CFI Spokesman: United Way, Target Should Get Nothing from Christians This Christmas

Agape Press ^ | 11/24/04 | Bill Fancher and Allie Martin

[truthandlife]

A pro-family organization has issued an alert to those who may be considering giving to one of the nation's largest charities this holiday season. The group's spokesman is warding donors away from United Way, and he also wants shoppers to know a thing or two about Target stores.

Bob Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, says the United Way has been crossed off his gift list. That is because the well-known charity refuses to share its money with the Boy Scouts of America while it openly supports numerous pro-homosexual groups with its money.

"I don't know why people still give to United Way," Knight says. He contends that people are already giving to government bureaucrats by paying taxes, so he asks, "why would you give to a group of private bureaucrats who have decided as a group that the Boy Scouts are worthy of being kicked out of various chapters across the country."

The Scouts had been a long-time beneficiary of United Way funding, until pressure from the homosexual community led to the BSA groups nationwide being cut out because their national organization promotes faith and moral values and prohibits homosexuals from serving as scoutmasters. Since then, at least 50 United Way chapters across the U.S. have excluded the Boy Scouts from a share of their fund-raising drives, claiming the BSA's Christian values are discriminatory.

But it is the apparent discrimination against the Scouts by the United Way that has angered Knight. Although not all the nation's United Way chapters have severed ties with the BSA, he points out that "the national headquarters has done nothing to stop the trend." Meanwhile, a major portion of the money the charity collects is being given to pro-homosexual groups.

CFI's director is urging individuals who are seeking out charitable giving opportunities to consider the manner in which the BSA has been treated by the United Way, and the organization's ongoing financial support of the homosexual agenda. Personally, Knight says, "I wouldn't give them a dime."

Unfortunately the United Way is not the only major U.S. organization that is drawing the pro-family leader's ire. In a recent interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network, he mentioned the recent announcement by Target that the retailer would not be allowing non-profit groups to solicit outside its stores this year. This means the familiar Salvation Army bell ringers will not be able to set up their kettles and collect donations at Target locations this shopping season.

Knight feels people of faith should be outraged over the retailer's actions. "Millions of Christians give Target millions of dollars," he says, "and what have they gotten from Target in return? A lump of coal. I think they ought to be ashamed of themselves, and I think consumers ought to take this into account when they do their Christmas shopping."

Salvation Army officials say Target stores nationwide helped raise about nine million dollars through last year's kettle campaign. Major George Hood, a spokesman for the Christian service organization, says the new policy prohibiting nonprofits from soliciting outside the department stores will hit some local communities hard.

"One Salvation Army officer said to me that the Target money that's raised in his community represents 75 percent of the income that he has in that community," Hood says. "When you begin to strip budgets of 75 percent of a revenue stream, it means that some very difficult decisions will have to be made in those local communities about what they will be able to do during the holidays with families, and what they will be able to do all year long once the Christmas season is over."

Still, God is in control, the Salvation Army representative notes. He says he is trusting in that truth, and he also believes many Christians who normally might have contributed at Target will help make up any deficit in the season's collections by increasing their kettle donations at other retail locations.

[bereanway]

Target is attempting to use this as a cover as the Boy Scouts aren't as PC as the Dayton family would like. Wal Mart and a myriad of other retailers allow the SA in front of their stores and don't allow other groups. Setting aside whether or not you like their stores, I've always found Wal Mart to be very good at supporting causes which benefit the family and culture in general.

No more Target for me and I've known the UW had an agenda for years.

[OldPossum]

Advise your husband to look at the list of organizations that United Way supports. He might be shocked.

When I worked, I gave to the United Way via payroll deduction until I got this list, and even though there is a provision to designate certain organizations that you, the donor, wish to have your money go to, it was a mixed picture. Some got those funds, some didn't.

You would be better offf doing what you're doing: giving directly to worthy causes.

[ShakeNJake]

I NEVER donate to the United Way. When they sent out the emails at work , I politely requested that they take my name off the distribution list for all future solicitations, which they did until another person took over those duties and I had to make the request again. They even set up group meetings to discuss United Way donations with prepared paperwork for each employee. One year, the idiots put everyone's SSN on the paperwork which was left laying in plain view in each employee's cubicle. That little stunt caused a huge furor as several of us threatened lawsuits. HR got that cleaned up pretty quick. It was unreal the amount of work time was spent each year on strong arming employees to donate to United Way.

I sent Target a letter stating why I would not be spending any of my holiday shopping money in their store. I also sent their competitiors, Walmart in particular, a letter telling them why I would be shopping in their stores instead of Target.

[ShakeNJake]

Your husband should stop the deductions and inform his company not to solicit him in the future while at work. It can be done firmly, but politely. They finally learned at my company after a couple of years to just leave me alone during the United Way donation drives.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I never ever give to United Way...but I do give a lot to the groups I choose...if I give it through United Way, even with designated giving, it frees up funds for things I wouldn't dream of supporting. And UW supports lots of things I wouldn't dream of funding.

[netmilsmom]

We don't give to United Way and will not be shopping at Target.

[narses]

What a story. Like almost all such stories the SA shows well. I note, en passant, that the Red Cross played no part in your story and rarely (if ever) have I heard good of them from veterans. To honor your father's service and your families sacrifices, I will seek out a bell ringer this year.

[trickyricky]

Back in the seventies I was subjected to EXTREME pressure to contribute to the United Way.
They (management) wanted 100% of their employees involved. They got a special plaque if they did.
When I read the list of organizations that they supported, I refused absolutely to contribute.

[gitmo]

Thanks. Same here.

[Nowhere Man]

Good story, Gitmo, I've read it before but I always enjoy reading it over and over again.

[scripter]

Thanks. I think it was January 1982 when the Salvation Army was there handing out sandwiches when we helped a small town (Soquel, CA) recover from a flood. I asked how many sandwiches I could have from the box he was carrying, and he said as many as I wanted.

Since pushing wheelbarrows full of mud was hard work, I grabbed four or five sandwiches and looked back at the Salvation Army volunteer. He just smiled and moved on. The sandwiches were gone before he was out of site, but the memory of that Salvation Army volunteer walking from person to person will stay with me forever.

We, too, will seek out some bell ringers and donate again. And we're boycotting Target.

[gbaker]

As a GOVERNMENT worker I was always concerned about giving to CFC. We can pick who our money goes to but I always wondered. I few years ago I noticed that you can pick a box on the form. One to allow the charitable agency to have your address or ask them to contact you. Forget how it actually reads. But its nice to have the charity send you a letter thanking you for your contribution. I'm just satisfied that my money didn't go elsewhere.

[sport]

I stopped giving to United Way when I learned that they supported the alcu and planned parenthood. Close to 20 years ago.

[pttttt]

As a GOVERNMENT worker I was always concerned about giving to CFC. We can pick who our money goes to but I always wondered. I few years ago I noticed that you can pick a box on the form. One to allow the charitable agency to have your address or ask them to contact you. Forget how it actually reads. But its nice to have the charity send you a letter thanking you for your contribution. I'm just satisfied that my money didn't go elsewhere.

I don't know how CFC works, but if it works like UW, your money does go elsewhere even if you designate a charity. They rake off a little bit from all contributions to put in a kitty to make up unfulfilled pledges, etc. So you could be supporting things you don't agree with.

[PleaseNoMore]

I heard a similar story at my son's graduation dinner. It was told by 80 something yo Col. Eugene Watts (Ret. AF). He spoke of being a young boy of about 17 and leaving to join the military. He was alone in NY. He had no money, no place to stay, no family and how the Salvation Army helped him in a like manner. They fed him, clothes him, gave him shelter and provided him with bus fare to NC. He spoke of them with endearment; as if they were family. He went on to serve this country in the Air Force for many many years until he retired in the 60's and he said that he gives to them faithfully so that others may be helped.

[upchuck]

Question: What is the United Way?

Answer: Take a $20 bill and exchange it for 4 $5 bills. Take one of the $5 bills and stick it in the nearest garbage can (United Way coffers). Take the remaining 3 $5 bills and give them to a charity chosen at random.
That is the United Way!

Do the smart thing: give directly to the charities of your choice. Send them a letter explaining why you're giving directly. Then send the United Way a letter with the same explanation.

IMHO, The United Way just doesn't make common sense or business sense.

Happy Thanksgiving fellow FReepers.

Always give directly to the charity of your choice.

[MizSterious]

We sent Salvation Army a donation, and refuse to set foot in Target. We haven't donated to UW since they banned the Scouting groups. I'm really disgusted with Target this year. I hope they go broke.

[Bogey]

There is actually a law severely restricting any business's right to determine who solicits and who doesn't on its premises. As a result, unions can organize without permission and under federal protection if Target or Wal-Mart allow any solicitations on their grounds. Blame the federal government's meddling here, not Target.

---

I was going to offer a similar opinion. I took the opportunity yesterday to thank the manager of the Publix I
shop at, for allowing the SA to put their kettle out.
He told me while they truly supported the organization, sadly, the chain will have numerous threats of lawsuits from every group under the sun, to have the same right.
Another reason for tort reform. I can't say I blame Target.
It's probably more constructive to save the litigation cost and just contribute to the organization.

[Eric Roelfsema]

Lets clear this up finally about Target and their ownership.

Target is a publicly traded company on the NYSE. Trade Symbol is TGT. Yes, the Dayton family originally started Target. The current CEO of Target is Bob Ulrich. The Dayton family has no members on the Board of Directors. I own a couple hundred shares of Target through my 401k that I still have when worked there.

When I worked at Target a number of years ago, there were times when the Girl Scouts were selling their cookies on Target property. I had to tell them that they could not sell the Girl Scout Cookies on Target property. Target has had a no soliciting policy for years. The unions are one big reason for the no soliciting policy.

One quick thing about the United Way, The Salvation Army also receives money from The United Way. You can ask in your United Way contribution to have your money go to a specific organization that receives United Way money, such as The Salvation Army, etc.

[gitmo]

Thanks for your stories. I hear these all the times. My uncle was in Vietnam when his father (my grandfather) was in the hospital struggling for his life after an accident . He said the Red Cross was no help, but the Salvation Army arranged to help him get back to The States. His father needed blood, but couldn't get it. Even though both of his sons were lifetime donors they couldn't get anything from the RC. SA again stepped in and paved the way for blood.