What or who do you Donate to?

[TPC]

Rexones post about the two dogs transportation and a shelter got my pea-sized brain in gear:

Remember the United Way and all the scandal with their donations?
We gave them up. A whole new definition to charity financial shenanigans.

We also gave money to PBS but tired of supporting their left-wing exaggerated agenda. Also PBS has a bigger, multi-layered fat payroll bureaucracy than the Federal government

Wife now gives some serious money to the Best Friends No kill Animal Shelter in Moab.
She actually donates time there too and can see where her money is flowing. Pretty solid operation.

12% of the kids at Maynards private school are attending on financial assistance.
It's about a per student cost of almost $40K a year when they get done with ya. Tuition is just the start and just gets a kid on campus. The fees just keep on coming.
Tyler Perry, Beau Bridges and a few other celibs pick up the tab for most the kids on financial assistance, that's a cool couple million dollars but:

The school insists that no matter what, the family of the financial assistance child contribute some money toward tuition. This is so the family has some stake in it, thus more incentive to stay with it and it's a good thing.

Alice and I pick up the summer school costs for these kids too. But,, the school insists we can only pick up 60%,, they want the family of the child to have a financial incentive to finish the classes too.
If ya think that over,, it's a wise policy.

What or who do you donate to?

 

[koenig]

I tend to avoid big orgs because most of the money goes towards executive salaries. Some charities compete with the private sector in salaries, making them charity businesses. I do give to our children's hospital, they hold a yearly raffle, giveaways include houses, condos and cars. They limit the number of tickets and you can choose cash if you win. Bonus lottery winnings here are tax free. Also give to our SPCA, they run no kill animal shelters in most cities in this province.

 

[was thatguy]

We support our local shelter.

But my cash donations go to Ronald McDonald house charities (primary), and Salvation Army.

 

[ductape1000]

I don't have a lot to give, so I hold on to it and donate to the RDP community when the needs arise.

 

[scouter]

This is where our donations go to: http://www.amberlysplace.com/

 

[koenig]

Didn't win this year, but here is the info on this years Children's Hospital lottery: http://bcchildren.com/high-point-estates/ Mostly donate towards things I can get something in return out of it!!!!!

 

[musicFunsun]

It's difficult to determine which ones are the most legit. I gave a lot to
United Way back in the day when you could do auto deductions
through your employer. Now it's mostly in my city, Loma Linda
Med Center & Child Hospital and catastrophes in the US.

 

[Yellowboat]

Several grass roots sports groups. Shriners

 

[707dog]

We donate clothes threw out the year and turkeys for the holidays to a local battered women's shelter and also the homeless help center. Every now and then we drop off a few plates of food to a small homeless camp not to far from our house that has a few vets stay in it. We don't got much ourselfs but some have none.

 

[lakemadness]

This past December we donated some very valuable items to a local women's shelter. I had inherited the items from my mother. I figured that was a great place to donate to. The items were auctioned off at an auction they host every year.

Now having a child of our own, I may look for a charity focused on children. I had an ex-employee come in to my office last week wanting some paperwork filled out for food stamps. He had his daughter with him that was about the same age as ours. Poor kid did not look like she had a bath in several days. This employee quit because he would be making too much money to qualify for food stamps. Sickening and maddening. Anyways, seeing his kid made me think just how rough some of these little ones have it.

 

[McRib]

I'm to fucked up in the head to give to big "non profits" or even little ones really. I just don't believe my money is going to the cause. I believe it goes straight into a pocket. I don't give money to pan handlers either. 95% of them are not destitute in any way. It's their job! If I have money to give away I'll chose an individual I know is on the outs and buy them what they need. I'll never give money. Funny part about that.... They almost all want the money. That's when I walk away.

 

[YoPengo]

CHOC and Orangewood.

 

[Gramps]

My wife like to throw $$$$ at just about any animal cause. I got fed up see a lot of $$$ with cash donations so I went the other direction. I donate my time, 20 - 60 hours a week to local volunteer fire departments.

TPC, if your wife is going to Moab to help out with Best Friends tell her that Best Friends is on the other side of Utah in Kanab............... Best Friends is a great organization.

 

[RodnJen]

The bulk of it goes to United Way via payroll deductions. I'm aware that the cost of running and organization can be expensive but that doesn't keep me from donating to people that need it. As far as the salaries go of some of the people employed by a given charity, if you want good people you have to pay for them. Shit doesn't get done for free. A friend of mine is the Director of Developement for a well-know charity in Orange County. This guy is talented, smart and incredibly committed to his job. He is on 24/7 because that's what it takes to bring in big money and do the most good.

 

[was thatguy]

The bulk of it goes to United Way via payroll deductions. I'm aware that the cost of running and organization can be expensive but that doesn't keep me from donating to people that need it. As far as the salaries go of some of the people employed by a given charity, if you want good people you have to pay for them. Shit doesn't get done for free. A friend of mine is the Director of Developement for a well-know charity in Orange County. This guy is talented, smart and incredibly committed to his job. He is on 24/7 because that's what it takes to bring in big money and do the most good.

I realize that it is probably in your best interest to go with the flow at your job, but think about breaking from that scam if you want your money to do some real good for real people.

I did the United way deal when I worked for a large drilling contractor in Alaska.
They had the annual push where they would send the office hotty to the man camps and set her up at her little registration desk in the hallway.

We were EXPECTED to sign up for auto withdraw at a level corresponding to our positions of income.
I did that for years until I realized that my money was going into a corporate funnel.

Ronald McDonald house charities help REAL people with REAL sick kids right here at home.
More than several members on this very board have been the recipients of benefiting from them.
They provide logistic support for families who's kids need medical treatment outside the place of residence.

If not for them, my oldest daughter and her Mom would never have been able to travel and stay at medical centers all over the Country.
She was a VERY sick little girl years ago, at 3 yo.

More recently, when She won the 4th quarter of the SB pool last year (niners) HER son Kyle had that brain surgery, and once again Ronald McDonald house was there.

I'm not dissing on your charitable contributions as much as I am lobbying for the RMD house!:thumbsup

 

[koenig]

Forgot about our local food bank, especially in summer because fewer people donate outside of holidays. Our welfare is harder to get here and is not very much. Single mother with two kids gets about $900 per month, subsidized housing is $526 per month in rent. Doesn't leave much for food, so almost all families on welfare use the food bank to get by. Feel sorry for the kids. Schools have a breakfast and lunch program that feeds them during the week. Food bank discovered most of these kids don't eat on weekends, so they have started a program to give these kids a back pack for weekends filled with food. I give some money to this program, costs $525 per year per kid to do. To get food from our food bank you must prove poverty.

 

[mobldj]

every month auto pay to hope for paws,this dude named eldad hagar is all over so cal saving dogs.fucking people,why !

 

[jman]

Mostly the local food bank. I'm friends with the lady who runs it and I'll ask her what they are running low on and the wife and I will pick up some cases of whatever it is and load the truck up next time we go to Sam's. Being a small town, I know a lot of the families using it, so I don't worry about money getting siphoned of at each level of the organization. Also around the holidays I'll give some cash to the head of our police and he'll gets it to families that could use it. Keeps everything local.
Almost forgot. The town's animal shelter goes to great lengths to take in animals from surrounding towns and is no kill (except for problem animals that are ordered to be destroyed). We throw a few big bags of food in every Sam's run as well. Keeping everything local means we can provide a lot more with the same amount of cash.

 

[h2o225]

We give to groups or individuals that either we know or other reputable friends know. We almost every year find someone in the community who needs help for Christmas and do a secret Santa for them. That is always by word of mouth also.

 

[707dog]

I'm to fucked up in the head to give to big "non profits" or even little ones really. I just don't believe my money is going to the cause. I believe it goes straight into a pocket. I don't give money to pan handlers either. 95% of them are not destitute in any way. It's their job! If I have money to give away I'll chose an individual I know is on the outs and buy them what they need. I'll never give money. Funny part about that.... They almost all want the money. That's when I walk away.

Your not foked up in the head your feel the same way as majority of the people who don't donate for those reasons... Most place need cash to operate true, I know the two I donate to would rather have hygiene products beddings/clothes. I'm sure just like us most of peeps on the board has a stock pile of make up, body soaps, lotions, combs/brushes perfumes/colognes/ body sprays, hair products...ect just about any shelter takes this stuff so remember that before it hits the trash can, possibly someones next step in rebuilding there life could really use it

 

[530RL]

Any animal shelter that is run locally including the Arizona Humane Society

10-90 Foundation. I was one of the founders and run it, not a penny of overhead. http://10-90copperstatefoundation.org

The High School I attended

 

[YOLO]

We've given most of our contributions in the past few years to Phoenix Children's Hospital here on the west side of Phoenix. I actually sit on the board and know that the vast majority of the money goes towards the kiddos which makes it easier to give.
As a business we apply for the school choice program here in AZ. Basically, if approved (we've never been denied), you can make a contribution to a school of your choice and receive a 1 for 1 write off of state tax liability. Crazy law but it allows you to at least direct your taxes.

 

[Tom Brown]

We've given most of our contributions in the past few years to Phoenix Children's Hospital here on the west side of Phoenix.

I believe this good work will be rewarded. You will come back as a much better person in the next life. :thumbsup

 

[HolyMoly]

I donate to the save JBB foundation. But I heard that much of the funds is used to buy green thatch paint?

 

[YOLO]

I believe this good work will be rewarded. You will come back as a much better person in the next life. :thumbsup

Yep! I've been trying to make up for all the bad shit I've done in this life and think I may run out of time and money chasing that unicorn!

 

[HolyMoly]

Yep! I've been trying to make up for all the bad shit I've done in this life and think I may run out of time and money chasing that unicorn!

Better work hard at that, other wise you'll come back as Yellowboat and have no idea what you did to deserve it.

 

[Aaron]

I donate to my church and the children's miricle network that supports the Children's hospitals. I also try and find someone in need and give to them when I can. I also give to any Vet that is in need. i figure if he or she gave partof their life for our freedom, its the least i can do.
One thing I have always told myself is if GOD puts it in my heart to give then I do. I don't worry about what happens to the $$ or items I give. It makes it easier than trying to figure out is one guy is a scammer or really needs something.
My 2 cents.

 

[MOUZER]

CROSSROADS CHURCH

WOUNDED WORRIOR FOUNDATION

SAINT JUDES

SPONSER A CHILD IN SOUTH AFRICA

...............AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A JOB.................

 

[CampbellCarl]

CROSSROADS CHURCH

WOUNDED WORRIOR FOUNDATION

SAINT JUDES

SPONSER A CHILD IN SOUTH AFRICA

...............AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A JOB.................

Then please thank Mrs. Mouzer for her contributions......

 

[dribble]

Make A Wish.

 

[RiverDave]

I don't regularly contribute to any one particular charity.. This year St. Judes, obviously do some fundraising for local RDP causes, Stacy does the Mom's club deal which is also local causes etc..

RD

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

If you're looking for something for the kids.

www.2014ridetoprovide.kintera.org

A cause near and dear to my soul. I leave for Calgary two weeks from today for this.

 

[Abc123]

I donate to money and time to Beagles and Buddies in El Monte. It's where I found my dog.

I ran in a Charity 5k for a Christian youth group. Someone I know through business invited me because he knows I enjoy running. The organization sends me donation requests for upcoming retreats. While I don't agree with Christianity I still donate to the charity and plan to run their next 5k in two weeks. I was raised Christian and went to some camps. They were usually fun (ya know... Once prayer and worship time was over lol). I figure if my money is helping kids get out from in front of the tv and onto something productive I'm all for it. :thumbup:

When donating I think it's important to care about the actual cause you're donating too. Now unless you're seriously involved, you'll never know where all the money goes. Donating isn't about accountability as much as it is the person it makes you to donate your time, resources or money. Donating isn't a "feel good" remedy. It's helping out your neighbor. It's forgetting about yourself for a minute.