Thursday, June 13, 2013

Charity synonymous with overhead?

A friend on FB posted a link to America's Worst Charities today. The numbers do look bad. They also pull at the national heartstrings that tell us OVERHEAD IS BAD.  I replied to her post requesting everyone to watch this video. (Did I mention, I love TEDtalks!!)

Dan Pallotta gives a moving presentation offering a very compelling argument to reform the non-profit model in the U.S. In the profit and non-profit sector it costs money to raise those crazy amounts of money. Our country's idea of "overhead" in charity is significantly affecting the ability to help solve the massive problems so many non-profits were created to address.

Not to say there aren't so-called charities doing terrible things; I'm sure many of these are right there on that list. I'm just saying everyone who cringes at the thought of "overhead" should think before joining the nation in this well-known disdain for the fundraising world.

Feel free to take a look at my three favorite charities:
Global Heritage Fund
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Alliance on Mental Illness

Friday, June 7, 2013

Be brave.

I read today about Irena Sendler, a Polish Roman Catholic woman who served as a Social Worker in Warsaw during WWII.  Apparently, this powerful lady - despite all odds against her efforts - smuggled approximately 2,500 children out of the Warsaw ghetto during this time.  Though eventually she was captured by the nazis and sentenced to death, she escaped by means of bribing the guards on her way to execution, as well as survived severe beatings, only to live in hiding for the remainder of the war.  Her fantastic story of bravery continues when we learn she kept notes of each child she saved, hidden in a jar she kept buried in a neighbors backyard, under a tree.  That tree now stands at the entrance to the Garden of the Righteous in Jerusalem.

Talk about balls!  If that doesn't tell you to get off your behind and do something important, I'm not sure what will.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Strength in numbers

Meet Sampat Pal Devi and the Gulabi Gang.  While I believe violence certainly begets violence, there is something amazing about these women.  Sampat Pal Devi is nothing short of heroic.  Seeing how she has single-handedly risen in the face of an opposition that fuels a severe imbalance currently affecting half of the population in India... I mean, kind of makes me feel like I'm not doing anything!

What a powerful example of the impact one person can make.  Do you want to change the world?  And if so, what are you doing to make that happen?