Is it just me, or has everybody gone breast cancer crazy? I'm not making light of a very serious matter. My grandmother died of cancer, my workmate's wife died of cancer before she was 42, and I know 3 women who have had breasts removed because of cancer.
I just think that there are too many companies and banks who have jumped onto the same bandwagon. It seems like during the summer there is a "run for the cure" every second week. You can buy pins, t shirts, cell phones, and just about everything else in commemerative pink. I don't like saying "I already donated" outside all the malls and individual stores. But I have to. If I gave only 25 cents to every person with their hand out, I would be broke. I also feel guilty about just walking past, because quite often there will be a genuine survivor there asking for donations.
The thing that bothers me the most about all the "pink" products out there though, is where the money may actually be going. I remember a few years ago when there was an investigation into some very big, "feed the children" charities, shilled for by some big celebrities. It turned out that up to 95% of the donations collected going for "administrative costs", was normal. Some were fined if I remember correctly, but are still in operation. The worst offender, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, was the Christian Childrens Organization. They took a whopping 98% of the money collected! 15 cents a day to feed poor Manuel. Too bad it'll take 2 weeks to get him a nickles worth of rice. How much does Apple donate for every pink I Pod sold? Did it cost Motorola anything extra to produce a pink cell phone? How much profit is still being made on that pink camera, handbag, pair of shoes.....
All I'd like to see is some moderation. Have all the banks sponser the same event. You want your name on the top of the banner?...Donate the most. Limit the number of places that charities can set up their booths. Have big companies put out a limited run of a certain product, with ALL the money going to charity. The way it's going, with the oversaturation, people will get fed up, lose interest, and the funding will dry up. And above all, have a good look at where the money is going. All charities should, in my humble opinion, have their books looked at by the government.
I just think that there are too many companies and banks who have jumped onto the same bandwagon. It seems like during the summer there is a "run for the cure" every second week. You can buy pins, t shirts, cell phones, and just about everything else in commemerative pink. I don't like saying "I already donated" outside all the malls and individual stores. But I have to. If I gave only 25 cents to every person with their hand out, I would be broke. I also feel guilty about just walking past, because quite often there will be a genuine survivor there asking for donations.
The thing that bothers me the most about all the "pink" products out there though, is where the money may actually be going. I remember a few years ago when there was an investigation into some very big, "feed the children" charities, shilled for by some big celebrities. It turned out that up to 95% of the donations collected going for "administrative costs", was normal. Some were fined if I remember correctly, but are still in operation. The worst offender, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, was the Christian Childrens Organization. They took a whopping 98% of the money collected! 15 cents a day to feed poor Manuel. Too bad it'll take 2 weeks to get him a nickles worth of rice. How much does Apple donate for every pink I Pod sold? Did it cost Motorola anything extra to produce a pink cell phone? How much profit is still being made on that pink camera, handbag, pair of shoes.....
All I'd like to see is some moderation. Have all the banks sponser the same event. You want your name on the top of the banner?...Donate the most. Limit the number of places that charities can set up their booths. Have big companies put out a limited run of a certain product, with ALL the money going to charity. The way it's going, with the oversaturation, people will get fed up, lose interest, and the funding will dry up. And above all, have a good look at where the money is going. All charities should, in my humble opinion, have their books looked at by the government.