In the News: Current Articles

How To Avoid Holiday Scams And Make Your Donations Count:
Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time

America is the most “kind and giving” nation on the planet. Last year, Americans gave more than $240 billion to the more than 700,000 charities that solicit your donations each year. From the disastrous Tsunami that hit the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia in late December to the havoc of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, Americans dug deep to support local, regional, national and international relief efforts. People also tend to give more during the holiday season, which makes the holiday period a favorite target of scam-artists, hoping to funnel your good will for their own selfish gain. How can you avoid becoming a victim of a holiday scam?

“It pays to be cautious when you make your donations,” says Dr. Rhonda Hackett, founder of Nivek, an organization which has directly helped more than 100,000 people living in poverty. ”It’s important to be sure that the money is going to a legitimate charity, and that most of your dollars wind up actually helping those programs and people you intend to help.”

Her new book, Making A Difference: Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time, suggests some common-sense criteria in ascertaining the value of any charity group before any money is given. She recommends checking out useful websites like the Better Business Bureau (www.give.org), the American Institute of Philanthropy (www.charitywatch.org) which rates a charity on financial performance and fiscal responsibility, and GuideStar (www.guidestar.org), which facilitates access to information about the operations and finances of non-profit organizations.

Among the most important “Do’s & Don’ts,” Dr. Hackett says:

Never make a donation on the phone or over the Internet, but request a written solicitation that includes the group’s registration information within your State of residence, and proof of accountability.
Where a third-party telemarketer is involved, written follow-up is even more important, along with a contact number for the charity group to ascertain the validity of the telemarketing firm.
Never provide credit card information over the phone or online, and never donate cash.
Be particularly wary of any alleged non-profit with a name that closely resembles that of a more established charity. That happened widely with both Tsunami and Katrina relief efforts.

An important part of Dr. Hackett’s message addresses our need to realize that millions of American children are hungry; thousands of men, women and children are homeless and living on the street; and more families are living in poverty than at any time in our history.

“To make true change, we must take care of those in our own backyards first,” she emphasizes. “Helping others brings much more to your life than you could ever give in dollars alone. There are inexpensive and powerful ways each of us can help, starting with an online search of the various types and names of social service agencies in your community.”

Dr. Hackett then suggests choosing one or more groups that desperately need every bit of help imaginable. Included are: Helping seniors living in poverty; reaching out to the homeless; feeding the hungry through soup kitchens, food pantries and sandwich lines; shining your light at low-income day-care centers and schools; and meeting the special needs of women and children residing in domestic violence shelters.

“Each one of us can help in many ways,” she says. “Everyone should have their own individualized ‘Make a Difference’ plan. This will help you understand your ‘need,’ and ultimately lead you to create the personal success and satisfaction you crave regarding your place in the world, and ultimately toward making a difference in your community--your world--that is well placed and successful!”

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How to Avoid Holiday Scams and Make Your Donations Count

America is the most “kind and giving” nation on the planet. Last year, Americans gave more than $240 billion to the more than 700,000 charities that solicit your donations each year. People also tend to give more during the holiday season, which makes the holiday period a favorite target of scam-artists, hoping to funnel your good will for their own selfish gain. How can you avoid becoming a victim of a holiday scam?

The Real Magic of The Holiday Season: 9 Practical Tips to Stay Debt-Free This Year

There’s something magical about this time of year when everything is trimmed with tinsel and various shades of red and green. But if you don’t have a spending plan for the holidays, you’ll likely end the year with too little green and deep in the red.

Identity Thieves are Looking for a Gift From You This Holiday Season
How to keep your personal information and finances safe. For many consumers, the biggest threat this holiday season isn’t overspending. identity theft which is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, costing $52.6 billion in 2004, and the hectic holiday season presents an opportunity too good for many thieves to pass up.

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