Cancer Charity Scam

[MisterWhiskers]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/us/worst-charities/

I was just watching CNN and I saw something about this cancer charity scam. What makes me sick is that ONLY 2% of the money goes to to the people affected by cancer. James Reynolds Jr., James Renolds Sr., and Rose Perkins (I don't think their names should be capitalized) are the leaders of this "charity". But wait, there's more!;( "The Cancer Fund of America, Inc." has responded to this saying that they really do support cancer. Here is their website: http://www.cfoa.org/. WARNING: Do NOT risk donating anything. I like how they write "Being a charity is vary difficult these days to raise funds and trying to defend ourselves against those who refuse to write the truth." How professional.

 

[Downhill Dino]

I thought this was the case for many charities? Maybe not that low of a percentage, but a lot of money will never reach a patient or affected persons. It's really a shame how these work, but people need to be paid.

 

[MisterWhiskers]

I thought this was the case for many charities? Maybe not that low of a percentage, but a lot of money will never reach a patient or affected persons. It's really a shame how these work, but people need to be paid.

They could get paid a different way. This is just mean and heartless!

 

[Rainbow Dash]

Hey, I give money to charity every week. It's called the USA government. I never donate to any kind of charity even if all they want is 1 cent. I say ask the government for money since they should be funding most of what these charities are trying to get money for.

 

[Joel]

Implying government aid is efficient and does anything better than private charities.

 

[wfooshee]

They could get paid a different way. This is just mean and heartless!

Um, a different way? I'm not sure how I'd want to be paid except with money.....

But yeah, there is staffing, executive management, and the best people want competitive salaries. Charities are a business, despite the non-profit nature implied by being a charity.

Speaking of charities in general, and not this specific charity in the first post, it is true that you get volunteers for events, like to answer phones at a telethon, work a walking event, a school drive, whatever, but the actual operation of the charity, the design of those events, the financing, banking, bookkeeping, disbursement, is not done by volunteers. That comes from professional people expecting to be compensated, and have that compensation based on performance and market.

Pulling a number out of the blue and saying that a CEO is not worth a half-million dollars a year, or 5 million, or whatever number, is completely baseless and arbitrary. If the charity performed 6 times better than it did when the "incompetent" CEO was paid 400,000 dollars, then a million works out as a pretty good rate to pay the guy that made the improvement.

Sure, a less-well-paid CEO would leave more money for "the victims" or "the patients" or whomever, but a less well paid CEO might not have brought all that money in in the first place. Or the CEO that did wouldn't have been willing to work for the smaller amount.

 

[MisterWhiskers]

Um, a different way? I'm not sure how I'd want to be paid except with money.....

I mean by dong other jobs.

 

[GTsail]

*****I was just watching CNN and I saw something about this cancer charity scam.

I caught about half of the CNN special last night as well, and I'm in agreement with MisterWhiskers👍

This particular cancer charity does seem to be a scam being run for the benefit of the employees of the charity instead of individuals with cancer.👎👎👎

I have found a copy of the Children's Cancer Fund of America's 2010 Tax Return ([url="http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/625767/childrens-cancer-fund-of-america-2011.pdf]IRS Form 990[/url]), and it shows the extent of the problem.

During 2010, the Charity received cash donations of $9,118,249.

During 2010, the Charity paid $6,815,225 to its professional fundraisers.

During 2010, the Charity paid $750,448 in compensation to its employees.

During 2010, the Charity had office expenses of $893,752

During 2010, the Charity paid $326,419 to individuals with cancer or to hospitals/clinics.

Therefore, the Charity paid out 3.6% of its donated revenue to cancer victims (a very low percentage:tdown.

This particular Charity is a charity that I have actually given money to in the past. They mail out fund-raisers with nice return address stickers that I have used in the past, so I have actually given them money every once in a while. They will not be receiving any more until they re-structure how they run their charity.

I will try to find the 2011 IRS tax form and look at it as well since I understand that it is available.

Edit update: I have found the 2011 IRS Form 990, though I'm having troubles with linking it.

During 2011, the Charity received cash donations of $6,694,203.

During 2011, the Charity paid $5,173,307 to its professional fundraisers.

During 2011, the Charity paid $772,545 in compensation to its employees.

During 2011, the Charity had office expenses of $627,150

During 2011, the Charity paid $265,279 to individuals with cancer or to hospitals/clinics.

Therefore, in 2011, the Charity paid out 4.0% of its donated revenue to cancer victims (a very low percentage:tdown.

Respectfully,
GTsail

 

[shmogt]

This is how it is with all charities. They never list the percentage actually donated to the cause. Even the ones that do don't exactly say where the money is going. Could be going to a cancer ward and end up as pay raises to high up guys.

Things like cancer or aids is a total waste to donate to anyway. They make so much money each year from these it would be stupid to find a cure. Look how long these problems have been amongst us and yet still not a single clue into what can stop it. They have a pill for everything now a days and can come up with vaccines the day after they find out a new mass illness is out, but for some reason can't stop cancer. All the top scientist and trillions of dollars over the years and nothing has changed.

 

[Encyclopedia]

Things like cancer or aids is a total waste to donate to anyway. They make so much money each year from these it would be stupid to find a cure. Look how long these problems have been amongst us and yet still not a single clue into what can stop it. They have a pill for everything now a days and can come up with vaccines the day after they find out a new mass illness is out, but for some reason can't stop cancer. All the top scientist and trillions of dollars over the years and nothing has changed.

Cancer is not one thing, it's many. So a universal cure is not likely.

 

[Joel]

Nothing has changed? Tell that to Lance Armstrong and Phil Kessel, two professional athletes at the top of their fields who were diagnosed with testicular cancer, and returned even better than before. Cancer treatment constantly improves, and it's no longer always the death sentence it once was.

Cancer is different in every part of the body, there is never going to be a catch all cure for cancer. Don't listen to that BS about how it's more lucrative to treat cancer than cure it so the evil pharmaceuticals won't cure it. Imagine if a company developed a cure for cancer, they could name their price. It's not like people would stop getting cancer ever, you can't have a cancer vaccine.

They would gather statistics on how many new cancer patients are diagnosed every year, and then name their price to hit a profit goal. Imagine the public outcry the governments of the world would face if the national health care systems didn't pay for the cancer cure. They would be cashing cheques from every western government in the world.

 

[Slash]

This stuff just sickens me, especially since my mother is fighting 5+ cancers right now. And she still goes to work every day.

 

[Chief2Feathers]

I got a call from a soliciting outfit affiliated with Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation and they asked me, "If I sent you a donation card in the mail, would you be likely to consider making a donation to help kids with cancer?" I said I would CONSIDER it. Then they asked, "Would you consider a donation up to $20?" Again, I said I;d consider it, but wasn't going to donate over the telephone. Today I got the envelope, but I don't wish to make a donation. I considered making a donation directly to the CCRF and skip the hired telemarketing company, but then I found out that CCRF is number 11 on the "50 Worst Charities" list and only 0.6% of the money they rake in goes toward helping kids with cancer.

I went on their facebook page and posted two comments, one about the company that called me (and how every one of their female callers, no matter from which state, is called the fake name of "Vanessa"), and the other was a copy and paste of their ranking on the Worst Charities list. Of course, they removed it in less than an hour, but the funny thing is, they blocked me from making any more comments!

I can still see their page, however, because it is a public one. It bothers me that this "charity" feeds off the suffering of children with cancer, just to make big bucks. Giving only 0.06% should not even be legal! I can't post any more, but if anyone else wants to give this company something to do besides scam people, they can go on there are make some posts. Of course, they will be deleted and the poster blocked, just like me, but at least it will be fun to irritate THEM for a change.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Cancer-Recovery-Foundation/144038005608788?fref=ts

 

[Chief2Feathers]

Hmmm, I had a post that showed up and I saw a mistake, so I clicked "edit". Then I saw another one so clicked edit again and it said I clicked on an "invalid post" and poof it was gone!

 

[MisterWhiskers]

This stuff just sickens me, especially since my mother is fighting 5+ cancers right now. And she still goes to work every day.

I hope she comes through! Sorry to hear that, Slash.

Hmmm, I had a post that showed up and I saw a mistake, so I clicked "edit". Then I saw another one so clicked edit again and it said I clicked on an "invalid post" and poof it was gone!

You should ask that in the site section. I am sure someone will help you.

 

[Chief2Feathers]

My post had to do with the Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation and how they only give 0.6% of the donation money they receive to the children. They have some for-hire company that tells all its female telefundraisers to say their name is "Vanessa". I posted my dislike of this practice of the paltry 0.6% and they removed my post and banned me from any future posts. I am sick of greedy people stooping so low as to use the suffering of children with cancer to line their pockets. If anybody would like to post on this facebook page, the URL is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Cancer-Recovery-Foundation/144038005608788?fref=ts Of course, anything that is less than glowing praise will be deleted, but at least if enough people post, it will be a major irritant to this outfit. Even without the for-hire vampires sucking your wallets, this charity is #11 on the "50 Worst Charities" list.

You should ask that in the site section. I am sure someone will help you.

Thank you for the good advice. My new, similar comment is being checked over right now, and it should show up soon.

 

[MisterWhiskers]

Thank you for the good advice. My new, similar comment is being checked over right now, and it should show up soon.

You're welcome.

 

[KinLM]

A great charity like Salvation Army gets 80% of donations directly to their cause.

An average charity, such as the one made to raise awareness of Joseph Kony, gets about 30% of their donations to go directly to their cause.

A very very poor charity gets less than 10%.

I understand that it's hard to run a charity, but 2% seems too low for me to believe they aren't trying to scam people at least partially.

 

[Rainbow Dash]

Cure charities are useless. There's no money to be made for a cure of any kind of cancer. It's the way this world runs, sadly so all those donations are wasted money. Better off spending the money on boozes people.

 

[Crash]

Though these charities' conduct is particularly egregious, in the end it is up to the donor to research and understand who and what they are giving to.

Hey, I give money to charity every week. It's called the USA government. I never donate to any kind of charity even if all they want is 1 cent. I say ask the government for money since they should be funding most of what these charities are trying to get money for.

Implying government aid is efficient and does anything better than private charities.

Not to mention that government doesn't have enough, nor should it have enough, money to ever fund every single whim of every charity.

 

[Rainbow Dash]

Not to mention that government doesn't have enough, nor should it have enough, money to ever fund every single whim of every charity.

Well not after pointless ongoing wars that only served to wastefully kill our troops & destroy our economy.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Living down the street from one of these guys, the son who runs breast cancer society of America in Mesa, AZ and his wife who is also as twisted and corrupt, really makes me mad.

 

[Northstar]

Nothing shocking here, that's why I pretty much exclusively donate time or products whether it be food or clothing instead of money*.

*I do donate money to a few select charities that I know are legit and document what they have done(i.e. Salvation Army, Red Cross, Smile Network etc...).

 

[Dean]

It's not really a surprise that all of the money doesn't go directly to the patients who need it. I believe that happens with all major "charity companies".

I do donate to charities. Especially things like the Danish "heart association" (hjerteforeningen), as I think they're doing a good job. I'm not saying that charities like UNICEF doesn't - nor am I saying that they don't need the money they get. But who knows how much of the money they get, goes to the people in need?

 

[Johnnypenso]

I've known about this type of stuff for years which is why just about all my charitable work and funding is done locally and as direct as possible.

 

[Grayfox]

This is why I do not donate.

Mainly to those help <name of Ethiopian child> have a better life.

Once they aired the same ad 3 times in a row.

Think it was Car ad>Mcdonalds>Charity ad>Charity ad>Charity ad>car dealership ad> network ad.

Why spend so much money on ads, when it should help them.

 

[Pupik]

Cure charities are useless. There's no money to be made for a cure of any kind of cancer.

You're such a positive ray of sunshine...Does the threat of human extinction mean anything to you? Providing anything for a future generation besides yourself and garbage?

While there's plenty of bogus, essentially for-profit charities (among countless other scams), if you do your homework, there's causes worth donating to. A big clue is when you are solicited for something you'd never heard of at a moment's notice.

You don't have to do it, it's a voluntary thing; however, look for a moment at all the diseases and symptoms we've figured out in the past. Someone has to fund the research and you can't count on government and industry to do it for you, unless there's a massive vested interest involved.

If that's too much work for you, keep your self-hating comments locked away where precisely NOBODY really cares.

 

[Johnnypenso]

You're such a positive ray of sunshine...Does the threat of human extinction mean anything to you? Providing anything for a future generation besides yourself and garbage?

While there's plenty of bogus, essentially for-profit charities (among countless other scams), if you do your homework, there's causes worth donating to. A big clue is when you are solicited for something you'd never heard of at a moment's notice.

You don't have to do it, it's a voluntary thing; however, look for a moment at all the diseases and symptoms we've figured out in the past. Someone has to fund the research and you can't count on government and industry to do it for you, unless there's a massive vested interest involved.

If that's too much work for you, keep your self-hating comments locked away where precisely NOBODY really cares.

Just going off memory. but most of the game changing cures and medicines were discovered by headstrong individual researchers or small teams of people working in smaller labs, motivated by personal reasons and driven by passion. The corporate approach to disease research doesn't seem to work as well. Given the amount of money thrown at disease research these days it seems pretty small bang for the buck.

 

[Pupik]

I'd imagine their money has to come from somewhere...although it's likely divided up into different research facilities which all have to make their own case for the backing. Sure, there's wealthy donors, but it isn't about some superhero in their laboratory, either.

While a less-than 5% margin is awfully low, I'd imagine only 25% is about as much as most charities can afford to donate to their cause, once advertising, promotions, research, and payroll is handled.

 

[Jubby]

Not all cancer charities are "scams". I personally support one in my state and proudly help raise funds. The road racing, GT, Daytona 24 hours, and 24 hours of Le Mans fans will recognize this name: Patrick Dempsey. The Dempsey Challenge and the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing SUPPORT people with cancer. They don't necessarily work towards a cure, as they're aim is to help those in need- at no cost to the affected- see here. I live and work in the area that both the cycling/run takes place as part of the charity. Some evidence on Wikipedia. And from a local news outlet. Historically, they have raised 1+ million dollars (US) in a small state and very small city, to which as far as I'm aware about 70-80% of the funds raised goes to the Center. I will be cycling in the challenge and I can assure everyone personally that these funds actually go to those who need it. I wouldn't put any of my money or request anyone else to put money towards a disgrace or an ineffective charity like the OP posted about. If anyone does want to donate to a worthy charity, please feel free on my personal donation page or even just at their normal donation site. If anyone has any questions, please message me and I'll answer them.

In short- find the right charity and your money will work for good.