Charity Fraud.

[no1_vern]

Charity Fraud

When almost all of the money stays with the marketer instead of going to the charity to me its fraud, straight and simple and they should be put in jail. These people are keeping up to 85% of what they take in.

Vern

[ironforge]

no kidding

Charity to me means you give it all away.. you shouldn't keep any of it.. it should be volunteered time and effort..

85% is way to much..

[vass0922]

IMO It would be fraud if the telemarketers were telling VietNow it collected a different amount than what they're really getting. To me it looks like BAD BUSINESS.
VietNow has a right to hire telemarketing companies to do this kind of work for them to raise funds. To me I think VietNow did a POOOOOOOOR job of dealing with the company. VietNow should of gotten a larger lump of the money. The telemarketing company does have fees and expenses to take care of fine.. and because they're not a 'not for profit' they are allowed to make a profit... but 85% sounds WAY high.

[Knothead]

Hate to tell you guys, but this ain't nothin' new. Last I heard, the law (was it CA or Federal?) requires the charity promoter to relinquish only 18% of all funds collected.

If these guys did indeed take 85% of the gross, then they only went 3% over the line. And even THAT is up for argument, since you know darn well, they have attorneys on the payroll who will insist that the extra 3% represents a legitimate business expense.

Note: I know this because I was once hornswoggled into doing some design work for the Jerry Lewis Telethon. The associate producer showed up in a Ferrari, and let me in on the location of the hog trough. Never again. These people are just terrible!

[daveleau]

Sounds like the United Way to me. Their CEO makes $350k/ year. Why?!?!? I have problems with several secular and faith based charities that do not give as much as they should. United Way is the highest profile charity of these. I NEVER give them a penny. I give to meaningful charities and churches I trust.

This is too bad. I hope the courts come down HARD.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by daveleau
This is too bad. I hope the courts come down HARD.

See above. Nothing to come down on. The legal profession supports this jazz.

What we see as a neccessity to help others less fortunate, these criminals see as an opportunity to exploit this instinct which the rest of us have.....

It is a business. You should see these vermin up close. Ewwww. You can wrap a turd in a tux, but you can never take away the smell.

My charity goes into the collection plate on Sunday.

[Knothead]

I think charity begins at home.

Though the years, my friends always knew that no matter what, I could be counted on for a free meal or many, a place to stay, help moving, stuff like that. What ever I have, if some of it would help, then you were welcome to it, if you were my friend, and in need.

Interestingly, my life has changed a lot over the last ten years; and I have found myself increasingly on the 'needful' end...

And a few of those people (that I helped w/o question) can't be found... and some of them are not in a position to do anything for me, either. And let me tell you something---I knew it would be like that at the time.

That being said, I am presently astounded at the goodwill I have recieved at the hands of some of those folks from back then, who are doing well...and they do remember... They live in my hall of personal heroes!

And there are people whom I have known only a short time, but who have good hearts. Some are here, in fact. Their names are written on mine.