[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday June 14, 2005 at 12:18am]
Rethinking the United Way
I'm old enough to remember when the United Way (then the United Fund) got its start in the 1950's. It was framed as a contract. You contribute one hour's pay per month. We (UF) will only support those charities who are willing to live entirely on that support.
The idea was that we paid once, let experts allocate the funds where they will do the most good, and we don't get solicited further by these partnering charities. Overhead was small, and the results large. It truly was a pleasure to give to the United Fund/Way.
But then, somehow one hour's pay per month wasn't enough. President Reagan was cutting all those vital programs, only he really wasn't, of course, just trimming their growth. But fine, I raised my percentage gradually over the years.
And then I remember the American Red Cross joining the United Way. Not the most reputable charity to begin with, the ARC did not discontinue it's side fund-raising. Neither did the other big names that joined soon after. But I stayed the course.
Now I see that several of these charities have been caught engaging in (and concealing) the politics of second hand smoke and smoking bans. Now I must act.
I could exclude these offending charities as the forms allow you to do, but let's be realistic. The undesignated contributions will be adjusted to make it come out the way the trustees want regardless.
Therefore, I will be making a significant cut in my United Way pledge this fall, and include a letter as to why. The difference will go to the Salvation Army, possibly others I find worthy as well.
But if and when the United Way takes the hint, making a strong public statement that this abuse of our trust will no longer be tolerated, I will be back.
The idea was that we paid once, let experts allocate the funds where they will do the most good, and we don't get solicited further by these partnering charities. Overhead was small, and the results large. It truly was a pleasure to give to the United Fund/Way.
But then, somehow one hour's pay per month wasn't enough. President Reagan was cutting all those vital programs, only he really wasn't, of course, just trimming their growth. But fine, I raised my percentage gradually over the years.
And then I remember the American Red Cross joining the United Way. Not the most reputable charity to begin with, the ARC did not discontinue it's side fund-raising. Neither did the other big names that joined soon after. But I stayed the course.
Now I see that several of these charities have been caught engaging in (and concealing) the politics of second hand smoke and smoking bans. Now I must act.
I could exclude these offending charities as the forms allow you to do, but let's be realistic. The undesignated contributions will be adjusted to make it come out the way the trustees want regardless.
Therefore, I will be making a significant cut in my United Way pledge this fall, and include a letter as to why. The difference will go to the Salvation Army, possibly others I find worthy as well.
But if and when the United Way takes the hint, making a strong public statement that this abuse of our trust will no longer be tolerated, I will be back.
So, I go through the list and the ones I do not support I give .05 in a one-time deduction and request a notification from the group to be mailed to me.
I never gave another dime to the UW, instead I give directly to charities that are open and honest about what they do and how they use the donations given.
Still, scandals happen to the best of organizations. And I still believe in the United Way concept. But I fear I'm like Reagan: "I didn't leave the Democratic Party; the Party left me."