By Wallace Kaufman
ALMATY, Nov 4
(The GLOBE)
In America�s biggest ever year for charitable donations, a religious organization that began in England in the 1800s once again won top spot as America�s favorite charity with $1.2 billion in donatons according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy�s most recent report. The Salvation Army works across America in thousands of towns to rehabilitate alcoholics and other destitute people and has won a time-honored reputation for dedicated work and low management expenses. It also collects and distributes aid to victims of natural disasters.
The publication dedicated to news about foundations and charities surveyed the 400 largest charities that received over $22 million each and discovered that in 1998 Americans gave 16% more money to charity than in 1997. The $33 billion in cash donated by Americans to their 400 largest charities was the largest amount recorded since the Chronicle began keeping records in 1991. The Chronicle estimates Americans gave another $120 billion to other charities.
Another Christian organization, the Young Mens Christian Association or YMCA was the second largest recipient with $629 million. The YMCA runs athletic and cultural programs to nourish the mind and spirit while the Salvation Army begins with the assumption that personal salvation is the beginning of a healthy and useful life.
When the Salvation Army was begun by �General Booth� in England, often its members holding revivals were stoned and run out of town because traditionalists, including many upperclass English, felt they were a threat to the social system by encouraging working class people to seek salvation and spiritual inspiration outside the established church.
The record cash giving by Americans came from two principal sources�a booming economy with rising wages and a booming stock market. Most American foundations have an endowment or permanent fund that they invest in the stock market. The law requires them to give away most of their net income every year.
The present boom in charitable giving started in the 1980s when the Reagan administration cut taxes for all Americans. When individuals or businesses give money to charity they can deduct that gift from the total income that the government taxes.
Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as environmental groups, civil rights groups, churches, athletic associations, and private schools depend heavily on the tax deduction to encourage private donations.\
Universities were among the recipients with some of the largest individual gifts. �What is amazing is the enormous magnitude of some of the gifts that have been made,� said a Cornell University official. The University received two gifts of of $100-million apiece. An anonymous donor gave Northwestern University (No. 33) $56-million.
Multi-millionaires and billionares from the computer and software industries are just beginning to shed their image of being tight with their earnings. �What is amazing is the enormous magnitude of some of the gifts that have been made,� says Inge Reichenbach, vice-president for alumni affairs and development at Cornell University (No. 21), which since 1997 has received its largest donations ever � two gifts of $100-million apiece.
Northwestern University (No. 33), received $56-million from a philanthropist who asked to remain anonymous � one reason its private donations soared by 58 per cent.
Many of the big gifts are starting to come from high-technology moguls, who long had a reputation as being relatively parsimonious. In Seattle Microsoft employees who have received big bonuses in stock options helped the Seattle Symphony (No. 357) raised $26.6-million, more than double its previous year�s gifts. Microsoft is located in nearby Redmond, Washington.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy�s (Nov 4 issue) list of the top ten American charities.
1. Salvation Army,
$1,234,953,000.
2. YMCA of the USA, $629,330,000.
3. Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, $571,914,529.
4. American Cancer Society, $556,195,000.
5. American Red Cross, $543,254,564.
6. Harvard University, $462,762,925.
7. Catholic Charities USA, $446,266,726.
8. Boys and Girls Clubs of America, $430,736,157.
9. Emory University, $423,039,313.
10. America�s Second Harvest, $392,434,067.
By Wallace Kaufman
ALMATY, Nov 4
(The GLOBE)
In a move that will intensify America�s �culture wars� in the presidential campaign Vice President Al Gore has hired an author whose latest book argues that schools should teach masturbation because it is more realistic than abstinence from sex or even �safe sex.� The book is �Promiscuities.� Whether schools or parents should teach children about sex and whether government should be involved at all has been a hot topic in American politics.
Gore told a national television audience, ABC�s �This Week,� that author Naomi Wolf is �a valued adviser, and she�ll remain one.� He said Wolf works closely with his daughter Karenna Schiff, especially via the internet, to �attract young women and young men to participate in this campaign.�
Gore denied a Time magazine report that he was paying Wolf $15,000 a month, saying he was paying only a third of that figure. The Associated Press, however, quoted a Gore campaign aid as saying the Vice President had been paying her $15,000 until he hired a new campaign manager in October and cut Wolf�s pay to $5,000.
Gore spokesperson Chris Lehane was quoted by AP as saying Wolf�s focus �is on young people and outreach to women.� Among Wolf�s other books are �Fire With Fire� calling on women to take up �power feminism� and fight pay discrimination and sexual harassment on the job.
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
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