Why I'm NOT doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
I've been nominated twice now for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by my friends on Facebook, and I'm sorry to disappoint but I will not be taking part.
Hopefully my friends will be able to understand, as I hope will you, and I also hope that I am not criticised for my personal opinions.
So anyways, I was scrolling through Facebook, watching the endless amount of videos that have already been posted and I came across one that had been 'shared' by one of my friends. Some of you may have seen it - it basically features a man sitting in a wheelie bin of ice, reading facts from a piece of paper. I was curious about his findings and decided to look it up myself!
The ALS Association is a charitable organisation but only 27 pence from every pound you donate actually goes towards research. Added to this the fact that their CEO has a salary of $339,475 per year, I have decided that I do not want to give my money to them. (You can view this information for yourself at the bottom of this post)
So next I researched the same information about Cancer Research - a charity that I am particularly fond of - and found that 80 pence per pound funds research. While this is already a million times better than ALS I was pretty disheartened to find that the CEO earns £100,000 per year.
... Rant over, moving on...
So it got me thinking again... Since I want to spend my money how I want to - and ALS have already raised SO much, mine won't make much of a difference - I feel that it needs to go to a deserved place and one that is close to my heart. Before my uncle passed away, he was cared for in a Cancer Specialist Hospice in North-West London. It costs £1,000 to care for one patient for one week, which is funded solely by donations. They cared for my uncle SO well and tended to his every need. I will be giving my money to them, along with a few other things such as books for the patients to read.
I'm not trying to preach to you, I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty and I am also not trying to be a killjoy - I'm simply expressing my opinion. I've enjoyed watching the ice bucket videos and I know that ALS have raised a lot of money which I hope they will use wisely.
You're all doing brilliantly - good luck!!
Here are the salaries for the leadership of the ALS group from the 2013 tax return:
- Jane H. Gilbert – President and CEO – $339,475.00
- Daniel M. Reznikov – Chief Financial Officer – $201,260.00
- Steve Gibson – Chief Public Policy Officer – $182,862.00
- Kimberly Maginnis - Chief of Care Services Officer – $160,646.00
- Lance Slaughter - Chief Chapter Relations and Development Officer – $152,692.00
- Michelle Keegan – Chief Development Officer – $178,744.00
- John Applegate – Association Finance Officer – $118.726.00
- David Moses – Director of Planned Giving – $112,509.00
- Carrie Munk – Chief Communications and Marketing Officer – $142,875.00
- Patrick Wildman – Director of Public Policy – $112,358.00
- Kathi Kromer – Director of State Advocacy – $110,661.00
2 Comments
Great post! Well done to you!!
ReplyDeleteI did it, but only as a bit of fun because the charities you mention also test on animals which Im against.
I will continue to support the animal charities that I already do.
Glad someone had the guts to do this, huge well done to you.
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Thanks :-) And congrats to you for going through with the challenge - I can only imagine how cold it must've been! x
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