Sweet Charity

DONATIONS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS:  I get this reminder every time there is a disaster somewhere around the world.  I've checked this out in the internet but it was sort of avoiding the issue.  It's a TRUST issue.  I hope things have changed about the CEOs mentioned getting their obscene share of the donations. 

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GOOD NEWS UPDATE: ALL THE GREEDY CEOs GONE GONE GONE !!! This put everything to rest. From http://www.snopes.com

WHERE YOU GIVE YOUR DONATIONS-

• Religion   32%
• Education   13%
• Human Services   12%
• Health   9%
• Foundations   9%
• International Affairs   8%
• Public-society benefit   7%
• Arts, culture, humanities   4%
• Not allocated   3%
• Environment and animals   3%

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This Q&A by writer/adviser Aron Moss caught my undivided reading.  As you know by now, I'm a multitasker listening to the radio half of the time.  Right now I'm half listening to Rush Limbaugh. http://www.rushlimbaugh.com
A "nauseated" reader asked the question why should rich people g\et so much respect when donating money - every corner has some plaque in the name of some major donor.  "If I'm not mistaken, the hand dryer in the men's room is in honor of the ___________ family."  Shouldn't they do good without seeking recognition?
(Giggles)
Aron Moss Answer: VALUES
To quote....
"When we put up a plaque to honor a donor, or honor someone at a dinner or public event, we are not only thanking them for the good they did.  We are making a statement: Generosity is something we value.  Giving is an ideal we hold so highly that we will reward it.  We have defined our community's values by rewarding an act that we see as being good.
In an ideal world, those who are blessed with wealth would naturally share it with others in need, without anyone having to know.  But we are not in an ideal world, and sometimes we all need encouragement to do good.  If that encouragement comes in the form of recognition or prestige, so be it.  Better that goodness is done, albeit with a hint of an ulterior motive, than we delay doing good until our motives are purely altruistic.
Of course anonymous generosity is an ideal, but we all gain from publicizing goodness, because not only good has been done, but it has been promoted, which leads to more goodness.
Each one of us is wealthy in some way, because we are blessed by G-d with gifts and talents that are unique.  We can all become major donors, and our generosity will not go unrecognized, if not in this world, then at least in the next."
Indeed!  By rewarding a certain activity the community is stating that this is what we value.
Take for instance the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - in my book the greatest humanitarian of my generation.  The Gates Foundation started in 1994 and has donated billions to charities through the years -- $2.8 billion grants in 2008.  The international goals are overcoming hunger, poverty and diseases such as AIDS and malaria.  In the United States the target is on education, which receives a quarter of its grant dollars.
Let me ask you this: were they recognized?  So-so!  You know, there should be full recognition, thanking them to high heavens.   In fact, I made a face when I saw Bono on the cover picture of Time magazine as People of the Year, sharing with Bill & Melinda Gates.
I'm sure Bono did some good things but hey, not good enough for me.  Just between you and me, it should be just Bill & Melinda Gates!!


Published 5/8/09  altgroup multiply
Web Page: Sweet Charity