Helping After a Disaster: Why It’s Important to Be Cautionary

Carl Turnley Haiti

 

In the wake of a disaster, human beings are unique in their desire to help.

Almost as one, we stand up and ask how we can help. Can we send food? Can we send supplies? Can we offer our homes, our money or even words of encouragement to help in times of absolute need?

When Hurricane Matthew swept through the Caribbean it left behind it a path of destruction, death and despair while making its way to the southeast United States. Lacking a solidified government and the advanced infrastructure that nations like the United States or the Bahamas can tout, Haiti was devastated by the severe weather. The death count continues to climb, currently over 1,000 according to the Huffington Post.

Amidst news of death, destroyed infrastructure, displaced people and decimated morale across the small island nation, humans around the world rose to help. In almost a mirror image of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross allowed people to donate money quickly and efficiently to Haiti’s relief efforts simply by texting a number.

But suddenly, things changed abruptly–reports came in that some people were warning Americans not to donate to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief. In fact, it was the Haitians, in large part, who were warning against it. They claimed that the donations in past disaster relief efforts had been largely squandered.

At this point in time, it may be in the best interest to listen to them. Understanding where your donations are going is the single most important part of making a charitable donation. Having the knowledge that your funds are being lost simply lining the pockets of the employees at a nonprofit, being poorly managed, or otherwise being called into question should put a halt in your donations quickly.

You know by now that you should do your due diligence when deciding on a charity to which you’ll donate some money. But sometimes it takes more than a simple Google search to make a conclusion. CharityWatch gives the ARC an A- rating–proof that they can (and often do!) coordinate large scale efforts and help those in need. But foreign relief efforts are often best handed by foreign NGOs, or ones that work closely with foreign governments.

A natural disaster, especially one that has claimed so many lives and devastated entire countries is worthy of an extra charitable look. These people are people–human beings–who need help that they simply cannot provide for themselves. However, times of dire need are not the times to begin throwing caution to the wind. Make sure that the nonprofits that you’re donating to are both legitimate and appropriately use their funds in the most efficient way possible.

To help Haiti with Hurricane Matthew relief, consider donating directly to Doctors Without Borders or Help for Haiti, two relief efforts that are primed to make a difference.

Rachael Ray Gives Back

Carl Turnley - Dog BonesMany people know Rachael Ray for her cooking show, but few people are aware of her philanthropic efforts. In addition to being an internationally-recognized business mogul, Ray loves to give back. Her latest efforts to help the community have come through her pet food line, Rachael Ray Nutrish.

Rachael Ray believes in creating a strong business foundation and then giving the profits away to philanthropic efforts. She says that you need to make sure you have the business success before you give money back to the community. And Ray certainly does have the business background. In addition to her Emmy Award-winning daytime television show called “Rachael Ray”, which is produced by CBS, she also has a number of popular Food Network shows. Rachael Ray has a signature line of products including cookware, food ingredients, dinnerware, and knives. She also has a lifestyle magazine called Rachael Ray Every Day.

Rachael Ray’s philanthropic efforts are almost as expansive as her business efforts. In 2007, she launched a nonprofit organization called Yum-o! This organization empowers kids and their families to get into the kitchen and create healthy and delicious family-friendly recipes. Rachael Ray then partners with organizations to feed hungry children.

In 2008, Rachael Ray decided to add helping animals to her philanthropy repertoire. She partnered with pet food experts at Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to create a line of food and treats for dogs called Rachael Ray Nutrish. This company began when Ainsworth Pet Nutrition reached out to Rachael Ray after seeing her and her husband speak passionately about animals and their own Pit Bull.

Nutrish was created to offer a healthy alternative to the other dog foods on the market. This was especially important at the time since there had recently been a string of dog deaths due to food that was made mostly from fillers. Rachael Ray’s Nutrish line is made of simple natural ingredients with real meat. The same year Rachel launched Nutrish, her love of animals led her to start Rachael’s Rescue. Through Rachael’s Rescue, Ray has donated her personal proceeds from her pet food business to no-kill shelters. This money goes to food and medical treatment for animals in need. Rachael’s Rescue has partnered with the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, North Shore Animal League America, and a number of other trusted organizations.

In 2014, Nutrish launched its first ever cat food. It does not contain any artificial preservatives, flavors or poultry by-product meal. This food for cats comes in both wet and dry varieties. Rachael Ray also recently announced the launch of DISH from Rachael Ray Nutrish. This is a new line of super premium dry food for dogs. DISH utilizes U.S. farm-raised beef or chicken as the main ingredients and does not contain corn, soy, wheat, and gluten. The formulas for Ray’s pet food come from her recipes from her own kitchen using carrots, peas, slow-roasted chicken, diced apples or farm-grown potatoes.

Nutrish has become a disruptor in a marketplace that many considered already  saturated. There are many options for pet owners, but Rachael Ray’s is most definitely the highest quality. She even personally taste tests every pet food she creates.

Rachael’s drive to create Nutrish comes from her passion for animals and her passion for health. She has used her business platform not only to provide pet owners with the best products for their pets, but to help other pets in need. Whether she’s helping children or pets, Rachel makes sure to sell amazing products while also providing basic needs to those who are less fortunate.

 

Tencent is Giving Away More than Ten Cents

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Major philanthropic news out of China! Earlier this week, Tencent CEO Pony Ma pledged to donate $2 billion dollars worth of his shares to charity. The generous offering is especially notable considering the visibility and impact that Tencent already has on so many people. It’s a huge technology company that touches everything from internet and online advertising products to entertainment and media services.

In a move similar to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to give away 99% of his shares, Ma will donate his $2 billion’s worth gradually. They will be used to support a new charity that is focused on a number of Chinese causes that include health care and education. The funds will also support international projects for science and technological advancement.

Ma, who is worth close to $20 billion, sees this action as a better way to give back. He’s said that for some time he’s been involved with charitable groups, but giving away shares likes this allows him to stay charitably active with a concrete long term plan.

Pony Ma’s contribution is also the largest charitable donation from a Chinese Business since 2014, when Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Joe Tsai pledged $3 billion worth of shares to two separate charities.

In order to combat the logistical difficulties that seem to plagues generous giving in China, Pony Ma’s fund is being organized by a professional team. While one would reasonably expect charitable contributions to be a large part of Chinese businesses— after all, there are now more billionaires in China than in the United States. But the Chinese nonprofit has suffered from issues such as a lack of transparency that make giving harder than keeping.

A Time for Giving

For many, the holidays present a great opportunity for community service and involvement. Probably the first thing that pops into mind is the ubiquitous “toy drive”. And while that’s a pretty worthy cause, there are plenty of other ways to contribute, too! The Huffington Post gives us plenty of suggestions for making the holidays special for a stranger. Check out a few below!

Visit a Senior

For you, the holidays may be a time when the entire family comes together for warm food and warmer laughter. But for some it’s the complete opposite. As people age, sometimes bonds that were once unthinkable begin to fade. Maybe a loved one was lost, or they’ve lost touch with their children. Humans are social creatures, and not having that kind of meaningful interaction can be devastating. Those of us not in that position can only imagine how much worse that feeling is when everyone around you is filled with a certain cheer that comes with seeing family and friends. HuffPost notes that half of seniors living in nursing homes receive no holiday visitors, so it’s not hard to see how much of an impact that kind of act of love can have.

 

Deliver a meal

Food is such a central part of the holiday season that some people look forward to the table than they do their family! But just because you’re enjoying a delicious spread doesn’t mean everyone else is, too. Hunger still runs rampant, so what better way to spread some cheer and goodwill by giving food to those who need it most? Meals on Wheels has a volunteer program that makes it that much easier to give.

 

Red Cross

Sometimes the best presents are truly priceless. Each year, the Red Cross helps needy people all over the world by delivering vaccinations or emergency family packages. There are even donations you can give to support workshops that connect veterans with their families.

A New Design for Giving

If you want to succeed, you’ve got to set yourself apart. Normally this is advice we give to people who are ready to take the next step in their careers or relationships. But a team of designers is looking to apply this principle to objects— specifically, a well designed charity box.

Maggie’s, is a nonprofit group dedicated to giving cancer patient comfort and warm words of advice. It was founded in memory of Maggie Jencks, the late wife of architectural critic Charles Jencks. Naturally, many prominent designers have had a hand on a number of Maggie’s projects. Most recently, design firm Layer has stepped up to the plate of innovation.

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The charity box designed by Layer

Their goal, as is the goal of many charities, is to get people to donate. But they noticed that many charity boxes go unnoticed in the day to day. When you go to your favorite pastry shop on the way to work, when is the last time you actually noticed the donation jar? It just blends in with the register or other items on the counter. At work, the charity vessel may be a humble coffee can which can go ignored to undiscerning eyes.

Layer is trying to reverse this desensitization by making a charity box that really stands out from the whirlwind of daily stimuli. Their new product resembles a bent vase. The shape, writes John Brownlee for Fast Company’s Design blog, is “soft and inviting, bowing almost humbly towards the giver”. The color, red, is soft enough to not be grating on the eyes, yet bright enough to set itself apart on any table, counter, or sill. The name of the charity is subtly embedded right on the lip of the jar, reminding givers exactly what they are contributing to.