The United Way

[POINTER94]

This week at work the United Way is doing their fundraising drive. I was asked to fill out the donation form. When I refused because I was not going to give I was told I still had to fill out the form. Didn't Happen.<br /><br />This created a bit of a stir. I was then asked why I wouldn't support the United Way, My response was it was none of their busness and to get lost. I then had the self rightous crowd attacked me for not supporting "a worthy cause." <br /><br />Now officially pissed, I stated that I would not support a Politically Correct group, hell bent on social engineering and that they represent a poor return on investment if you look at that percentage of each donation getting to the end users of each charity. I then stated that I choose my own charities, and not some broker. This years donation will be going to the Boy Scouts. (You know, that homophobic group)<br /><br />I am now officially a jerk. Big Deal. Anyone else getting this kind of crap at work or anywhere else to support this corrupt group?<br /><br />Doug

 

[grandx]

Re: The United Way

What a small world, United way was at my office 2 weeks ago, and I also did not participate either. I've seen these guys in the news more than once before 911 and much afterwards dealing with their own internal corruption etc. I'm not impressed with this organization. Our company sponsors lunch for all employees if we achieve 100% donations, we were exactly (1) employee away from achieving the goal... according to the memo that went out to everyone here. Company still bought lunch, but I'm sure I made no points up top, probably look greedy in many eyes, but I was not personaly confronted by anyone. I'm sure it makes for some gossip at the water cooler. You would think others had seen the same or similar reports that I had seen in the news, maybe they gave in to peer pressure, doesn't bother me. I too give to what I feel is a good cause, but these guys have not convinced me.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: The United Way

WOW, I have supported the United Way over the<br />years on many different occasions. I never<br />really checked them out to see how they spend the<br />money they campaign for. I hope I'm not in the<br />dark on this one.I find it odd that your company<br />would demand you fill out forms for them.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: The United Way

I have never, nor would I, nor my family members, ever give one dime to the United way. Some years ago they were chastised for giving 10's of thousands of dollars to a number of very left wing groups in the Bay area and for giving similar amounts to "private" groups, some of which are VERY wealthy.<br /><br /> The Salvation Army is my favorite organization and gets the most from us, with the Boy Scouts, and the "Elks" Crippled Children Fund next.<br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: The United Way

The United Way is still doing that!<br /><br />They were doing the same thing 20 years ago!<br /><br />And when you refuse to donate your hard earned dollars to them, they try to make you look like the bad guy because you won't give!<br /><br />I absolutly refuse to give to charity organizations like the United Way that just spend most of the donated money on advertisement to solicide more people to donate!<br /><br />Very little donated moneies go to the causes they support due to a high overhead, what with paying all those football, baseball, basketball etc. players appearing on their commercials.<br /><br />If you think those atheletes are donating their time to make those commercials, you have been blinded, because the only reason those athelites do those commercials is for the money!<br /><br />Any famous person on those commercials, have all been compansated from donated money, for their appearance in those commercials.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: The United Way

United Way, PHHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: The United Way

Ok how much sense does it make to give an orginization money so they can take their cut and then donate a portion of what you give them to a cause that if you feel strongly about you could just give your donation to directly.Hmmmmmmmmmm sounds like a scam. I personaly feel most people are smart enough to see the flaw in this. I say if you have some money you want to donate, use your head and donate 100% of the money to a cause thats in your heart. <br />Oh ya people who donate from the heart dont need reconition, free lunches or a pat on the back to feel good about what they did, so for those people who are messing with you at work

 

[samagee]

Re: The United Way

I don't give to united way. When I was younger I had this person basicaly threatening my job if I did not give. This person was sent to me after being notified that I would not give. He was a higher up management person. I was still new to the world and gave in. The next year I was still pissed. I made much less than anyone else in that company at the time. My new family and I qualified for many of those programs I was donating to. So when they came around the next year, they didn't get anything. When they sent the big guy around, he realized that I had researched up on it and he backed off. I was so mad. I figured if I am to be fired over something that stupid, I would get fired for something real. Like beating the hell out of the big guy. I really wanted a piece of him too. It still ticks me off the way the united way works.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: The United Way

So the United Way gets there money from stupid<br />people.

 

[bay5884]

Re: The United Way

Yep, same thing here where I work this week ....required to fill out the donation form whether donating or not, all kinds of time wasting activities going on, people pushing balloons in the lobby for a buck a pop in the morning, etc. The balloon thing is just another wonderful way for everyone to be able to pick out who didn't give...the person with no balloons floating above their box...er..cubicle. The more balloons, apparently the better person you must be. I refuse the balloons every year and get stares and questions and fill out my form with a big fat ZERO every year and hand it in on the last day....and every stitch of it pisses me off every year.<br /><br />"But the money goes to help our community" everyone says. Not mine...I commute from the sticks every day and I even looked at some of the paperwork one year, and the area where I live is nowhere to be found.<br /><br />I too am sick of having to explain myself every time.."I do give to different charities and the united way is not one of them" And I'm not about to commit so many dollars of each paycheck to anyone except my checking account.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: The United Way

Speaking of Mike. Just mailed part of my United Way contribution to your favorite cause.

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: The United Way

NoSleep Im sorry if thats how my response came across, I truley did not intend it that way, what I meant is a lot of good hearted people trying to do a awesomly nice things asumeing that a group like the united way is in the bussiness for the reasons those who donate are giving the donation to. Fact is its a bussiness and they are in it to make money so they can pay their own bills. I guess what Im trying to say is the average person can choose a needy cause on their own and that cause will get 100% of what you donate. Pointer94 I thank you and everybody else who sent a little something to the youth group(youth group needs help post) im in charge of and I have been wondering how to explain the gratitude I and my leaders feel about everybody who did help. All I can say is the people that are on this forum are freaking amazing and I have learned alot over the few months I have been here about how great people still are in this day and age.

 

[JasonB]

Re: The United Way

My company does the United Way thing, but I've never sent the card back. I give very freely to the org that I have a voice in (my church) and anything I give above that goes to the youth group my wife and I work with. I know what the effects of my "donations" are.<br /><br />I do miss out on some perks, like jeans days, but I'll keep things just the way they are.

 

[oddjob]

Re: The United Way

The United way is a conduit for the liberal left. <br /><br />The boy scout issue proves it.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: The United Way

Here is a different perspective.<br /><br />I get calls every year from United Way (and others) wanting to make their pitch in our office.<br /><br />I tell them all NO!<br /><br />It is nice being able to say that.<br /><br />I don't want the pressure being applied at work. I feel that Charity is supposed to be a personal choice and a private choice (no one needs to know who I give to or why) and won't even let them in the door.<br /><br />No one has ever complained about not being able to give.

 

[Ross J]

Re: The United Way

What sort of companies are you guys working for over there?<br />If our employer even gave out our names there'd be huge problems here. Not to mention putting out a list of those who didn't donate!<br />Get your local media involved in this, show them how this "charity" recieves their "donations" and have them record the action in process at your workplace. I reckon there'd soon be a number of companies that ban them from the door. Or is it that they are infiltrated into the Blue Collar or Round Table or whatever you have for the upper echelion of business folk.<br />Greens - I like them boiled personally<br />Ross

 

[samagee]

Re: The United Way

Ross, I no longer work for that company. I got out of there long ago. However, it is a fortune 500 and worldwide.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: The United Way

My company used to do that. I never gave because I felt it was none of their business and resented the strong arm nature of it. they now have moved an Employee Giving Campaign that has several charities. I don't give to that either because I do my own giving outside of work. At least they got rid of the strong arm.<br /><br />The one that bothers me is the Political Action Committe that my company annually request contributions to. They target certain level individuals for this contribution. I'm not sure if they track the contribution, but I have never agreed to this either.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: The United Way

Thanx M&R..