Charity: Water - Please help donate!

TheMagZ · 08-11-2016, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseZ

It's a philosophical debate, and a personal one at that.

My thinking is more along the lines of help starts at home. How many people need help in Ontario, Canada, the North America? I'd rather not see our own population neglected as opposed to pumping more and more into foreign aid.

Sure, there are lots of people globally that need food, shelter, water; but there are right at home too. Teach them how to fish, then reach out to the others.

I think your heart is in the right place, but maybe look a little closer to home to see what can be done for your neighbours.

You raise an excellent point. It is a personal one, and I knew posting this would raise a debate, but I am not alone in thinking that there is something that we can do. This particular company has helped countries within North America as well, not just foreign countries. I don't think we can merely focus on home. Supporting locally and abroad is ideal. I believe it goes without saying that we're more privileged and have better opportunities in Canada and the U.S. than most. Believe it or not, I do local work as well. I donate, fundraise and help out at Sick Kids Hospital as well here in Toronto.

Chuck33079 · 08-11-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseZ

My thinking is more along the lines of help starts at home. How many people need help in Ontario, Canada, the North America? I'd rather not see our own population neglected as opposed to pumping more and more into foreign aid.

Sure, there are lots of people globally that need food, shelter, water; but there are right at home too. Teach them how to fish, then reach out to the others.

I think your heart is in the right place, but maybe look a little closer to home to see what can be done for your neighbours.

I looked through their financials in 2015, and didn't see anything going to Flint, MI and this charity is based in NYC. Granted, it's been a long day and I only skimmed their 2015 Audit, but it raised some questions. I'll look at it again this evening, but I don't understand why their funds (meant to be spent helping people) are being invested in the market. Why would you expose your operating / donation capital to market fluctuations, especially in a time as volatile as the last year.

Helping Africa is a bottomless pit. Any good you do will be undone by local governments / warlords in those areas. If you want to do the most good for your buck, give within your community.

TheMagZ · 08-11-2016, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

I looked through their financials in 2015, and didn't see anything going to Flint, MI and this charity is based in NYC. Granted, it's been a long day and I only skimmed their 2015 Audit, but it raised some questions. I'll look at it again this evening, but I don't understand why their funds (meant to be spent helping people) are being invested in the market. Why would you expose your operating / donation capital to market fluctuations, especially in a time as volatile as the last year.

Helping Africa is a bottomless pit. Any good you do will be undone by local governments / warlords in those areas. If you want to do the most good for your buck, give within your community.

Regarding Flint, check out: http://blog.charitywater.org/post/14...flint-michigan

They don't just help in Africa, they help in other continents as well

Chuck33079 · 08-11-2016, 03:38 PM

Exactly, they did not help in MI. They claimed they did not have the expertise or resources, when a semi loaded with cases of bottled water would have been a start, easily accomplished and relatively inexpensive. At times, first world activists seem to get a special boost from helping the impoverished third world at the expense of the ones right under their noses. I'm not necessarily throwing rocks at them (yet). There's just things that don't make sense. Some of the accounting doesn't look right at first glance. I've got to give it another shot when I'm not exhausted.

Another example besides the market investments mentioned above - Their storage space for water and equipment is donated, but they spent almost $750k in rent in 2015. Granted, it is in NYC, but if your target areas are half the world away why set up headquarters in one of the most expensive places in North America?

TheMagZ · 08-11-2016, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Exactly, they did not help in MI. They claimed they did not have the expertise or resources, when a semi loaded with cases of bottled water would have been a start, easily accomplished and relatively inexpensive. At times, first world activists seem to get a special boost from helping the impoverished third world at the expense of the ones right under their noses. I'm not necessarily throwing rocks at them (yet). There's just things that don't make sense. Some of the accounting doesn't look right at first glance. I've got to give it another shot when I'm not exhausted.

Another example besides the market investments mentioned above - Their storage space for water and equipment is donated, but they spent almost $750k in rent in 2015. Granted, it is in NYC, but if your target areas are half the world away why set up headquarters in one of the most expensive places in North America?

Every charity has certain goals and different regions which they work in. Realistically speaking, the majority of the charities that help 3rd world countries are run by first world activist. Without them, nothing would really get achieved and things would be worse than it is now.

The money that is spent on rent, etc. is paid for by donating investors and not donations like the one I posted. All donations go directly to water.

Chuck33079 · 08-11-2016, 04:08 PM

They're pooling donations and investing them in the market. That just feels weird. I'll read the rest of the financials later.

08-11-2016, 03:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	Exactly, they did not help in MI. They claimed they did not have the expertise or resources, when a semi loaded with cases of bottled water would have been a start, easily accomplished and relatively inexpensive. At times, first world activists seem to get a special boost from helping the impoverished third world at the expense of the ones right under their noses. I'm not necessarily throwing rocks at them (yet). There's just things that don't make sense. Some of the accounting doesn't look right at first glance. I've got to give it another shot when I'm not exhausted. Another example besides the market investments mentioned above - Their storage space for water and equipment is donated, but they spent almost $750k in rent in 2015. Granted, it is in NYC, but if your target areas are half the world away why set up headquarters in one of the most expensive places in North America? __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

08-11-2016, 04:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chuck33079 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 12,265 Drives: 2011 370ztt Rep Power: 29539	They're pooling donations and investing them in the market. That just feels weird. I'll read the rest of the financials later. __________________ 2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

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