Posted on 10/06/2009 10:19:09 AM PDT by Owl_Eagle
Hi folks,
I’m sure some of you can help me out with this problem: My jerk boss has appointed me to help collect donations for the United Way, and there’s really not a way out of it. I was hoping to collect information related to the wonderful things they do, like misuse of charitable funds, black listing the Boy Scouts because they wouldn’t allow homosexual men to take boys on overnight camping trips, etc.
Does anyone have more info that might be helpful in me driving my unit’s pledge total to $0 this year?
STAY AWAY from the United Way. A leftist sewer.
STAY AWAY from the United Way. A leftist sewer.
They donate to ACORN.
tell your Boss,you don’t support the UW and probably wouldn’t make a good candidate to canvass
Tell your boss the employess demanded a “Choice” and you let them choose between The United Way or Boy Scouts of America.
I quit giving to the United Way over the Boy Scouts, their intimidation of workers by bosses who get bonuses for $ collected and their President stealing millions. All of the United Way executives make a fortune which is ridiculous for a charity.
Claim it violates your religious beliefs, and bow out.
It’s your job, just do it. United Way is a sham of a charity.
Ask your boss to include Salvation Army as a donor choice.
Yeah, my company really pushes UW HARD around here. However, I politely tell them that I’ve donated to another charity, and that’s that.
IMHO, your boss got you ‘volunteered’; so you don’t have to be a cheerleader, and it’s career suicide to be an ‘anti-cheerleader’. So, do like I did.
Pass out the forms, tell them they may donate as much or as little as they feel compelled to do, collect the forms - and keep your opinions to yourself.
Do your job, nothing more, nothing less. If you collect millions from suckers - it’s not your money. If you collect nothing, your job title is not to support the United Way.
Just do what you have been told to do. Anything else, and you will open yourself up to retaliation.
The plus side is she somehow won Twins season tickets for doing it.
When I was working (retired now) it was political suicide to not donate to UW since the campaign was run by execs who would use the “success” for photo ops and positive publicity.
I discovered that I could direct my contribution to the charity of my choice, in my case a local Catholic group.
Since there are a number of charities on the list I do not support, I don't support the United Way but rather donate directly to the Boy Scouts.
You just stated the main reason I stopped donating to this fund years ago — the black listing of the Boy Scouts for not allowing homoped access to young boys. Lesser reasons include; misuse of funds, excessive overhead charges, and charitable monopoly that the UW seems to have excluding all competition. I would never give them a dime.
Seriesly. You could go in to a big tirade about job descriptions and all that. Does he have authority to make you do it? Is it part of your job description? If so, suck it up.
I would tell my boss ‘no’ because it has absolutely nothing to do with my job. Of course, we are pretty good friends, so....
Well, I haven’t donated to the United Way in decades because of their twisted activities. But I’m not sure if you want to get into a political brawl with your “jerk boss,” especially when new jobs are nearly impossible to find.
I would use this opportunity, were I you, to make a point that nobody wants to donate to this sham charity. Just say, “well both, I juth couldn’t get nobody to donate”. :)
I think you’re on target. You can’t resolve the problems of the world by losing your job. This isn’t like doing something criminal. We disagree with the United Way and it’s practices, but there are probably better ways to take it down.
Starting an information campaign would open a lot of eyes.
Owl: Perhaps if you did a Google search under United Way (maybe something like “United Way Misuse of Fund”), you might come up with something. Maybe even search the Fox News website for something similar.
My brother (now retired) was essentially compelled by his employer to give to the United Way every year. Although legally the company couldn’t do this but...my brother was told sorta that if he didn’t give, he would be passed over for promotions and all sorts of other things would be doen to make his life a living hell. I was lucky...I had past employers who would try to get me to give, but I would refuse. One year, a former employer announced that it had 100% contribution by the employees. I didn’t give, so I don’t know where the 100% came from. Probably someone put in some money for me.
I’d rather, if I choose, give money directly to a charity, rather than go through the United Way.
I think donations can be directed to the agency you tell them you want it spent on. There are some that they give money to that are not leftist organizations.
United way doesn’t make it easy to do though. Often there is a separate form not supplied in the sign up packages they send out.
Your employer cannot FORCE a contribution. Take it up with your state if it becomes grounds for termination.
Talk to human resources and insist that his manager who likely is insisting on this cannot make the demand.
United Way is a partisan group. There are good organizations under the umbrella but there are some that you are within your right to not support. you can target your contribution but I’ve heard that the abortion groups et al get a greater percentage of general donations if they don’t meet their target for the year (they offset your directed contribution).
I work for local govt and when I signed up they said that you may pick any charity you wanted so I specifically signed up for Operation Greyhound only. After about a year & a half I asked them if they ever received any contributions and they said no. I then requested them to stop deducting the monies from my paycheck. I now donate direct.
Our Rep was the poor Secretary to the Dept Head (he couldn’t get anyone else to do it). I know she hated having to do it. She was always having to sell stuffed toys and go to long meetings with other dept Reps.
hey I hope the twinkies beat the tigers. can’t stand the tigers....
I will never give to the United Way again.
ACORN
Good year for that, eh?
United Way will only allow this if you push for it. Not every local affiliate is worthless. Some still support the BSA.
But like any other foundation or charity with money, the lefties have wormed their way into it and you have to be very careful. I don't give to UW because I don't have time to keep up on who is running it and where the money goes. Instead, I give directly to causes like the BSA, VFW and Salvation Army because I know the lefty termites haven't wormed their way into their checkbooks.
My spouse is stuck in the same situation with an employer who champions all things liberal. Donations are made by payroll deduction and they pretty much insist on 100% compliance. Our generous contribution amounts to $1.00 per pay period (24/yr) ... I think that kinda sends a message.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2069125/posts
United Way’s challenge: Rebuilding a region’s trust
Charlotte Observer ^ | 08/27/08 | Eric Frazier and Kerry Hall
For months, the United Way of Central Carolinas board said Gloria Pace King was worth every penny of her controversial $1.2 million pay package. Tuesday, 37 of those board members unanimously called on their longtime CEO to resign or be fired...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1916241/posts
Judge holds Bay Area United Way responsible for spun-off nonprofit
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/25/7 | Bob Egelko
United Way of the Bay Area is legally responsible for a nonprofit it spun off to process hundreds of millions of dollars in charitable contributions and must pay $4.78 million to a company left holding the bag when the nonprofit collapsed in 2003, a San Francisco judge has declared in a tentative ruling.
Superior Court Judge Robert Dondero did not find fraud by United Way and denied punitive damages sought by Network for Good, an Internet charity clearinghouse in Maryland that sued United Way. But Dondero said United Way had engaged in a variety of misconduct, including manipulating financial records to conceal its role in the downfall of the processing firm, PipeVine Inc.
“The integrity of the public giving process is at stake,” Dondero said in an 82-page decision, issued Friday. Despite United Way’s public position that PipeVine was a separate company after the charity spun it off in 2000, the judge said, the two operated as if they were a single entity that United Way substantially controlled...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1774386/posts
Anonymous Census Focuses On Gays (United Way Barf Alert)
The Columbus Dispatch ^ | 26 January 2007 | Rita Price
At some point this weekend, Scott Britton and Jim King will sit down at the home computer and type in their profiles. The Worthington residents expect to click on boxes that identify them as educated, suburban and middle class. They’re also white, gay and the parents of an adopted black infant.
Typical? Probably not quite. But organizers of central Ohio’s first gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender census say it’s time to find out more about the people who make up those often-invisible communities.
From now through April 15, central Ohioans who do not consider themselves heterosexual are being asked to complete an anonymous, online survey. (Paper questionnaires also are available.)
The United Way of Central Ohio is sponsoring the project and paying most of the $40,000 cost. The Columbus Foundation’s Legacy Fund has contributed $10,000.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1514740/posts
United Way’s unkindest cut
Bosotn Globe ^ | November 3, 2005 | Adrian Walker
The staff at Deaf Inc., a social service agency based in Allston-Brighton, got a letter recently, an appeal to participate in the annual fund-raising campaign of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
It was an ironic moment. Deaf Inc. enjoyed a good relationship with the United Way until recently. But that was before Deaf Inc. was cut off from United Way funding, after a management decision by United Way that its work no longer fit into the charity’s priorities.
This is what Deaf Inc. does: It helps people who can’t hear manage their lives and live independently and with dignity, a service the United Way apparently finds superfluous.
Funding ended earlier this year. The cut amounted to about $68,000, or 7 percent of Deaf Inc.’s annual budget. That was a drop in a huge bucket: The United Way awarded $36.5 million this fiscal year, according to its spokesman.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1523602/posts
Parents upset over sex booklet in schools [6th graders given # to abortion clinics, gay hotline]
Sun Newspaper ^ | Thursday, November 10, 2005 | By R. DAVID HEILEMAN
STRONGSVILLE _ An informational booklet that describes the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and contains phone numbers for Planned Parenthood and confidential reproductive health services has raised protests after it was placed in students’ lockers throughout the district.
City resident Theresa Fleming said her 11-year-old son, a sixth-grader at Kinsner Elementary School, was among those who received a copy of the booklet, Youth Pages, A Guide for Cuyahoga County Teens published by United Way’s 211 First Call For Help.
She said the booklet, which also provides information on the need for parental consent for abortion and a Web address for the Lesbian/Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland, is inappropriate for 11-year-olds.
I believe some sex education needs to be given, but when subjects are discussed or material is given to kids of this nature, a notice should be sent home to the parent and they should be allowed to opt out of the program if they wish, Fleming said.
School Superintendent James Gray said he gave an OK for the pocket-sized directories, which were provided to the district by United Way Services in conjunction with the county health department and county commissioners, to be given to students at the high school, middle schools and to sixth graders.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1505421/posts
Question about Corporate motivations to raise money for the United Way
Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2005 3:14:48 PM by Axelay
I have tried to google for something of substance that would explain why corporate entities spend so much time and energy coming up with ways to ‘persuade’ employees to donate.
At my place of employment, it’s common knowledge that the exec sitting in the corner office is going over the list of those who donate and those who do not making ‘mental notes’.
Personally, I have never donated, and never will. The more they pressure me to do so, the more opposed to it I become.
I really want to know _why_ they try so hard. It has to be more than simple tax incentive, and you will never convince me that any corporate entity truly cares about who is helped and who isn’t. If that were the case they would put forth similar efforts for things like storm aid, and the canned food drives and such, but they barely mention those...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/566933/posts
United Way attacked for donation [donors’ $ pay for legal aid to terrorists!]
AP via Star-Ledger ^ | 11/8/01 | SHANNON McCAFFREY
WASHINGTON (AP) — A conservative legal group said Thursday that the United Way should take back a $171,000 donation to an organization that is representing several detainees in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.
Officials from the Legal Aid Society and the United Way’s Sept. 11 Fund said none of the restricted grant is paying for work on the detainees cases, and is going entirely to help victims of the World Trade Center attacks.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/567312/posts
Sept. 11 Charity Gave Money to Group Defending Terror Suspects (MY TITLE: United Way IS TREASONIOUS
CNSNews.com ^ | November 08, 2001 | By Marc Morano
A charity fund established to help victims of the Sept. 11th attacks made a grant of $171,000 to a group defending eight individuals being held in connection with the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.
The grant from the September 11th Fund, which is affiliated with the United Way, was given to the Legal Aid Society, a group that is aiding in the legal defense of eight suspects detained in Brooklyn, N.Y. as a result of the government’s investigation into the terrorist attacks.
“Instead of helping out the victims, they’re actually helping out potentially suspected terrorists,” said Dan Rene of the legal watchdog group National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC).
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1289951/posts
Boycott the United Way ; Give the American Way (Vanity)
cornpone ^ | 28 Nov 2004 | cornpone
If you read this month’s issue of the American Legion Magazine you will find a story detailing the continuing attacks again the Boy Scouts of America by the ACLU, the United Way, the anti-Christian movement and gay rights activists. Unfortunately, since the magazine isn’t on-line I can’t provide a URL but I am providing a URL to their press release (http://www.legion.org/?section=pub_relations&subsection=pr_listreleases&content=pr_press_release&id=249), titled Legion to Pentagon: Stand up for Scouting!. I don’t know where this assault on core values held by the majority of the American public is going to end but I think its about time to start fighting back. It seems now, with over 60 local United Way chapters refusing to accept pledges to the Boy Scouts, that we the people can only demonstrate our compassion if we have the politically correct mindset…Pro-gay, pro-abortion, anti-Christian. I say bunk. I say boycott the United Way and its federal equivalent, the Combined Federal Campaign. What say you?...
Can’t wait - Just a little over 3 hours till the first pitch
I was upper management and flat refused to sign up to give them a dime. I explained my reasons and nothing more was said.
I would have quit that day if they tried to force me to donate, and they knew it!
The United Way is a crooked organization. It IS something criminal to be forced by an employer to contribute.
Sure was! enough to get me to buy 2 seats for next year
I'm federal law enforcement, and in the GOV everything is the exact opposite of what it is in the real world. Screw something up bad enough, and they just won't ask you to do it again.
So, I'm going to make sure that my co-workers know EXACTLY what they're giving to. Free exchange of information is a good thing.
Since you’ve been drafted, I have to agree with Hodar. The only thing I’ll add is to let people know that they can designate the charity they want it to go to. That won’t affect how much money the charity receives, because UW decides what each charity is worthy of, but maybe it’ll get them thinking about “their” charity and next year they’ll cut the leeches at UW out of the loop and give directly.
I always just throw my envelope in the trashcan by the mail station. I’ve never been pressured at this job to give a nickel. On a former job, many years ago, my roommate and I were the two holdouts that kept the company from getting their plaque. My manager offered to donate the token dollar for me if I would just sign the card. I told him if he could donate for me, he could sign for me too. I don’t know if he did, but that was the last I heard of it.
Me too. I send them money directly. No one needs the United Way.
Bosses are interested in 100% participation.....tell the employees to stuff a dollar in the envelope and let it go at that!!!
That’s true.
Personally I would tell my boss that my charitable work with The Human Fund includes a non-compete clause with other charities such as the Red Cross, the Heart Association, The March of Dimes, Susan Komen for the Cure and the United Way.
You have my sympathy. My former employer was big on UW, and really pushed it hard. I remember being shocked when they circulated a “suggested donations” sheet the year I first worked there. It exceeded my monthly rent, and would have made it impossible to pay back my student loan. Needless to say, I didn’t follow the guidelines! Participation (and amount donated) definitely affected career path, and most people went along to get along. Unless you have a job which you can readily replace in this economy, I’d also recommend just getting the job done with as little effort as you can give it without jeopardizing your position.
Good stuff!
Thanks!!!
When I worked for Xerox, I was jumped by HR for not contributing to the United Way. I was brought into a meeting with a UW rep and called on the carpet. I said I preferred to give DIRECTLY to the charities of my choice.
I was told that was not acceptable.
Then I said my daughter died of SIDS and that I gave to the San Diego Guild for Infant Survival and a researcher, Dr. Henry Krouse. I said UW used to have the Guild as a charity but dropped them. The head of the local guild said that the UW had creative accounting.
If you pledged $10 a month at your job and changed jobs after six months, the UW see that as paying $60 and owing $60, which would net the group you wanted to get the money ZERO. The UW rep said I was over simplifying but essentially correct.
I told Xerox HR that I thought their attempting to bully me was offensive and offered to talk to their legal department with lawyer present if they wished to pursue the issue. Xerox is a gutless, brainless organization that I am amazed is still in operation.
The UW is a scam.
http://www.dba-oracle.com/corporate_sponsorship_charities_inappropriate.htm
You call your boss a jerk so I'm guessing you don't get along that well. Nevertheless, you should probably do as asked. Maybe he assigned you just because he knew it would tick you off? If you do make objections, I would avoid the political issues and emphasize the fact that United Way pays huge salaries and benefits to their executives, and they pay out a lot more $$ for fund raising and advertising than a lot of other charities.
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