Image: Donors participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
From ALS ice bucket challenges throughout August to thinking pink for breast cancer in October, to displaying our finest mustaches in November, it seems like there is a different charity campaign for each month of the year! Donating to a charity that we strongly believe in can feel truly amazing and have rewarding effects on us all. On the contrary side, in USA Today’s news article, others believe that doing “what feels good does not necessarily do the most good” in the big scheme of it all.
It is clear that the Ice Bucket challenge of the summer was a momentous success for the ALS Association but controversy is still evident for the viral phenomenon. The charity has earned well over $100 million in donations but claims suggest that close to 75% of this amount will not actually be contributing to research. By no means are these accusations completely true as ALS is an extremely authentic organization that is focused on supporting those fighting with the disease. Nevertheless, they also need to consider where and how they distribute their funds evenly and effectively in order to define their overall accountability. These claims can be viewed as a reflection of how we, as donors dispense our funds to the various causes we choose to support. For no reason should we ever feel compelled to do so due to societal pressure. It’s true that we need to do our research before we dedicate both our proceeds and ourselves to a charity that we feel passionate about helping.
