Please Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

[jasonja]

I hope the mods allow this... and I hope I didn't miss someone else thread


I wanted to ask everyone who can afford it to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund to help out with the recent hurricanes in Florida. The Red Cross depends on donations to survive and they are doing a TON of work in Florida right now. There's little of FL that wasn't somehow "touched" by hurricanes in the last month. I urge all of you to donate whatever you can so that the Red Cross can continue to help. They're resources are being stretched heavliy due to the 2nd hurricane.

Donate to the red cross online here!


FYI:
I live in Orlando and have witnessed first hand the power of both hurricanes as well as the great work the Red Cross is doing to help those in need. My wife and I grew up in Pt. Charlotte/ Punta Gorda. The Red Cross has been feeding and providing help to most of the people down there (including our parents and friends) and has done a lot in the Orlando area to help victims here too.

 

[moshquerade]

great thread.

everyone who wasn't affected by the Hurricanes of late should put their money where there mouth is and donate some real bucks.

 

[gotensan01]

bump for a good cause

 

[Nick5324]

bump for a good thread

 

[CocoGdog]

I am ready to dontate but am scared because some of these things can be scams.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: CocoGdog
I am ready to dontate but am scared because some of these things can be scams.

He linked to the Redcross website.

 

[Ray06492]

TTT

 

[BigDaddyD]

Thanks for the thread...I have been meaning to donate and now I just did.

 

[jasonja]

Originally posted by: CocoGdog
I am ready to dontate but am scared because some of these things can be scams.

The Red Cross is not a scam and is perhaps the worlds most famous charity. If you doubt my link is authentic then go to www.redcross.org and navigate yourself to the donation form.

Thanks to everyone for the bumps and donations.


p.s.
donations are tax deductible so you can help yourself out a bit while helping others.

 

[plk21]

TTT for a good cause.

 

[Mucker]

I made a significant donation after 9-11 to the Red Cross and thought it was going to a good cause until I read a Newsweek article about a month after that saying that the Red Cross was just handing out money to anyone that was walking in. One example was of a cab driver who was making $4000 a month whose business was hurt and he was only making $2000 month. They were giving checks of up to $12,000 to these people with out doing background checks on peoples finances. I was appalled. I was hoping my money would go to people who REALLY needed it or to world relief efforts.

Unfortunately, that soured my whole experience and I will not donate to any of the large corporate type of outfits like this any more. I have decided all of my donations will be with my time or at the local level. There is always someone out there that has to scam all of the time and leave black marks on these organizations. Another thing that PO'd me was when the woman (I am a man) who was running the Red Cross during 9-11 was forced out because she wanted to save some of the donations for further disasters. I liked her idea, and thought they made a poor decision with her....so, no I will not donate to this entity although my heart goes out to all affected.....

m

 

[RossMAN]

jasonja,

Excellent idea, thank you!

 

[aphex]

Bump! I think this one deserves a sticky.... I have a feeling im doomed for Ivan... Charley went 10 miles south of me, Frances went 30 miles north of me.... Ivan the terrible may just live up to his name...

 

[jasonja]

Originally posted by: Mucker
I made a significant donation after 9-11 to the Red Cross and thought it was going to a good cause until I read a Newsweek article about a month after that saying that the Red Cross was just handing out money to anyone that was walking in. One example was of a cab driver who was making $4000 a month whose business was hurt and he was only making $2000 month. They were giving checks of up to $12,000 to these people with out doing background checks on peoples finances. I was appalled. I was hoping my money would go to people who REALLY needed it or to world relief efforts.

Unfortunately, that soured my whole experience and I will not donate to any of the large corporate type of outfits like this any more. I have decided all of my donations will be with my time or at the local level. There is always someone out there that has to scam all of the time and leave black marks on these organizations. Another thing that PO'd me was when the woman (I am a man) who was running the Red Cross during 9-11 was forced out because she wanted to save some of the donations for further disasters. I liked her idea, and thought they made a poor decision with her....so, no I will not donate to this entity although my heart goes out to all affected.....

m

If that's your opinion, fine. The Red Cross is not handing out checks to these victims... FEMA is doing that. The Red Cross is providing tarps, blankets, ice, water, and food.

 

[nomadh]

That is the problem with a big charity.... or a big corp or a big government. Red Cross is still a good charity overall and of course sometimes a real lifesaver. Perhaps with any donation remind them you are serious about the money going to what you intended. They need to see it as an investment from you. I don't just hand over money so I can feel less guilty. Personally I give money to get a goal accomplished. We need to remind all charities of that fact.
I remember hearing that the salvation army is the most efficient charity you can donate to so I started leaning towards them a few years ago. If my $100 helps only 3 people at charity A but it helps 4 or 5 at charity B then I have a good idea where to "invest" my money.
Just another $0.02, Damon

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Thanks to all those who donate to the Red Cross(time,money, materials,etc.). My mom's next door neighbor lost her home to Frances(looked like a ripped open beer can with her belongings gone/damaged according to my dad) and the first official group to show was some Red Cross volunteers(hot soup/sandwiches,ice and blankets) definitely improved the 84 yr old's spirits and outlook on the situation. Just one experience out of many I've seen and/or have related to me. :thumbsup:

 

[nowayout99]

Red Cross is good overall, but I sorta turned my back to 'em when I saw them charging for water after a tornado hit in TN one time several years ago. I bought a ton of bottles and passed them out. I was livid.

They've charged for services, food, and shelter before as well.

Still, a worthy cause... I just don't personally prefer Red Cross.

 

[rdh]

Originally posted by: Mucker
I made a significant donation after 9-11 to the Red Cross and thought it was going to a good cause until I read a Newsweek article about a month after that saying that the Red Cross was just handing out money to anyone that was walking in. One example was of a cab driver who was making $4000 a month whose business was hurt and he was only making $2000 month. They were giving checks of up to $12,000 to these people with out doing background checks on peoples finances. I was appalled. I was hoping my money would go to people who REALLY needed it or to world relief efforts.
m

Its even worse than that. So much money was donated during 9/11 that the Red Cross decided that the money would not just go to victims, but to their general fund. So you thought that you were donating to 9/11 victims when, in fact, you were donating to whatever they want to do with the money.

Further, the families of victims of 9/11 become millionaires by government decree. So they got Red Cross money and Government money and thousands are now far wealthier than you or me.

Finally, give to the Red Cross because you believe in their work... not because you believe that your money will go to hurricane victims. Because, in reality, the Red Cross is going to do whatever they want with the money and it may not go to hurricane victims at all. Fool me once, and all that.

 

[imported_GoHack]

Have they cleaned up their act after 9/11?

They were caught holding on to the donations and collecting the interest on them.

 

[KGB]

Let's not lose the focus of this thread.
The Red Cross is really making a huge difference around here.

Thanks Jason

 

[UF Jspec]

Thanks for the reminder. I just made my donation.

 

[lescarlson]

American Red Cross
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006 MAY 2003
(202) 737-8300

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Governance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chief Executive Officer: Marsha Johnson Evans, President (began position on August 5, 2002)
Compensation*:Marsha Johnson Evans' base salary is $450,000 annually.

(* During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, Dr. Bernadine Healy, the former American Red Cross CEO, had a total compensation of $1,921,913. This compensation amount includes $352,283 for the six-month period ended 12/31/01, her last day in the position, plus $1,569,630 for severance.)

Chair of the Board: David T. McLaughlin
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Chair, Orion Safety Products
Board Size: 46 members

Paid Staff Size: 37,018 employees (33,054 at branches and 3,964 at national headquarters.)

 

[tcsenter]

Finally, give to the Red Cross because you believe in their work... not because you believe that your money will go to hurricane victims. Because, in reality, the Red Cross is going to do whatever they want with the money and it may not go to hurricane victims at all.

That's correct. You don't get to specify the precise manner in which your donation is spent. The Red Cross doesn't operate that way, it never has. No relief organizations operate that way.

It might be that only $20 of my $50 donation goes to Florida, $10 goes to wildfire relief efforts in Colorado or California, $10 goes to a storm relief effort this winter, $5 goes to hold a CPR class and the remaining $5 into the pension fund of Red Cross employees, so on and so forth. That's the way the Red Cross and every other relief or charity organization works. If you didn't know that, then "fool" would be a most appropriate term.

Chair of the Board: David T. McLaughlin

David McLaughlin retired in June and died last month. The position of Board Chair is a volunteer appointment.

American Institute of Philanthropy rating of the American Red Cross: A+

BBB Wise Giving Alliancereview of the American Red Cross: meets CBBB Standards for Charitable Solicitations.

 

[Steve Guilliot]

Originally posted by: rdh
the families of victims of 9/11 become millionaires by government decree. So they got Red Cross money and Government money and thousands are now far wealthier than you or me.

..while victims of OK City and the war on Iraq etc. are no less dead, but their families received no such windfall. Yes, it's an injustice caused by emotional, post-disaster, knee-jerk public outcry.

I wouldn't attach that negative stigma to the Red Cross, though. So what if the Red Cross collected interest on the donations of 911? They are a non-profit organization, so any such financial gain goes to help people in need. It's doesn't fund big fat raises for the board of directors. Are we complaining that the RC is maximizing the charity given per dollar donated? Silly.

Also, I bet for every cab driver given a check for $12G, there were 100's of families who didn't have to sleep outdoors after losing everything. Think, people.

 

[wnied]

Witnessed Frances first hand in a Red Cross shelter.

This is one of my ways of saying Thank You.
~wnied~