At April tax time, The Edge couldn’t
begin to remember the various
donations that were made in
support of various fundraising
appeals during 2011.
Back in the early 1970s, a new type
of charity fundraiser arrived in
Springfield. The first was a 12-mile
walk sponsored by (if memory is correct)
the MDA. The Meador Park starting
line instructions included the
reminder that those of us who were
about to undertake those dozen
miles were “walking for those who can’t!”
The Edge and others who were distance
runners at local high schools or colleges
asked for pledges that were so much per
mile if we completed the course in under
two hours. Off we went at 9 a.m. Less than
two hours later, completing the course, we
were given a certificate to verify our performance
to those who had pledged to
increase their donation dependent on our
time to finish the course.
The success of the walk begat endless
appeals for support via performance pledges.
By the late ‘70’s, the charitable sector had
added one that sought pledges for people who
would dance (with hourly breaks) for 24 consecutive
hours. As the athletic skill level of participation
requirements for such endeavors
devolved, there eventually came the fundraiser
for number of hours playing underwater
poker in a swimming pool while wearing
SCUBA gear.
More recently those seeking sponsors have
become much like the politicians so visible
this election year. One can become a patron,
sustaining citizen, etc., for various levels of
contribution to the cause.
On a recent weekend, like it’s Chili Cook-off
cousin, the Rock ‘n’ Ribs event raised money
for children’s charities as participants proved
themselves by way of exercising the ever-popular
deadly sin of gluttony. Penny a pound
would work for that one.
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Rarely does a week go by when one of the neighbor kids doesn’t seek an overpriced purchase of something to benefit the PTA, football team, marching band, Girl Scouts, Spanish Club, etc. The Edge wants to help the young people, but there’s a limit. Last holiday season’s 5 oz. can of Boy Scout caramel corn priced out at $22. Whatever happened to “Thrifty” as one of the tenants of the Scout Law?
This year’s Cancer Society Relay For Life pledge appeal came without any explanation of the activities involved. It explained that the cancer survivor I have sponsored over the years was looking to achieve total pledges of $500 and that I should make my pledge.
Here’s a charity evolved from fundraising to exploitation. The organization is celebrating 100 years of not achieving its goal of finding the cure for cancer. It has “remissioned” itself to take on duties that include bankrolling smoking ban efforts nationwide and, most recently, by launching the Missourians for Health and Education PAC, a political action committee led by and mostly funded by ACS. This time the PAC seeks to raise tobacco taxes in Missouri. The logic presented is that since the state has lower taxes than most, it should raise them. Oh, and still no cure!
According to a New York State watchdog group, ACS spends 84 percent of its revenue on salaries and activities unrelated to helping cancer victims. The Relay for Life victimizes cancer survivors anew by urging their efforts of participation in a charity event that, in all honesty, raises money for the use of lobbyists. With a salary of $1.05 million a year, the ACS CEO and his $535,000 annual High Plaines Division counterpart can rest assured that this organization will not be on the list The Edge sends his accountant next April.
E-mail Bob Mace: bmace@cfpmidweek.com. |
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