General Music Chat

Ok guys,
Amid all the arguing and disagreements we have here, I've also at times suggested that we often have more in common than we know. This is one of those topics, I hope.

I'm not the most giving person in the world, and at times very cynical. I believe strongly in helping those in need, or can't help themselves, and for that reason, I participate in a few charity events- As much for myself, admittedly, as for others.

This year, I'm riding again in the philly bike-a-thon. It's a charity bike ride for the American Cancer Society. This one is the only charity I participate in where I need to solicit donations. How it works is simple- I pay a pretty hefty fee to participate (ride), and then ask for donations. They have an easy link I can use in emails and FB for people to make simple donations, it's an easy and secure "purchase" and the donation goes under your name, as well as to our team.

And here's the rub. I SUCK at asking people to donate. I post on FB- I try to be honest. I try not to chase people down or guilt them into donating. But every year, I get no responses. Even by many who I know personally have lost close family to cancer. I've personally lost both my mother and brother at extremely young ages, and my father later died of cancer as well. This hits very close to home for me.

Last year, I ended up typing a very guilt-ridden email, and sent it out, including to most FB friends (a few here may have even got it), in a last minute ditch to get donations. And it worked, but I felt like a jerk doing it.

I didn't want to do that again this year, but so far, I've raised exactly $0 dollars. It sucks. I'm trying to do the right thing, and there just seems to be zero empathy anymore. Do I just say "screw it" and badger and guilt people again? That's not who I am, but I'm determined to raise money.

This isn't an easy ride either. It's a good 6 hours in the blistering sun (philly to the jersey shore, 66 miles), in the middle of july. Last year it was 96 degrees with insanely high humidity. I'm happy to say I trained like a beast for months before that and finished the ride very respectfully, although nowhere near first, I was among the first on my team of 24 riders (co-workers and friends).

So what can I do? Anyone want to donate? Give advice? Pass the link along to your own friends and ask them to help a bro out? Well here's the link if you do. Thanks.

https://secure.acsevents.org/site/Donat ... XY_TYPE=20

Being as you asked.
I do not trust well enough to donate to much of anything.
Let alone anyone connected with healthcare.
I'll play some bennies, and "give" of my time in that fashion.
But that is it.

I believe very strongly that the act of "donation" is a sacred act.
I also believe that for me to hand a Lincoln to a brother in need is more powerful than 100K to any organization.

I don't hold anything against others whom donate, nor do I consider them "wrong" in doing so for we each must follow his or her heart in such matters.

I help family, and friends in many ways and in so doing I help the community as a whole without risking my giving being abused.

I guess if I was to offer advice from my perspective it would be to locate a family in your area whom are good stewards & could use some help.
Help them directly. You could even do so anonymously. If we all did that there would be no need of "organizations" . . . trustworthy or otherwise.

Kramer, what you are doing (Intention -wise) is just and noble, to be sure.

Me, I donate to a children's charity every year.


I sustain a very staunch refusal to give to the cancer foundations, specifically because solicitting folks for 70+ years, and billions of dollars later, there hasnt really been any progress.

I wont give to any org that lacks progress. 70 years +, and still no cures. Billions of dollars later and to mnay patients the radiology, and chemicals are even worse than the disease.

I cant in good conscience, support that kind of waste.

Sorry bro.

You know what could be easier and more effective in your case... Take a wooden guitar with you to a children's hospital and play/sing for those little guys. The energy, which that will put into their tiny souls, will have far more value than any monetary donation you could muster. And after all, Kramer...That is the essence and the gift of being a musician...is to be able to touch a soul with it.

I give through my church - their overhead for 'admin' is very very low.

however - I gave the cops a few bucks last week for a charity they were pushing (special Olympics) and I swear I'm not making this up: they gave me a coupon to get a free donut!

Talbot

Suggestions?

Start small. Ask your friends to pledge just $10 ea and involve them in the spirit of giving. Give regular updates as to the progress and goals reached. We did this several years for the Susan G Komen Foundation. The first year we raised $100, second year $1000ish, third year $3000ish. It takes time to build trust with your friends, family and employers that this is something you are passionate about and they are making a difference in peoples lives.

Look for the generous spirit in people and you will find it.

Trust to their honesty and you'll lose your shorts . . .


Sorry, could not help myself.
A line from one of my favorite movies.

Thanks for the replies.

I first got involved with this through my job- most everyone here is either riding in it and working for their own donations, and others are driving for the support crews, or manning the cheer team at the finish line.

Among my friends, last years I "just asked" with honesty as I have here, and already on FB several times. What happens is zero response. I kind of get it. I used to be one of those people who rarely gave to faceless organizations.

In speaking with co-workers and those who successfully get donations, many of them repeat that you have to be aggressive, like a salesman, and effectively guilt people into it, if nothing more than by the sheer elegance of a personal letter to each and every person you know.

Well, I did that last year, and it left me feeling dirty, as well as deeply disturbed by the fact that 80% or more still didn't respond to a very personal request for help. I started at $5, by the way.. Not exactly a fortune to anyone. It should be as easy as the decision to hit McDonalds dollar menu on the way home instead of a bowl of cerial when you get home... but it's not. It left me feeling sad- had any of my FB friends sent me a personal letter asking for a $5 donation, especially one as easy as click here, pop in CC# and be done.. I mean, how much of a d1ck would I have to be to say no? And that left me feeling like people just don't value the friendship the same way I did. This all wraps up into several conflicting feelings and unfortunately a lot of disappointment.

Paperdog- there has been substantial progress, just not a single-pill cure. People who would have been doomed to death in months, now can be treated, go into remission, and in many cases, live the rest of their lives in relative happiness. Sure it's not an easy fix, but with today's advancements, my mom would have lived to old age instead of dying young. My dad had extra years added to his life as well, and lived to 75.. which isn't bad for a healthy cancer-free person, if you ask me.

They still need money and research because of my brother. He died of pancreatic cancer.. that one is notorious, for when you actually experience any symptoms, you're already less than a year from dead, unless you are partick swayze, and have incredible funds for the best possible treatment.. and even he didn't make it much longer.

Back to the point- I feel a great and terrible struggle here- The call to do good by riding and donating a lot personally, but still having to ask others, and my personal distaste for having to harass people in order to achieve any results. I hate this. And going the "honest" route has netted me exactly $0 dollars in donations. I was hoping some here would at least FB the link, asking their friends to help out as well. If nothing else, by doing that, you will have helped without having to make a direct donation, right?

This is something I've also asked of my FB friends. Zero shares. /sigh.

If I bitch about it on FB, I might get some donations, lose some friends, and only succeed in appearing whiny. what a clusterfuck.

Sorry dude.

I saw your facebook post.
But like I said . . . I don't support "professional charities".

It did not stop me from saying a prayer for your success.

Chances are that all your FB friends and people here are more-or-less in the same boat - not particularly well-off, and maybe only a paycheck or 2 (or 4) away from being homeless. Can we/they afford $5 today for your cause (or someone else's cause) - maybe. But then when your 300 other friends promote their cause, what do you do?
I'm much more apt to give a few dollars to a homeless person than a charity box for a big name place. You know that when that person thanks you - and means it - its worth so much more than putting a few dollars towards research that costs millions and millions (and most of that is paying saleries, etc.)

Big charities, even the best-run ones, have huge overheads and a substantial piece of donations goes towards that.
I heard last week that the "One Fund" set up to aid victims of the Boston Marathon bombing had collected over $35 million but then I heard a spokesman say to the victims 'don't expect a big payoff'. If they spit it evenly, that would be about $100,000 each. I expect those hurt substantially (lost limbs) won't get that much and those with relatively minor injuries will get 10% at best. Where's the rest going? Good question.

LOL . . . yeah . . . I'll pawn a pistol or a guitar tomorrow to cover the household account till payday.
I'm still rich.
And I'll reach into my last pocket to help my brother.

I've lost my faith in humanity. Hayden's response on my FB post pretty much says it all. There's really nothing left to say about this topic, other than your words prove that you all pretty much have zero understanding of what the ACS does for cancer patients.

I've lost my faith in humanity. Hayden's response on my FB post pretty much says it all. There's really nothing left to say about this topic, other than your words prove that you all pretty much have zero understanding of what the ACS does for cancer patients.

I still think 70 billion dollars later, they should have a firm, solid definitive cure.
There are plenty of anecdotal success stories about survivors of cancer. Each and everyone of them will tell you they had remission , due to either surgical, chemical or radioactive 'removal' of tumors/growths. None of the practices actually 'cure' the cancer (A cure would offer better assurances that the cancer wouldn't come back) . So basically the money people give is being used to dope the patients up, give comfort to the terminally ill, or thrown to laboratories, to wax up the lead professor's budgets. That's fine, if you openly wish to support that...But to me, Cancer research has tuned into profiteering... At some point, when people learn the truth, they will stop throwing money at these researchers.

most of their money goes towards helping people get treatment, house them when they travel for treatments, and a whole host of other stuff that has little to do with research. There are a lot of people dedicated to curing it, as well as people doing what they can to help those already afflicted. I don't mean this in a mean or condescending manner paperdog, but your ignorance about where ACS money goes is showing, and its so disheartening to see that attitude not just from one person, but as a general consensus, that I can only shake my head in disbelief. You are showing the worst in knee-jerk reactions and it's painful and obvious. Having worked with the ACS, I've personally seen where my money goes, and it's a good and just cause.

Your best bet really would be to just stop typing and accept that you aren't involved, don't care to be involved, and therefore have limited knowledge about what they really do. There's a campaign against charities- just more propaganda, where a few bad apples have given the whole group a bad name. Cancer isn't an easy disease to cure. Sure, there's natural preventative measures, but it's a little late for a lot of people who have done nothing wrong but believe the food we've been eating was safe.

I can't keep doing this negativity thing, it's seriously discouraging and I'm going to go somewhere more positive. Adios amigos.

Kramer Im more concerned about the cat in your profile!

Most of my giving is on a local more personal level. Things close to my heart. Dont take that as negaative toward you in anyway, but I get literally something everyday asking for donations.

Good Luck on your ride

your ignorance about where ACS money goes is showing, and its so disheartening to see that attitude not just from one person, but as a general consensus, that I can only shake my head in disbelief. You are showing the worst in knee-jerk reactions and it's painful and obvious.

Your best bet really would be to just stop typing and accept that you aren't involved, don't care to be involved, and therefore have limited knowledge about what they really do. There's a campaign against charities- just more propaganda, where a few bad apples have given the whole group a bad name.
I can't keep doing this negativity thing, it's seriously discouraging and I'm going to go somewhere more positive. Adios amigos.

You ought to thank PaperDog for pointing out why you haven't raised any funds yet. Whether what he's saying is true or not, now you know the perception you'll have to overcome first.

So instead of getting offended and giving up, take those negative comments and address them upfront to everyone. Let people hear your passion for the cause and your confidence in the recipient of their money.

Honestly, my first reaction was how you could probably take all the resources and energy you have spent on this and just donate it directly to this organization instead of seeking sponsors, if it's beating you down that much.

But don't let it get you depressed, bro. Pick up your cross and carry it daily. Let this indifference make you more determined to meet the challenge. We all know you can.



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