We have been hearing it a lot lately. Aside from the credit crunch that has been preventing or downsizing the sizable amounts for people to make donations and all, the natural disasters hitting one country after another are not helping. The number of people left homeless and having to deal with injuries and illnesses are growing and the Red Cross can only do so much. Besides, they thrive mainly on generous donations, something that has apparently dipped thanks to the current crisis that has claimed most businesses today.
We should also remember that the Red Cross is a purely voluntary organization. It thrives on some key donors but even these donors are likewise auditing their current finances for fear that this economic breakdown may hit them as well. If it does, it will not be surprising. If the bigger corporate giants are closing shop or even looking for life support, how can an organization which is losing its main financers continue to survive and do its part for charity and disaster aid needs we all need?
Apparently the call is for real. The wrath of nature is something that is becoming serious. Worsening situations have made disasters occur in multiple instances. Being able to address most of these situations simultaneously may diminish in time. But the real score is to find new donors who can help keep these needs up. Hopefully it comes soon as the threat for having to say NO to people in need may soon be realized with lesser understanding from people becoming victims of these hurricanes and disasters.
Categories: Charities, Disaster Relief, Fundraising, News, Organizations
When it comes to aids for people hit by disasters such as Hurricane Ike, you would think that food and clothing would be enough. But for the people down in Texas, it has gone as far as seeking aid for the little ones, babies who need proper needs to live alongside other victims of these freaks of nature.
Diapers, baby clothes and food would normally not be in the list of supplies that most organizations have as donations. Hence in this light, it seems that they are needs for infants who have unfortunately been caught with these rampant hurricanes hitting various regions.
For people who can spare some diapers or baby formula, perhaps you can lend a helping hand. This is something that they did not ask for and it is quite a pity why innocent children have to bear the problems at such an untimely age.
There is a known shortage of supplies and food for adults, but children are being overlooked in this crisis. Charities such as Red Cross and Catholic Charities are advising donors to donate money so that officials can purchase diapers that are the right size.
More children and babies are becoming lactose intolerant and they require soy based formulas. This is becoming a large problem for parents of children with food allergies who cannot eat milk products or products with nuts and various other food allergies. Families of these children are feeling the stress.
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Categories: Charities, Children, Disaster Relief, News | Tags: babies, charity, diapers, Disaster Relief
If you think that the closure of Lehman Brothers only affects the business world, guess again. Lehman Brothers also does it share of social work and donating to charity is certainly among their long list of past accomplishments. Actually, you may even call it a regular habit that they do and with the bankruptcy filing that they had done, even charitable institutions are bound to be affected by it.
A big question was whether commitments would be honored. “If it’s a commitment out of the Lehman Foundation, a separate charitable entity, it legally needs to be honored,” says Melissa Berman, president of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “At the same time, if the foundation has made more commitments than assets, it’s not clear what could be done.”
According to tax forms filed by Lehman Brothers Foundation, it had $23.7 million in total assets at the end of its 2007 fiscal year ending in November. At that time, it had $11.3 million in grants payable.
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On whether this was a commitment or not is really highly technical at this point. With no organization up to constantly disburse those funds for a worthy cause, that is one less donor to the world of charitable work. It is something that cannot be avoided but the only good thing that can perhaps be seen from all of it is the fact that at least you can see troubled companies doing their fair share for society regardless of the situation they are in.
Categories: Campaigns, Charities, Organizations | Tags: business, charity, crisis, finance, lehman
Charities are pegged to be having difficulties these days and if you think of it, you have to wonder what the real reason is behind these hard times? Is it because of successive natural climate disasters or because of the economic downturn which has made most people become more conservative as far as executing charitable acts for the needy?
Indeed, hard times means two different ways. We have seen the hurricanes and storms plaguing each country through the past months and if you had a choice, you would be wondering how organizations such as the Red Cross is able to sustain their funds in aiding the displaced people in the world today.
Actually, the Red Cross has already asked for help. At the rate that natural disasters are hitting, it is only a matter of time before they can admit that they cannot assist all. Add to the fact that the credit crunch has made people shy away from donating large sums of money, you have to wonder where the help will come from.
With that, it would be wise to note that we all have to help out. It is not restricted to the big companies. One small token of help can really go a long way.
In a new report, the Government Accountability Office looked at the capabilities of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Convention and other charities and concluded ” A worst-case large-scale disaster would overwhelm voluntary organizations current sheltering and feeding capabilities.”
Cindy Fagnon of the GAO says, “For a really catastrophic kind of indicent no one entity alone could handle this and that reinforces the need to have really good collaboration across all sectors… public, private government.”
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Categories: Charities, Disaster Relief, Fundraising | Tags: Charities, hurricanes, ike, red-cross
No thanks to the series of hurricanes that have been hitting the various parts of the world, the Red Cross is seeking donations from anyone at the moment since helping most, if not all, of these areas in need may soon become a growing concern.
We have seen various hurricanes and typhoons like Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike and mind you, the aftermath of their visits leaves a lot for consideration. The Red Cross will be there but as far as providing aids towards these people who have become victims of such, a lot of problems as far as serving and making sure that they are able to extend that needed help may soon become a wish rather than a reality.
True enough, the Red Cross can only do so much. With the growing number of casualties brought about by these storms and floods, one has to wonder on the maximum capacity that this organization can provide as far as help is concerned.
For the people who have been spared from such wraths, perhaps adding a little something in the form of cash or in kind items can go a long way. The Red Cross is the last group you would think who would ask for help and once that happens, you know that they really need help in assisting our brothers and sisters who have become unfortunate victims of these unruly freaks of nature.
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Categories: Charities, Disaster Relief, News, Organizations | Tags: Charities, donations, gustav, ike, red-cross
