[Grovenet] Charities

[Allen Warren]

Interesting timing on the email, especially since Safeway is into their 4th fundraiser of the year: Muscular Dystrophy.  Earlier this year it was Easter Seals, then Prostate Cancer Research, then Breast Cancer Research (or was it the American Breast Cancer Foundation?), and now it's for Muscular Dystrophy.

Ever since early this year when Safeway kicked off their yearly "would you like to round up your total to an even $xx for the Easter Seals Foundation?" drive that I've tried to NOT shop at Safeway if at all possible.  What's even more galling is after you enter your Safeway # or home phone number in the process to pay with debit, the touchpad screen displays a "would you like to donate?" screen.  It's a double charity request: first electronic and then orally by cashier.  And you can see many of the cashiers flinch a little when they ask because numerous customers get quite irate when asked to donate.

I'm guessing many of the charities make millions from Safeway, but I disagree with the program.  I don't shop @grocery stores with the intent of giving to charity.  I keep that separate.  I've written complaints each of the past 3 years to Safeway, to no avail.  And I didn't even get the obligatory PC form letter response.  Even though I spend roughly $1400/month for all grocery-type items, I'm not even a pebble in the ocean of Safeway wealth.  Since my email letters are not acknowledged, I'll continue to protest in the small venue afforded me: I'll reduce to a minimum my Safeway shopping.  

 
Allen Warren

From: Ed Davie <edavie at verizon.net>
To: "Grovenet, F.G." <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 3:02:49 PM
Subject: [Grovenet] Charities

I just received my most recent copy of the 
American Institute of Philanthropy Watchdog 
report.
You may all be familiar with this charity rating 
guide but ...

I couldn't help doing a little comparison 
shopping.
For example, out of 17 organizations under "Crime 
& Fire Prevention", 14 are rated "F" or poor!
Just a cursory look says they may spend as little 
as $2.00 for program out of every $100.00 raised 
in a worse case to possibly $30 in the best case.

Another really bad area is "Cancer".
Out of 39 organizations, 17 are rated "F".
Including for example:
    American Breast Cancer Foundation
    American Institute for Cancer Research
    Cancer Fund of America
    Cancer Recovery Foundation of America
    Etc. Etc.

If you aren't familiar with this publication check 
www.charitywatch.org.
or 773-529-2300. Published 3 times a year. A 
subscription costs $40.00 a year although I have 
always gotten it for $35.00.
Ed 
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