Bring optimism to a battered woman on Mother's Day...

Not  that my blog is the biggest or the baddest, but from time to time, I get requests from people that say, "hey, will you put this on your blog?"

Most of the time, there's really no context and it just proves to me that  they don't really read the blog.

However, sometimes, I get a note that just touches me and really is a worthwhile cause.

My longtime friend, Roz, works at Jewish Women's International focused on raising awareness and doing something regarding violence against women.

They have a meaningful Mother's Day activity where you can send a card/flowers to a woman in a shelter and bring some light to their lives.

It's not an expensive proposition, but it's clear from the testimonials that it means a lot.

Need to act fast, orders must be in by May 5th.

From Roz:

Supporting the Flower Project is easy: Just visit the Flower Project online contribution page to make a secure donation online. In case that link doesn't work, please go to www.jwi.org. (You can also learn more about the project and see the card JWI will send to your honorees.)

Doing Good...and an Unwelcome Intrusion

Last Thursday, I went to the offices of A Wider Circle to drop off the blankets which were made as part of the projects of our guests at the Simchat Bat (and a big call out .

The office location was not clearly marked, so I went up a few flights of stairs to the floor where I thought it was located and opened the door...

I saw a woman...and she let out a huge GASP of surprise.

She just stared at me.

Another woman walked over to the door. I had clearly not opened the door to a hallway, but the back door to an office.

The woman said, "what are you doing here?"

Not really having a good answer, I smiled and said, "well, I've come to see you, of course. How are you doing?"

She wasn't amused.

By this time, I had figured out that I had just interrupted, via the back door, the session of a therapist with her patient.

The woman on the couch (the patient) kept saying, "wow, that really scared me."

The therapist asked "what do you want?"

"Uh, I'm looking for A Wider Circle."

"Down the stairs and to the right. ALL THE WAY to the right."

Eventually, I found the place and all was well, except for the shocked patient!

Reader Submitted Ethical Dilemma...What Would You Do?

Growing up, my dad would invite guests at our home to offer up "ethical dilemmas" for discussion.

Yesterday, I received an ethical dilemma from a blog reader. S/he would like your input.

Posted in full with permission:

             I am an employee of US Fortune 100 company. the company has a corporate matching gift program wherein it will match every one dollar an employee donates to a charitable organization that meets the programs guidelines with two dollars from the corporation. (ie If I donate $100 to Habitat for Humanity, the company will donate $200, resulting in a total gift of $300). The list of eligible organizations is long, there are dozens of eligible organizations that cover different areas. The company will match up to $10,000 in employee contributions per year with matching funds.

            The programs rules state that only employees are elgible and employees should not collect funds from non-emlpoyees to take advantage of the corporate program.

            But let's say I can only donate $5,000 a year and my friend approaches me and says I can donate $1,000 on my own, but if you donate it for me through your program, then we can have $3,000 donated to this worthy organization that feeds hungry children, researches cancer cures, what have you.

           Obviously the program explicitly prohibits this. But if I cannot reach the 10K limit and my friend does not have access to a way to multiply his funds, is it so wrong or horrible to do this? are the means truly immoral even though the company has said it would make the mathcing funds available and we would ostensibly be increasing the resources of worthy organizations (which the company has already deemed worthy of their support otherwise they would not match) who would presumably be able to help better achieve their missions?

            some might think this is a variation on robin hood, but I think there could be a difference since the money is being offered for donation freely (albeit under certain rules), whereas robin hood clearly had no wish to part with their money acted against the will of his victims. so can't one say that it is not really thievery?

 

            and if its not and is merely dishonesty, is truth a more important value in this imperfect world we live in than alleviating human suffering. to put face on it, (in an admittedly self-serving way). If twenty children came to a food pantry and we had to turn away five that could be fed if we had used those matching funds, can you look them in the eye and say, "I don't have food for you because I could not lie to my corproate employer."

           And yes, i know that an answer is to find an ethical way to get the funds donated to feed those last five, either yourself or persuade others to donate (and yes, right here I will say, check if your company has a matching program, I am ashamed it has taken me over two years to discover this at my employer).

          But is that the only acceptable outcome? Especially when we know that it is not five or five hundred or even five million, but more than that? can we afford the goal of moral purity?

          or maybe it is the only answer since it is a slippery slope the other way to more immoral deeds in the service of ostensinly moral ends and a slide into anarchy.

           I look forward to hearing people's views on this blog.

Fundraising in the Digital Age...

The Net makes a LOT of things easier.

Sharing photos is one of them (please edit).

Another is fundraising.

Like you, I get a lot of requests fro charitable donations from people via email.

It's so easy to send to everyone you know.

BUT, what do you do for those who do contribute? What do you do so that they will continue to support and FEEL good about their donation.

Well, Bethel and Jason have figured it out. She walks in the Avon 3 day every year and since I'm a veteran of that walk, I support her as well.

Today, though I got this VERY personal card in the mail. Reminded me of her efforts and the person in whom I had made the donation.

Just a GREAT way of differentiating herself. Well done, Bethel!