I was most disturbed by a paragraph in Joan Beck’s column regarding charitable contributions (Op-Ed, Dec. 14).
Says Ms. Beck: “Your money won’t always work the way you want it to, even in a highly rated charity. The March of Dimes, which funded the polio vaccine and helps prevent birth defects, had problems with a man who `borrowed’ money dropped into March of Dimes canisters. The head of United Way of America, parent of the United Way chapters to which so many employers pressure workers to contribute, paid for a lavish lifestyle with donated funds. The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and other groups were victimized in an investment swindle.”
I think Ms. Beck has unfairly tainted the reputations of a number of the better-rated charities. While it may be true that several organizations were victims of an investment swindle in the past, she never explained how this happened, what funds were used and what steps have been taken to prevent it from happening in the future. She just leaves the reader with a sense of alarm that their contributions have been wasted and may very well be wasted in the future as well. I think this is grossly unfair.
While I commend the Tribune for setting in place a fine charitable fund for giving to the needy, readers shouldn’t needlessly be alarmed about giving to the other charitable groups in the future.
As for The Salvation Army, this is their most important fundraising time of the year. How thoughtless of Ms. Beck and the Tribune to taint their good reputation at such a critical time! I’d hate to think of what might happen if the public suddenly decided that The Salvation Army, The Red Cross and the March of Dimes were too fiscally irresponsible and no longer needed or deserved their funds. Would the Tribune want to take on the massive responsibilities of The Salvation Army, The Red Cross and the March of Dimes? I seriously doubt it.
Ms. Beck could have just as easily made her plea for the Chicago Tribune’s charitable fund–just like all the other Tribune columnists did–without having to taint the good names of The Salvation Army and these other fine charities. The kind people who give so generously to these worthy organizations deserve better information than this.
