United Way

[Algernon Moncrieff]

No agenda -- just wondering where DU stands on this organization.

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[Erose999]

1. From my personal and extremely subjective experience with the United Way I think they're great. When

tornadoes tore up my parents neighborhood the local United Way was there helping people. They helped my dad get a generator so they could keep my mom's medical support gear running. They offered them a hotel but my mom had ALS and it would have been impractical to try to move all the equipment she needed to a hotel. They helped other families who had lost their homes and lost power get hotel rooms and make emergency repairs like clearing downed trees and putting up tarps over roofs.

Does the United Way do things that DU and liberals in general are opposed to? Do they support prop 8, or something? I'm asking because I really haven't researched the national organization and what their politics are much.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

2. Thank you for sharing that

[HereSince1628]

3. When I cared...they supported BSA which discriminated against gays and atheists

It made me feel, not part of their unity.

Not spending time it takes to be careful, I just go with history.


United Way? I'm good with it shrinking until it can be managed in a bath tub.

[Leith]

4. That Reason and Much More

A couple decades ago, I worked at a bank that supported the United Way. We were required to attend a meeting every year that was a big sales pitch for us to contribute. Due to a quirk in my personality, I abhor being "rah-rah"ed in any way. High school pep rallies were sheer torture because the students got all riled up against the opposition school (at the risk of Godwinning...).

The local United Way made the mistake of handing out brochures that listed where the money was spent. That list included the BSA & the GSA of the richest suburb - and no others. There was a group called "F.I.S.H" and nobody knew what it was. They gave money to the prom committee of another suburb (can't they have a prom without my donation?). Money was given to a group that put on puppet shows. Nobody could or would say how much went to any of them.

Companies that decide to support the United Way put a LOT of pressure on employees to contribute. They brag about 100% participation of employees and it makes me wonder how they did that. It's hard to believe that every single employee at a large KMart willingly contributed, but that's their claim. I think they were strongarmed into it or the store gave $5 in the employee's name.

The United Way also requires their "member" charities to get money from them only - they may not solicit contributions in any other way. What kind of nonsense is that? I hope that they changed that rule.

My pet charities are Cystic Fibrosis, the Arthritis Foundation, and cancer research - none of which are United Way.

[hollysmom]

5. I worked for Hertx the year the CEO was on the United way board, he said he could get 100%

compliance, but not from me. He called me to his, the CEOs office to convince me I should comply even said he would give me the money to donate. I was offended by that, and basically wanted to be fired at that point so said no. 2 hours later I left refusing to sign a donation forms. It was horrible and I could end it so fast, but I.. just...did ...;not...want ...to. I get pissed off when pushed hard, when threatened, when not given any respect and being treated like an idiot. I told him why I would not give money, but I was supposed to ignore it because he made a stupid promise. I was fired a few months later and was glad to leave - well not fired, laid off. But apparently was too soon, they called me back for another 2 months under a very generous offer as a contractor, ha ha.

The truth is this group is a waste of money, if they did not exist, the charities could get more money by raising it directly. These people suck off too much for their own use. The story up thread is nice, but that is not how the united way works around here, they don't do charity work themselves they just decide who to give money to, I can do that myself and I have. I also never give to a charity that uses an independent fund raiser, a brother of a friend earns half the money he raises for charity and the group he works for takes more, so the charity gets a small part. give to someone directly and they get the whole amount.

[Erose999]

6. The neighborhood my parents lived in in the story I posted above was one of the poorest in our

community. It wasn't a trailer park, but it was a community of mobile homes and mostly poorer retirees. I guess it depends of the local United Way organization and how its managed.

And for all I know the local where my parents live probably also supports scouts and proms.

[FSogol]

8. F.I.S.H. stands for "For Immediate Sympathetic Help"

From our local FISH website:

FISH provides funds and volunteers to serve the needy and elderly in the greater Fairfax City area of Fairfax County. FISH responds to requests for life's necessities: food, clothing, transportation to medical or social service appointments and financial assistance for delinquent rent, mortgage, utility bills and prescriptions. Requests for assistance are passed on to us by the Office of Coordinated Services Planning "CSP" which is part of the Fairfax County Department of Human Services. CSP social workers screen clients to verify information and to determine whether they qualify for assistance by FISH. Pastors of churches may also refer people. CSP can be reached ....

The FISH governing council sets up a monetary limit for each category dependent on funds available. FISH also sets aside funds each month that are used for clients that live outside of the immediate FISH service area.

http://www.fairfaxfish.org/

From what I've seen they do great work.

[MineralMan]

7. I donate to individual charities after investigating them.

Never to the United Way.