the United Way can Go F#$@ themselves

[JugglingFreak]

Personally I've never seen the point in donating my money to a third party who A) decides what charities will get it; and B) takes a big cut to do so, and if a workplace tried to pressure me I would point out those two salient facts.

When you add the scandals below, it only hardens my resolve NOT to support them. I choose the charities I wish to support and and donate directly:

In 1992, William Aramony, CEO of the national organization, and in 2004, Oral Suer, CEO of the Washington, D.C. chapter, were convicted of misuse of donations.

In May 2006, Kim Tran the former CFO of United Way of the National Capital Area (Washington, D.C.) resigned, claiming many issues remain.

In April 2006, the New York City United Way revealed misappropriation of assets by Ralph Dickerson, the retired CEO of that chapter. The appropriation of resources occurred over a three year period, ending in 2005.

You got that right.. At the aircraft manufacturer that I used to work for. Every year we had the pressure put on us.

It went like this:

Annual Meeting : Everyone had to attend, standard UW meeting

Secondary Meeting: If you didn't sign up at the first one, you were rounded up for the sob story/tearjerker movie and guilt trip session.

Third Meeting: Or "re-education camp" as we used to call it. An all day session on why you were such a horrible person for not donating money.

For the treatment I got there and the reasons you mentioned above Syndrome. I'll never give a dime to United Way.

(Nothing ever shuts me down faster than "hard sell" techniques)

[Kwahati]

In the Fed Gov, they've got this thing called the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). It's kinda neat. It was explained to me that pretty much any charity can become part of the CFC and the way they do it, essentially, every charity gets one shot, all at the same time, to lobby for your money. This way, no charities can say the Federal Government doesn't care about their cause or any silliness like that, but federal workers only have to be pestered once a year--and the individuals get to pick which charities they give to (I'm a big fan of the ASPCA and HSUS although there are some other good ones out there too). CFC distributes the funds, but it's all according to who you designate that you want your money given to. The only down side is that the CFC swag is always weak (sorry, I love this country and I've served it honorably, but I'm totally over eagles and stripes :rolleyes :) whereas if I give directly to the Humane Society or ASPCA, then I'm guaranteed to get those return address labels with the puppies and kitties on them! Way better than another mug with an eagle and stripes... :p: (And yes, I did totally just admit that I give to charity with the intention of getting stuff in return! :twisted :)

[Whazzup]

Like Kwahati, I gave every year under the Combined Federal Campaign, usually checking the blocks next to Humane Society, or Paws with a Cause, or Save the Lowland Ruby-Throated Gnus from Extinction, or other charities that contributed to the welfare of helpless animals or the natural environment. One year I volunteered to chair the local CFC campaign and managed to get a 98% contribution rate from our large military/civil service organization. The Commanding Officer, instead of congratulating me on what I thought was a pretty darn good participation rate, said that since I didn't reach 100% participation I wouldn't get a letter of appreciation from the command. Guess who was one of the few who didn't contribute - his secretary! :mad:

[Syndrome]

I'm a big fan of charities that I can actually visit so I can see exactly how and where my money is being used. For example, we gave to a soup kitchen/shelter in Joliet...I visited their facility and could easily see that there was no "fat" and that our $$ were going directly to services. We also give to an obscure cat shelter run by a former nun...another "no fat" organization. Here in FL, I really like Give Kids the World...another place where you can literally see your $$ at work. If a charity can't show me directly where and how they are using my money, and if they have a problem with my showing up to see it, they're not gonna get it.

[hobie16]

Third Meeting: Or "re-education camp" as we used to call it. An all day session on why you were such a horrible person for not donating money.

I'd hold out for Meeting Four: Donuts!!

[BRWombat]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way about the UW. Both my "adult" jobs have had UW fundraisers, but fortunately the pressure hasn't been very high, though it's been awkward at times being the "stick in the mud" that keeps my department from having 100% participation. I'd much rather make sure the money gets to where it can do the most good with maximum transparency and accountability.

[marcim]

I was big on UW until recently, and away contributed my "fair share", but NO MORE! I discovered what a crock UW is when I could get absolutely NO help through any UW agency for my dying mother earlier this year.

She was 57 years old, suffering from a end-stage respiratory disease, and was completely bedridden the last month of her life. Because she was not a senior citizen, she did not qualify for any services.

I agree with the OP's assessment-- the UW won't get another dime from me EVER.

[Big Wallaby]

It's interesting the timing you're having this, when they're having the UW08 campaign. You would think that, wanting our money, they wouldn't want stories like this coming out, and so would want to help people who work for the companies that support them. Disney, with 120,000 employees, I would assume is very helpful to UW.

I love the way that they not only pressure you to participate, but then watch over your shoulder while you are inputting your selections. That is completely wrong, kinda like when we were voting on the new contract and we filled out our vote sheets right in front of a union representative.

Now, I am not pro- or anti- union, except in buses where it's obvious that many of the people who work in that area do not work for Disney so much as they work for the union. I much prefer other areas in that regard. Heck, in Safari I only found out who the shop stewards were after I already liked them, and that was just in conversation.

Okay, I am going to stop myself here before I go on a very long rant. I no longer work in buses.

[SRT_GB]

My company has a huge charity fund where I can choose to donate to 1) up to 3 charities of my choice; or 2) a fund that gives grants to community organizations that request it (for example, to buy a wheelchair van for a senior citizen center) and the rest to United Way. I've donated to two charities of my choice through this program for the last year, and had considered adding on the community organization/UW fund, but earlier this year my boss flat out said during the annual "Donate" meeting, "I don't donate to the United Way because of issues I had with them in the 1980s". Now I know what he meant by that. I think I'll just increase how much I contribute to the two charities, or add a third one.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

In the Fed Gov, they've got this thing called the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). It's kinda neat. It was explained to me that pretty much any charity can become part of the CFC and the way they do it, essentially, every charity gets one shot, all at the same time, to lobby for your money. ! :twisted :)

I used to give to the CFC every year..UNTIL they made me the lead person in our office one year.

When I got the packet, I did what a lot of people that are given the job don't do. I read all of the material.

Then I realized that a lot of "charities" get a piece of the pie that are designed to give preference over others, and some organaztions are outright set up to be aginst government employees.

So even if you designate ALL your money to say, the ASPCA, the other organazations still get the money.

Since that time, I now give the money DIRECTLY to the places that I support.