Generous Freepers Beware of Charity Fraud

websites ^ | 12/23/02 | me

[eleni121]

When charity giving Americans decide whether to generously support charities this year, they should first check out these websites to see how many of their hard earned dollars actually go to programs and not just CEO compensation and other "administrative" expenses. Case in point: Gloria Feldt makes over $400,000. dollars per year running Planned Parenthood!

[eleni121]

Here are two excellent resources for checking out the charities:
http://www.guidestar.org
http://www.give.org

[Happygal]

Freepers donate directly to Planned Parenthood?
Or donate on line all the time?

I don't know about you lot, but I tend to give my charitable donations to locally based charities like the local Hospice Foundation or Meals on Wheels for the elderly.

[isthisnickcool]

There are 100's of thousands of nonprofits in this country. WAY to many are in business to enrich their handlers, push their handlers own political agenda or a combination of both.

We have needed and need noprofit corporation reform in this country.

guidstar is a great site. For something interesting, enter "Islamic" in their "quick search" box.....

[eleni121]

Wow! Over 1200 "charities" with islamic as a keyword. Imagine the number without that word...

[eleni121]

I tend to give my charitable donations to locally based charities like the local Hospice Foundation or Meals on Wheels for the elderly.

I try to donate locally as well. However, there are lots of truly deserving groups not based locally.

As far as Hospice is concerned I have a problem with them. Slick advertising does not change the fact that they are in the business of helping people to die. Their ads say stuff like helping people to "live". Talk about doublespeak!

[SoDak]

I try to donate around 12% every year, and it's all local, to people I know, like my church and the local food bank. Except for Free Republic that is.

[Happygal]

As far as Hospice is concerned I have a problem with them. Slick advertising does not change the fact that they are in the business of helping people to die.

Have you ever had a family member die of cancer? Have you seen the benefit of respite care for worn out families, who want their loved one die at home with dignity? I have.

[SoDak]

Unfortunately, me too.

[MarkL]

Agreed. They helped ease my mother's passing from terminal cancer. They didn't "help her die." She WAS dying. They helped make her more comfortable (and the rest of the family, as well) as she was dying.

Mark

[maxwellp]

We donate locally as well - to our volunteer ambulance corps, fire department, Boy Scouts and the animal shelter. But one must be careful - we found out that the folks working at the animal shelter were taking some of the money for themselves. It was stopped and these people were fired. The temptation to money that's hard to keep track of is great and this money most be closely watched and only used for intended purposes.

[maxwellp]

We have a friend whose husband was dying of cancer and Hospice took care of him. She said they were great and was very grateful for their care right up to the end.

[Happygal]

I don't mean to be contraversial on the boards by arguing about the pro's and con's of Hospice.

But I genuinely believe Hospice (and particularly Hospice Homecare, in my home town)..to be THE most deserving charity I've ever come across.

I'm sure they are the same globally. (I'm in Ireland).
But they give SOOOOO much to people, who are at SUCH a low ebb. Not only the person dying, but also the family so anxious and upset around them. They just KNOW how to handle everyone.

I particularly will NOT have a word said against them.
And I fundraise every year for them.

[Happygal]

BTW...I've been out carol singing for the last 12 nights at Christmas parties in Ireland, carolling and shaking a bucket in front of people for cash while they are Jingling their bells.

I guess I could have had something better to do, but..we do it every year.

The cash total to date is €10,500.

That's all going locally to Meals on Wheels, the local Women's Refuge, and the Carer's Association locally.

I didn't miss a single night out carol singing (bar my company Christmas party night)..so I figure, I did my bit for others this Christmas. On the 25th, I'm going to enjoy me turkey *L*

[SoDak]

Good work, keep it up. Any Guinness get dropped in the bucket? :)

[oreolady]

If you call respite care a "benefit" of hospice, they did nothing for me and would not come to my house on Christmas Day, my husband died the next day and we had been under hospice for 10 months.
The previous poster is right, I was urged, pestered, bugged, to get my husband to wear a green plastic note on his wrist that said "DNR", in order that I would not panice taking care of him and call an ambulance. (read-money )spent. I refused many times, she finally gave up, but I could tell the pressure technique smilingly urged. In his suffering, he didn't need a green reminder to look at constantly of his upcoming death, and heaven forbid- we can't "waste" money on him?
That meant if he even was choking on a chicken bone or broke a bone, or fell,that they would not give him any help- something not even cancer related would apply.
A dear friend of mine worked for a home care many years.
One of her clients was terminal, when she was there doing her work, the terminal lady fell and broke her hip (very painful, and NOT related to the terminal need for hospice.
My FRIEND WAS VERBALLY attacked for calling the lady an ambulance!!! (read: money.)

[oreolady]

sorry that should say attacked by her hospice nurse.
I think the people who tout hospice just "obeyed" their philosophy, never bumped into a problem such as I have described, because I worked at a place with hundreds of people, heard many such events taking place.
It is a cost saving -based organization.
oreolady

[Happygal]

I'm sorry you feel so bitter.
Merry Christmas.

[snippy_about_it]

How old are you?

Hospice gives genuine care and support to the dying patient and their family. Perhaps you are thinking of Dr. Kevorkian.

Unless you are run over by a Mack truck you may need care while dying and Hospice is the place to be for many in need.

[pfflier]

Last month's Reader's Digest rated the Salvation Army as the most efficient at getting the bucks to the needs.