Comments on: Charities of Choice 2007 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:51:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Margaret http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-114055 Margaret Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:35:01 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/#comment-114055 Although helping children, especially those in poverty-stricken nations, is a good cause, UNICEF is not the vehicle I would choose to support to do so. UNICEF seems to be a political organization as much as a charity. They have pressured the Guatemalean gov't to stop American couples from adopting Guatemalean children. As a result, children who were matched up with American families are now sitting in orphanages. They have nowhere else to go, and the gov't has few resources to care for them. But UNICEF thinks they are better off where they are than they would be here in the US. There are other instances where I disagree with UNICEF, this is just one example. You may have already come across some of this in your research, but in case you hadn't I thought I'd bring it up. Although helping children, especially those in poverty-stricken nations, is a good cause, UNICEF is not the vehicle I would choose to support to do so. UNICEF seems to be a political organization as much as a charity. They have pressured the Guatemalean gov’t to stop American couples from adopting Guatemalean children. As a result, children who were matched up with American families are now sitting in orphanages. They have nowhere else to go, and the gov’t has few resources to care for them. But UNICEF thinks they are better off where they are than they would be here in the US.

There are other instances where I disagree with UNICEF, this is just one example. You may have already come across some of this in your research, but in case you hadn’t I thought I’d bring it up.

]]> By: Ria Rhodes http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-114049 Ria Rhodes Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:48:06 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/#comment-114049 I simplified my main charitable giving list to three. I give lessor amounts to several other worthy causes. My charitable list follows here: 1. ACS (I lost my wife to cancer) 2. UNICEF (good to see others concur) 3. Doctors Without Borders (wish I could reduce the mailings) Other helping/giving: 1. KIVA (micro loan concept helping mostly small, third-world entrepreneurs). You can continue to loan to other small businesses as you are paid back. 2. Project Rwanda (I bicycle and this is a charity started by a legend in the bike biz). Helping bring bikes and hope to some Rwanda communities. 3. My alma mater receives an annual donation. I simplified my main charitable giving list to three. I give lessor amounts to several other worthy causes. My charitable list follows here:

1. ACS (I lost my wife to cancer)
2. UNICEF (good to see others concur)
3. Doctors Without Borders (wish I could reduce the mailings)

Other helping/giving:

1. KIVA (micro loan concept helping mostly small, third-world entrepreneurs). You can continue to loan to other small businesses as you are paid back.
2. Project Rwanda (I bicycle and this is a charity started by a legend in the bike biz). Helping bring bikes and hope to some Rwanda communities.
3. My alma mater receives an annual donation.

]]> By: Jay, writer MemberSpeed.com http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-114044 Jay, writer MemberSpeed.com Sun, 30 Dec 2007 05:42:44 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/#comment-114044 Giving something back to the world is a great way to end the year. Instead of spending a lot of money on fireworks (which the people in my country do), we could just donate to charity and help others find a new beginning with the New Year. Giving something back to the world is a great way to end the year. Instead of spending a lot of money on fireworks (which the people in my country do), we could just donate to charity and help others find a new beginning with the New Year.

]]> By: Mark http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-114035 Mark Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:55:57 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/#comment-114035 I support the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth, TX. Their website is https://www.homelesstarrantcounty.org/ I support the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth, TX. Their website is https://www.homelesstarrantcounty.org/

]]> By: Dylan http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-114033 Dylan Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:08:43 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/#comment-114033 I support the Conservation Fund also. This past year I joined 1% for the planet, a group of business owners that agree to donate at least 1% of their gross to support the natural environment. If you have a business (including blogs) and give to charity, I encourage you to check them out. http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org I support the Conservation Fund also. This past year I joined 1% for the planet, a group of business owners that agree to donate at least 1% of their gross to support the natural environment. If you have a business (including blogs) and give to charity, I encourage you to check them out.
http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

]]> By: CherylM http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-114032 CherylM Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:33:02 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/12/28/charities-of-choice-2007/#comment-114032 Some free ways to help charities if you're in the money pinch but still want to help out.: www.freerice.com - a word game where every correct word gives 20 grains of rice. It's fun for us word geeks types. www.goodsearch.com and goodshop: search the web using this site and direct money to your favorite charity. Or use goodshop and merchants donate a portion of your sale to your favorite charity. I know, I know, they've been around. But even minor things like these can make a difference. Some free ways to help charities if you’re in the money pinch but still want to help out.:
http://www.freerice.com – a word game where every correct word gives 20 grains of rice. It’s fun for us word geeks types.

http://www.goodsearch.com and goodshop: search the web using this site and direct money to your favorite charity. Or use goodshop and merchants donate a portion of your sale to your favorite charity.

I know, I know, they’ve been around. But even minor things like these can make a difference.

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