Posted on 12/02/2010 6:54:35 AM PST by Ro_Thunder
So, my place of employment has been pressuring us with high-profile donation campaigns for a month or so. Now, I'm getting emails from the Chairman of the Board who has pledged a one-for-one dollar donation, and wants me to be a first time donor.
I have several problems with this, mainly that the United Way nationally does fund Planned Parenthood. Now, locally they say they do not. However, United Way says you can make donations to specific charities. The issue I have with that is does United Way take something of the top for handling these donations? If so, why? And if so, then of course donate specifically to the charity in question rather than UW.
It really bothers me that they have this full court press, it's almost extortion. There's a month full of events (cookies, socializing, and ice cream), on top of a raffle for people who donated (prizes included a Dell Netbook, wireless router, 1 TB external hard drive, and such). Then, the email from the Chairman last night really pushed me - they're keeping track of who donates, obviously by payroll deduction, and now they're hitting up those of us who do not succumb to their pressure.
This is the email I received last year in regards to the question of if UW of Greater Houston supports Planned Parenthood.
This is a direct quote, straight in copy:
"I can only speak for United Way of Greater Houston. There are over 1400 United Ways across the nation. All are separate and autonamous having their own board and serving their own communities. United Way of Greater Houston serves Harris, Waller, Fort Bend and the Bay area.(area around Nasa). Planned Parenthood is not one of our funded agencies."
The same thing happened to my mother.
Teachers were told to give and if not, their names were announced.
It is truly appalling
I refuse to donate to any charity which has any employee that makes more than I do, simply because I know that money is going into the pockets of people who do not need it. I’d rather give to my church, or any number of local community groups where I can verify that most of the money is going to help those who are in need.
:-)
I refuse.
I give to the charity of my choice, my way.
And yes, it’s extortion.
My advice is to give directly to the charity of your choice, keep the receipt for tax purposes, and show it (with redacted amount) to your boss if he/she presses the point. They don’t give a crap about the United Way; they’re playing a corporate numbers game.
Just say that you contribute to your charities directly, and don't believe in middlemen skimming your contributions off the top.
When I was pressured by my company to donate to United Way, I made a one-time contribution of $1.00.
That gets them off your back as they can proclaim their company is 100%.
Tell them you don’t support abortion providers and ask if there’s someone else you can give your donation to.
I give to the Boy Scouts.
If push comes to shove and you want to keep your job, donate to whoever and live with it.
The United Way has always been a pressured donation from my experience in the ‘70 when I was in the Military and in my civilian jobs with large companies.
/johnny
I find it appalling that companies pressure people to contribute. It makes the company look good in its PR. Otherwise, the company could otherwise not care less.
Yes, you CAN, on your contribution card, specify specific charities. I’ve specified the Boy Scouts, for example. Charities under United Way vary. For example, ultra-left entities are supported in CA, while the Boy Scouts are not. Conversely, in Texas, the Boy Scouts are supported.
Make your decision on what you want to do. But remember, if you’re getting a bulk-mail shot from your bosses’ boss, regretably there may be some reprocussions if you don’t contribute. Sorry, but there it is.
I used to work for a phone company where there was pressure to give to united way. I was in the union at the time and basically said (under my breath) FU, and just ignored them.
United Way has a huge overhead, their top person gets paid very well.
Better to donate to the Salvation Army.
Check the list of participating agencies in your area.
In my hometown, small town in Ohio, there is a director who gets a meager salary, but rest are volunteers. I always designated Boy scouts and the local food bank.
Marking specific charities on the card means nothing, unless everyone does it. It just means that they redirect the “unmarked money” a little more towards the “unmarked charities” to even it out.
It’s a scam.
Forced charity-giving stinks in God’s nostrils.
Mike
I like it!
When the United Way stopped supporting the Boy Scouts because of their no-gay-troop-leaders stance, I stopped supporting the United Way.
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