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PRENTISS HEADLIGHT
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WEEKLY
12/09/2009
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In a December ooQ?
Feeling generous ?
Wallet empty?
Not a problem, says Bill
Moak, president of the :a~r
Business Bureau of
MiSSISsIPPi.
Give time.
"The personal rewards for
volunteeling, especially dur­
ing the holiday season, can be
as important to charities as a
cash contribution," Moak
said.
And he's right. There are
very few service groups that
couldn't use a hand, especial-
Iy from someone who has a
bit of expertise - carpentry,
plumbing , computer trouble­
shooting, bookkeeping, floor
mopping.
If nothing else, buy or bake
some cookies and take them
to the office of an organiza­
tion you think is doing good
work in your community. You
spend $5 and the staff gets
something invaluable - a vote
of encouragement.
Mississippians are the most
philanthropic people in
America. We ' ve been told
that for years. The ranking is
based on giving as a percent­
age of income reported io the
Internal Revenue Service.
The fact we are a state with a
lot of low-income people and
a lot of church-going tithers
provides part of the explana­
tion. But not all of it. People
in this state will really rally.
I saw what individuals , for­
mal and infonnal organiza­
tions and nongovernment
agencies did in the aftennath
of Hunicane Katrina . Dozens
of groups fed thous ands of
people for weeks.
I watched in a suburban
Baghdad corrununity center
as paralyzed teens accepted ­
from a Mississippi church ­
the first wheelchairs they ' d
ever had .
It's impressive how neigh­
borly Mississippians can be.
_
made available to the public If, however, a report shows
through the Secretary of State's a charity spent 75 cents or
By Charlie Mitchell
Syndicated columnist Office (www.sosstatems.us) for more of every donated dollar
several years. on overhead - and a surprising
have noticed, too, An annual report on all number do - wary donors
and, sadly, the world of chari­ charities registered to ask for might choose to give their
ties has become infested with money from Mississippians checks to organizations that
predators. (and registration is required) minimize their internal costs
There are groups and indi­ is available online in full and to maximize their effect.
viduals who make fortunes by searchable formats. Most Back to a BBB idea. Moak
using deception to gain the public libraries have printed says, and it's true, that chari­
compassion of others. versions. ties are limited by the tax
Christmas is their feeding When contacted and asked code on how much, if any,
season. to give money, a citizen can lobbying they can do.
So how do you tell if a check the registry before Volunteers, however, can be
donation will actually do donating. their advocates and write let­
what you want it to do? If the charity isn't listed, ters on their behalf.
A first step could be called it 's operating illegally. If people have money to
the "name test." It works If a charity is listed, don 't give, the best advice is to give
almost as well as a mathemat­ expeot the state to try to tell it close to home to known,
ical fonnula. Here it is: The you whether it's on the leveL trusted individuals and organ­
more emotion-packed words It's a free country. Anyone izations. Any group soliciting
in the organization's name, can ask for money. a gift by mail , telephone or
the more likely the organiza­ What the annual reports do otherwise should be checked
tion is not a charity at alL show' is how much money a out. The state makes it pretty
Hence, if the maihnan brings group raised in the most easy to do.
you a solicitation from the recent year, the cost of raising And remember money, as
"Society to Provide Kittens to the money , the cost of admin­ BBB says , is not the only
the Blind Babies of Deaf istrative staff and the amount thing that has value. Time
Veterans," a questioning eye­ actually spent for the stated does, too. As do words and
brow should go up. There are purpose. actions showing support.
plenty of legitimate charities It does cost money
Charlie Mitchell is exeCll cive editor of
that really aid animals, to raise money, so it would be
The Vicksburg Post. Write fa him at Box
vision-impaired children and wrong to hold all staff salaries 821668. Vicksburg. MS 39182, or e-mail
really assist veterans. But or fundraising expenses cmilcheli@vicksburgpos f.com.
there are also plenty of can \ against a charity.
artists whose only priOlity is '
separating you from your
money. The harder they pluck
your heartstrings, the more
likely they can get a check.
Another tenn bogus groups
like to employ is "law
enforcement" or "first
responders." Every honest
person is grateful for law
enforcement and knows flrst
responders save lives. So it
follows that scammers are not
shy about tapping into that
gratitude. In turn, they do
very little , if anything , to
actually support law enforce­
ment or first responders.
The second step is using a
tool - an invaluable tool - the
MiSSissippi Legislature has