You know as well as I do how many poor children there are in Africa, and even in your own country. It’s only fair that you and I, from a wealthy country, donate some money to help them. Send me $100 and I’ll make sure $20 goes to a charity that takes care of homeless children. Whaddayasay? The other $80? Oh, that’s my fees for helping you give to the poor. Thank-you, have a good day, and I’ll call you back again this time next year.
Sounds far-fetched?
Millions do it every night as Telemarketers call them in the name of this or that charity to solicit money for the poor and suffering. The charities are usually genuine, but not many people know that the solicitors — the people calling you on the phone — are a Business. They obtain the right from the various charities to use their names for a fee, usually 20% of what they collect from you.
Yep, that means, for every $100 donation on the phone (or unsolicited mail), they keep $80 and send $20 on.
Now, tell me, why does the government allow this to continue?
More, why do the charities allow their names to be used in such a scam? They well know that if people realize that only 20% of their contribution were going to the charity and the telemarketing agency was pocketing 80%, no one would even bother to give the time of day to the telemarketer. So, why do they play in to this scam and allow their supporters to be deceived? Greed? Certainly, this is nothing but unethical behavior.
If you have a favorite charity, give directly to it, making sure that every single cent of that $100 goes to the charity. Now, you did do your homework to ensure that the people managing the charity is sending your donation on to the poor, and not pocketing it for themselves?
On a side note, the billions we give every year should have solved all poverty problem already, no? Why do we have to contribute — say $10,000 — so we can send someone and a TV crew over to Africa to film how a 20 cents glucose drink can save a malnourished child?
Charity has, unfortunately, become BIG Business.
To those of you who genuine care and help — usually volunteering — thank you!
To the others who live off the poor and suffering, shame!
How should you respond to a telemarketing charity unsolicited phone call? Simply, hang up.
References: CNN, NPR, CharityWatch, American Institute of Philantrophy, StopJunkCalls, OAG-NY, MSN
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