Posted on 03/16/2002 6:04:56 PM PST by Lennie
Perhaps. But it's silly and shallow to make a determination based only on name. Grown ups look beyond that. I believe Mr. Shakespeare had a thing two to say about the inadequacy of names to define character.
True, United Way of America does not fund the independent United Ways. It's the other way around. The independent United Ways pay a membership fee to United Way of America out of local donations received. It's like a trade association. Therefore, United Way of America is indeed the national voice.
In addition, the independent United Ways pay other various fees to attend workshops, conferences, etc. to United Way of America out of local donations received. The salaries and perks for all paid staff at independent United Ways are paid locally from donations received.
IMHO it's far better to contribute directly to the charity of your choice rather than get it skimmed several times over.
I'm glad you started out with the word "seriously," since it would have been hard to tell you were serious without it. Forgive me if I don't believe your broad generalization means that you have your finger on the pulse of each and every one of these organizations. Thanks you, however, for your unsupported opinion.
As to support, recall the numbers of UWs that *do* support the Scouts? Can you extrapolate how much the Scouts would be hurt if everyone followed your shortsighted suggestion not to donate to UWs?
True, but unallocated funds are stil divided between all organizations on the list based on percentage of other gifts. I don't like the way United Way works because even if I give to the Scouts or the Salvation Army through United Way, I am in a sense also legitimizing their support of Planned Parenthood, etc.
It's a fine line. If those groups (like Planned Parenthood) don't get support in your area, that's one thing. They do in mine.
They don't -- and we've worked very, very hard to keep it that way. The UW responds because we *do* contribute and because they know their contribution-base is made up of people who opposed any sort of abortion funding. They make a point of putting that in their literature each year.
Plus, for the last several years, we designate 100% of our contribution to the Scouts. It sends a message. No Scouts; no contribution. No one from the UW here has ever breathed a word of criticism, at least publicly, about the Scouts.
We also give to PBS. I don't like everything they do either, but you only get to be a "voice" in programming *if* you are also a contributor. So, we contribute and we speak up -- often. As a result, we "miss" some of the more egregious PBS programming locally -- and they add some more appropriate programming to suit the conservative nature of their base. Is it perfect? No. Are we working on it? Of course. *g*
Of the dedicated monies received:
Boy Scouts gets 25%
Salvation Army gets 30%
Planned Parenthood gets 30%
Bread for the World gets 15%
Then, of the undesignated dollars:
Boy Scouts gets 25%
Salvation Army gets 30%
Planned Parenthood gets 30%
Bread for the World gets 15%
In my area that has been used as a "selling" arguments for groups to say, if you give to us through United Way, we'll get a greater percentage of the undesignated funds.
Have for many years and for many reasons.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.