Salvation Army Gets $1.5 Billion From the Estate of Kroc Heiress

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Tuesday, January 20, 2004 | SHIRLEY LEUNG

[TroutStalker]

In one of the largest individual charitable gifts ever, the estate of McDonald's heiress Joan B. Kroc is about to drop a one-time cash donation of $1.5 billion into the Salvation Army kettle.

The Salvation Army announced the donation Tuesday. Mrs. Kroc, widow of Ray Kroc, the milkshake salesman who founded McDonald's Corp. in 1955, died of brain cancer in October at the age of 75. Before her death, she specified that the donation be earmarked to build and operate community centers around the country.

[PianoMan]

Am I wrong in thinking the Salvation Army is a much better charitable institution than most? This sounds like not a bad thing.

[Bikers4Bush]

The Salvation Army is one of the few I will give to.

[NYS_Eric]

This almost makes up for her giving NPR the $200 million. The Salvation Army is a worthy charity with very low overhead from what I understand.

[cyborg]

NPR isn't all that bad LOL (did I just say that??) but she did give $2000 to some families in need (flood victims I think)

[TroutStalker]

I'm very pleased to hear this news. It's one of my favorite charities.

[leadpenny]

Great news. Probably the only national charity I give to. Including used car donations.

[cynicom]

At odds, giving to NPR and Salvation Army. Opposite poles.

[Walkin Man]

Wow! This is good news! The Salvation Army is great and doing the work of the Lord as far as I can see.

[Catspaw]

I always donate to the Salvation Army. They're a good organization.

[TroutStalker]

The SA knew about this before Christmas. I'm sure it was the best they could ever hope for last year, and more. What a great endowment.

[livius]

Very nice! The Salvation Army has one of the lowest overhead costs of all charities - meaning that most of what they receive actually gets to the needy, and not to some fat-cat administrators.

[Betteboop]

You said it before I could---they are the one charity I always give to. (besides, I love "Guys and Dolls:) )

[Little Ray]

Now THAT is a good use of charity money!

[mr.pink]

Am I wrong in thinking the Salvation Army is a much better charitable institution than most?

You are not wrong in your thinking. Mrs. Kroc gave her money to a very worthy charity.

God bless her.

[barker]

Morning Trout. Good day this side of the state line. Gephardt is gone ;-)

My Dad said that during WW2 the Salvation Army was great to the service people. The Red Cross charged them for everything. I do donate to the SA but never the RC.

[smith288]

Salvation Army is doing lots of work in the West Virigia area due to all the floods. They could use that cash down there. Our church is working pretty tightly with them right now. They are the good guys.

[TroutStalker]

Good morning Barker! Yes indeed, Gebhardt is spending his last year on the government payroll, and that's good news for the people of Missouri. I heard somewhere that a group is suing for the return of his last years pay because he missed over 90% of the votes in Congress. I suppose he will return to his late mother's vacant house that he used as his "home" in Missouri.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Am I wrong in thinking the Salvation Army is a much better charitable institution than most? This sounds like not a bad thing.

I closely watched the large national charities, both after 9-11 and the Houston floods a few years back. The Salvation Army did an outstanding job and stood head and shoulders above the rest, IMHO.

[fish hawk]

Salvation Army, great, but I wish she would have given several millions to the Boy Scouts!