Probably A Stupid Question But This Auction...

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by venturi@Jan 22 2005, 06:08 AM
I really hate being so harsh, but I feel I must. In 2001 the American Red Cross fucked up badly and while we as an industry contributed 1/2 Million, much of the money that was donated by us and everyone else was wasted on beefing up the American Red Cross, rather than immediately helping those affected by the tragedy.

I'm a "fuck me once shame on you, fuck me twice shame on me" kind of person. I was pumped to learn that once again the "industry" was putting together a charity auction, and I had high hopes for a huge success. Then I saw that all the money is going to be sent to the American Red Cross. I can't do it. I won't support the American Red Cross ever again because of their handling of monies after 9/11, nor will I ever donate to TheUnitedWay or UNICEF because I know their history. I can find it within myself to forgive an individual for fucking up, but I will never forgive a 501c3 sanctioned NON-PROFIT organization for taking advantage of a situation and Profiting from it.

Yes, my comments are harsh. I mean them to be harsh. I contributed to the 9/11 auction, and while my contribution was meager it was from my heart and I expected that EVERY penny would be accountable to providing relief to those that needed it and/or keeping the machine moving. I did NOT donate for building new office spaces for their paid execs. Fuck the American Red Cross.

MarcDe, I support what you are doing 100% but I won't be party to sending one penny to that organization.

Suggestion: Why not instead of funding an over red-taped administrative nightmare of an organization where 1/2 of the money will never be used to help the people it's spent for ... re-funding an excursion like CamZ pulled off, that actually spent every penny donated to provide real relief without any politics involved? Imagine $100,000 of aid spent on directly helping those that are suffering rather than $100,000 donated and only $50,000 to $75,000 actually getting to the people in need. Wouldn't that be a more fitting contribution from this industry?

Everyone world-wide says we are the scum of the Earth. Heh, funny how we actually are the most proactive supporters of personal responsibility and doing our best to "keep porn off the streets", so to speak - at least out of the hands of children. I doubt seriously that a starving homeless child in Phuket is going to bitch about the fact that getting a toothbrush from a known pornographer tainted his life.

I'm sorry for ranting so loudly. I just felt burnt the last time we, as an industry and more importantly a community, did this kind of thing. I'm all for doing it, just not via the American Red Cross.

Let the spankings begin.

This is the precise reason why Gov't should not handle these things. They are the most inefficient vehicle for helping - it only creates buearacracy and we end up paying for people to shuffle papers, and be rude.

Same applies to many large charity orginization. The Red Cross is one of them. Everyone should do their homewrk when donating to charities to make sure the money goes to those who need it!