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| Regarding
Donations |
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| Q. |
Why
payroll deduction for United Way? |
| A. |
Payroll
deduction is an easy way to participate with the United Way.
Just a couple of dollars per week adds up to a lot when contributing
to agencies who do so much for our community. |
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| Q. |
I
feel pressured into giving. |
| A. |
Volunteerism
is the foundation upon which the United Way system of human
services is based, It is volunteers who guide the system, plan
the programs, and raise and allocate the funds. Volunteers,
acting of their own free will, keep the United Way system alive.
The United Way concept of volunteerism extends also to charitable
solicitation. Freedom of choice is a basic element of our society
and charity giving must be voluntary.
The Board of Directors for the St. Joseph County United Way
therefor recognized this responsibility to further state its
firm belief that: |
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- Giving
is a personal matter and a personal decision - whether an
individual wishes to give and how much he/she chooses is
up to the individual.
- No
form of coercion is acceptable, particularly if there might
be any stated or implied effect on personal economic status
Voluntarism
is a process by which we attempt to collect and assess needs
and facts and arrive at decisions, remembering - always - that
the very essence of our actions in the voluntary movement is
the free will of those involved. |
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| Q. |
How
much should I give? |
| A. |
People
often ask how much they should give to the St. Joseph County
United Way. No one can or should tell an employee how much
to give. This is a decision only an employee can make based
upon income, family obligations and personal situation.
The choice, of course, is up to the individual employee. But
generous personal giving, made possible for many by payroll
deduction, is needed to support the great network of programs
by member agencies. |
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| Q. |
I
cannot afford to give (or to increase my gift ) to United Way. |
| A. |
Many
people are concerned about their family finances and how
much
discretionary income they have to help others in need. We are
all fighting the cost-of-living battle, and it gets harder
all
the time. But just think, if we feel the "pinch,"
what it must be for someone less fortunate who needs help?
Your pledge could, however, help many people with needs much
greater
than yours. The payroll deduction method of giving is the easiest
and affects your budget the least. |
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| Q. |
My
spouse gives at work. Do I also need to give? |
| A. |
The
St. Joseph County United Way depends on each working person
to give his or her generous gift. Each person has his or her
own community responsibility, and the United Way can only to
continue to provide human care service is each of us does his
or her part. |
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| Q. |
How
much of my gift is used to help people? |
| A. |
Nearly
90 cents on every dollar supports human health and service programs. |
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| Q. |
Does
my money go as handouts to people who refuse to help themselves? |
| A. |
No,
The ultimate goal is for people who receive support to become
self-sufficient. One of the advantages of giving to United Way
is the assurance to you, the giver, that campaign dollars are
allocated to programs in accordance with community needs. Volunteers
not only raise the money, the also decide how the dollars should
be allocated to help people.
Moving people toward self-sufficiency is a complex process -
requiring more that single solutions or "one-shot"
treatments. But through this process - by tackling the issues
of homelessness, hunger, alcohol and drug abuse and the problems
of the elderly - United Way is not only moving people toward
self-sufficiency, but building a healthier community as well. |
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