Thank you for the glowing recommendation!

Agreed! Non-profit does NOT mean non-profit.

It's fantastic that you're volunteering for Angel Flights; I've heard a lot of good things about them. Allosaur's comment was pretty powerful; I haven't yet had an experience like his, but it sounds like something to turn a heart cold.

You've made my day, john. I've been stressed but reading that just made the worries fall away. Thank you so much for that heartfelt statement. :)

I had to laugh about the calculators. When I got another one in the mail a few months ago, my husband asked me why I was tossing it out. I told him that I already had about three hundred of them all with my name label glued on crookedly. I continue to toss this stuff out....pads of paper, address labels, calendars, etc. Well, except for the ballpoint pens from the VFW. I do like those. BTW, the Shriners' hospitals for children are worthy of a donation. Problem is they will probably send you one of those adorable blankets.

That's a smart thing to do. I view charity as an investment and this seems to be a perfect investment.

For some 20 years I volunteered with Junior Achievement (https://www.juniorachievement.org/web...) because I enjoyed bringing some understanding of how the world can work to young people. Nothing altruistic about it.

I am very impressed with Sarah as well.

Sarah is like the daughter whom I never had, a wonderful
mind with a real future -- she should go and go and go....... -- j
.

I occasionally donate my services free to needy patients. Unfortunately someone told me years ago that what is free to a person often has no value to them, and that is true many times, so I do it less. Now I spend the same amount of money giving a break to my responsible patients.

Very eloquent, John. Thumbs up

Yes, I used to donate for "shop with a cop". I had to quit because they drove me crazy! Phone calls from their paid solicitors every week wanting more and more.

he's a fine fellow, and there is very little admin cost
in the foundation. . good bet. -- j
.

Good for Lt. Dan. Great character. I loved his work in Forrest Gump.

Autism. The impact that disorder is having on society is so stealth. I, personally, know about a dozen dads who would be great coaches, mentors, even better industrialists in some cases. But, it pulls parents out of the realm where they can contribute.

When I saw the callousness with which "the system" treated these kids and their parents I took a "f-em" attitude and feel no remorse when I don't donate. It's a very polarizing disorder simply because of that. If these kids were suffering blindness, or cancer it wouldn't be so - because the medical gods in white coats have answers for those. Not this. They scurry like cock roaches on this one...

Several years ago I did auction off one of my guitars to raise money for a family in my hood who had 3 kids and had their power turned off. That's probably a biggie for me. I knew the kids and couldn't sit on my ass down the street while their house was dark. Of course, the parents never learned how to manage (or make) any money.

I use to support the police the same way I did the fire fighters until I found out the police were using paid solicitors to call for donations.
If the cause is important enough for them to volunteer time to the phone banks, then it isn't important enough for me to donate to them.

I give to the Disabled vets to thank them for their service.
I give to the fire fighters to thank them for being there in the event of an emergency.
I give to the Rescue Mission in hopes that I never need their services.

My local fire fighters are not volunteer, but they raise money to help children that were burned in a fire.

I have no problem with Charity. It's welfare that rubs my fur the wrong way.

Sarah, if you can think about Dr. Jim's Florida Tech,
in our marketplace here in the gulch, you could hardly
do worse -- the future of nanotechnology and science
is being born in such places. . John Galt is studying
there, so to speak. . I am giving Dr. Jim some bucks
for a young student this spring, sight-unseen, so
you can trust him! -- j
.

maybe you have already shared with us about your son and I missed it. Do you mind telling us what his condition is? I understand if you don't wish to do that

Sarah, I can only do a part of the things which I would
like to get done in this life, so I "hire" others -- with the
few bucks which I have -- to get more done. . that includes
businesses which include charities. . one of my favorites
is the Gary Sinise charity. . Gary played "Lieutenant Dan"
in "Forrest Gump" and has set up a charity which
helps military members who have problems, from
injuries to boredom. . he plays the bass guitar in the
Lt Dan Band which tours overseas like Bob Hope did
decades ago. . his foundation builds homes for servicepeople
who are wheelchair-bound, blind, deaf, etc. for free.
they provide education and someone-to-call for those
who need help. . I can't do all of that, sitting here in
our kitchen nursing emphysema. . they can.

I am also a ham radio person, and hams are often
available for emergency communications when
disasters hit. . I have never met a ham whom I
didn't like. . we have many here in the gulch.

but my favorite volunteer "service" is right here
in the gulch. . I love these people and want to help
in any way I can. . we together can help others to
learn how their lives mean more than they have ever
thought -- including creativity and self-ownership
for a much better world tomorrow.

You Are Our Future, Sarah, and Here's To YOU!!! -- john
.

Having become a private pilot in later life when my kids were enrolled in the university, I figured out a way to fly frequently -- as a volunteer pilot for two organizations: Angel Flight Southeast/Mercy Flight Southeast and EAA Chapter 74/OYAC. This means providing an aircraft and paying all expenses in conjunction with the flights. Over the years I have also taken on various leadership roles in these organizations.

With respect to other charities, I had similar experiences described in Allosaur's comments above.

Almost any energy or funds I would normally give to a charity, all efforts I would have spent being a coach (which I view as a form of charity) is going to my son. I do, on occasion, give some to St. Jude's.

I don't see charity as a bad thing as long as it's really done from the heart, isn't compulsory, and the person giving can do so without endangering their own financial well being. A lot of elderly really get suckered, unfortunately.

Although I very occasionally donate money; more often, I do community service and and other forms of pro bono (meaning no direct monetary compensation) work. This part of my life is of value to me and I do a good bit of it. I have two primary criterion for selecting what/whom I get involved in.

1. I have read variations on this above, but I have an articulated personal mission, around which I try to align and guide all areas and efforts of my life. I am committed to having an impact on the world of very specific nature that is true to my specific nature as a unique individual human being - to leave a concrete legacy in other words. So if an undertaking supports this mission more productively than other options for my use of that time and energy (and occasionally money), I'm "in".

2. I try to do pick this work so that I also profit- i.e., serve other objectives in my life simultaneously with serving that organization, cause, value or person (my mission). Examples might be marketing my business ventures, having fun, meeting new people, traveling to new places, learning/personal and professional growth, etc.

I do not consider it a major virtue,and above
all, I do not consider it a moral duty. There is nothing wrong in helping other people, if and when they are worthy of the help and you can afford to help them.I regard charity
as a marginal issue. What I am fighting is
the idea that charity is a moral duty and a
primary issue. Ayn Rand. My sentiments
exactly.

First of all, my husband and I tithe through our church. We stipulate that our tithe stays with our local church and does not go to the national church. (The national church is very Liberal, and I don't trust it.) Secondly, we give to the Salvation Army. I support charitable giving if it comes through the individual and not through taxes. No one should be forced to give to a charity.