've seen enough so called "good" people on these boards who turned out to be bad eggs to make me untrustworthy of any such charitable deeds.

 

[sugarpie]

There are a LOT of charities out there & most people are very careful about where they give. I would not feel comfortable giving money to something like this. The internet is really not the way to start a charity.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Very nice of you to want to spread the magic............but I think you bit off more than you can chew here. You yourself said there are about 100,000 people on the Dis........getting them to agree that the 12 people that are picked were the most worthy for the trip is problem #1. Again, you have good intentions, but I would refocus my passion for helping to an organization in your local area.............Lots of already existing charities are struggling and could use help.

 

[Frantasmic]

This should be a companion show to Extreme Home Makeover.

 

[DVCLiz]

I wouldn't even contribute to a fund in my own hometown for this, much less for strangers on the Internet - are you for real????? What tax-deductible fund are you going to channel this through?? If I remember correctly, only a 501c3 non-profit organization can accept tax-deductible charitable contributions. At least that's what I recall from my days working in a non-profit organization. A $100 check made out to "Send a stranger to Disney World" is probably going to cause some IRS worker to chuckle, but I doubt it would be a legal deduction.

Edited to add: Oh, sorry, I didn't read carefully enough to remember that you want to set up YOUR OWN non-profit, and have all the legal work donated???

I repeat:

 

[hlbtimes2]

Actually, no. I am serious. I think it would be a wonderful idea to do something like this.

I can't imagine I would need Disney's approval to do whatever I wanted with my points. I can give away my points now to whomever I want. What do they care if I also purchase park tickets for them, too (in their name, of course)?

I have to say, this isn't the immediate reaction I was expecting.

While you are right in the fact you can do what you want with your points- that isnt what you're talking about doing. You are talking about buying them as a nonprofit business. Are there any rules in the agreement about businesses buying into to DVC? Then there is the matter of contacting airlines and wanting their help. And naming, using "magic" in it might step on some Disney toes. You would need the help of a lawyer to sort out many details- such as how the prizes would be awarded, how would taxes be handled, etc, etc, etc.

 

[chell]

Sounds like a great idea. There are several organizations out there where reward families with trips to WDW. Maybe you could find one of them to see how they got started. I'm sure it is a ton of work.

 

[Shugardrawers]

 

[sajetto]

Here's a soda to wash down that popcorn . It'll be a long show

 

[lucyanna girl]

What a great heart you have!



Penny

 

[cardaway]

If we bring our own popcorn and soda is it tax deductable?

 

[noodleknitter]

While I think it is a lovely idea for everyone to get to go to Disney, I prefer to make sure they have food in their bellies, roofs over their heads, and coats on their kids. That said to make the point that there are an abundance of good charities out there in need of funding. Charities that have been around and proven their reliability to use funds in the best manner possible.

I've been ripped off before and would always warn others to use their brains and a lawyer before believeing every sob story coming down the line.

There is no way that I would send our hard-earned money to any charity that was internet based. Although I am nicer than Liz, and might donate to someone in my town...

 

[DVCLiz]

While I think it is a lovely idea for everyone to get to go to Disney, I prefer to make sure they have food in their bellies, roofs over their heads, and coats on their kids. That said to make the point that there are an abundance of good charities out there in need of funding. Charities that have been around and proven their reliability to use funds in the best manner possible.

I've been ripped off before and would always warn others to use their brains and a lawyer before believeing every sob story coming down the line.

There is no way that I would send our hard-earned money to any charity that was internet based. Although I am nicer than Liz, and might donate to someone in my town...

You are not nicer than me!!!!

To amend, I would donate to someone in my hometown if I knew the request was legitimate, but it would have to pass my personal "sniff" test first. If it smelled funny, I would leave it alone.

But under normal circumstances, I couldn't justify giving to a "reward" charity when there are so many needy people in my community who don't have decent shelter or warm clothing. $100 would buy a lot for the Food Pantry, and that's where more of my charity dollars tend to go.

 

[noodleknitter]

You are not nicer than me!!!!

To amend, I would donate to someone in my hometown if I knew the request was legitimate, but it would have to pass my personal "sniff" test first. If it smelled funny, I would leave it alone.

But under normal circumstances, I couldn't justify giving to a "reward" charity when there are so many needy people in my community who don't have decent shelter or warm clothing. $100 would buy a lot for the Food Pantry, and that's where more of my charity dollars tend to go.

I agree wholeheartedly!

 

[sugarpie]

I agree wholeheartedly!

I agree, too!

There's so many charities out there & I prefer to give any donation I make to cancer research.

 

[bananiem]

Although it's a nice thought to reward these people, I don't think any of them expect a reward. I would be embarrassed to be singled out. I prefer to do stuff for others without fanfare. I'd donate my trip to someone who couldn't afford it.
I also have certain charities that I choose to give to.