I've always had problems with concepts like UW. All charities have bureaucracies (many seem to be made for the sole purpose of funding bureaucracies and employing friends and relatives. Jesse!
The UW is just another bureaucracy whose purpose is to mete out money to give to other charities. This is at least inefficient, if not plainly a scam. Why not give your bucks to the charity directly? Hand a wino a fiver? UW’s recent talk about "no overhead" will be charged to moneys forwarded WTC charities is a direct ADMISSION of the redundancy of UW. Gee, how generous of them! UW is a kind of double taxation, a parasite wrapped in robes of rectitude. A charity scam par exemplar, making the Operation PUSH extortion racket appear to be small potatoes.
I’ve met many UW operatives. I feel many are corporate board rejects, and UW is kind of a nepotisitic depository for types who don't fit in, can't cut it, or can't get with the corporate program, but who are “bumped up” into the UW bureaucracy.
Also disturbing is their taste for balls, parties, and other self-trumpeting events. Pride is taking in how much their “companies” (i.e., employees from bottom to top) “donated”, that is, forced to contribute.
Hey, I'm the director of a small UW. We raised $775,000 last year, I used to work in direct services as a family counselor/social worker. I'm making the BIG BUCK NOW (right). Combined, my husband, a county prosecutor for 20 years and I, make less than $100,000/yr. and....I don't even get a car or a membership to a country club.... (sarcasm) I'm not complaining because this is the choice we have made and we feel good about what we are doing. I just get disheartened when I hear that we, as the most community concerned conservative people in the world, are bleed heart leberals who are abusing donations....Gosh guys....
Do I believe in what I'm doing...yell yes.. We helped start a hospice program in our community, through a special local grant we helped fund a first time week long camp for children who lost a parent or sibling.... We're working with the NY UW to help agencies pattern a similar program. No we are not just skimming money off the top. Yes we do get paid. Would YOU work for free. But most of us really want to do the right thing and CARE. WE REALLY DO!