Hi everyone!

Back in August, my company, AlphaBreeze Technologies, pledged to raise $2,200 by October 1st as a contribution to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Unfortunately, it looks like we're going to end up short of our goal. And, if we don't reach our goal, the MDA is going to send myself and Jonathan Sheen (my company's Community Support Manager) to jail for an afternoon! Now, neither Jonathan nor I really want to go to jail, so we *really* need that $2,200 "bail" money!

So, in an effort to reach our goal, I thought I'd ask other WebHostingTalk members for help! This is a great charity, and I figured many of the hosting companies here would want to support a group that does so much good (and, in this economy, I'm sure many of you could use the tax deduction, too). If you'd like to contribute to a great charity, and help keep Jason and Jonathan out of jail, we'd really be grateful for your help!

Visit www.alphabreeze.com and click on the picture of Jason and Jonathan behind bars for instructions on contributing. All donations are 100% tax deductable and go straight to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

I thank you in advance for helping out a great charity. And if we don't manage to raise the money in time, I hope to see some of you sitting beside me in that jail cell on October 3rd!

Take care,

Jason Ellis
AlphaBreeze Technologies

Come on everyone! Help 'em out.

BTW: Jason, good luck!

You should research the amount of administrative costs -vs- actual dollars spent on research and patients. I think you'll be surprised. :eek:

While I commend your selflessness in doing work for charity - there are much more deserving charities out there.

--Tina

May I ask why October 3rd was the selected date? Bad taste, IMO.

Originally posted by Jeff Rambo
May I ask why October 3rd was the selected date? Bad taste, IMO.

Why would October 3rd be in bad taste?

It was selected because that's the date the MDA is setting up their "jail" at the local firehouse.

http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov16/default16.asp

Excuse my "bad taste" comment, that was more so out of frustration. Oct 3rd will always be a bitter day, more so than September 11th or any other day for me and many others. Good luck with your charity.

Originally posted by AffordableHost
You should research the amount of administrative costs -vs- actual dollars spent on research and patients. I think you'll be surprised. :eek:

After you posted I decided to do such an investigation. This is a charity I've supported for many many years and have always been happy doing so, but I decided to take a look myself to see what I could find.

According to the MDA's 2001 tax return (available at http://www.mdausa.org/special/taxforms/mda00-01form990.pdf - it's a *long* download), they had the following figures in 2001:

Total Revenue: $152,448,771

Expenses:
Administrative Overhead: $9,762,111
Fundraising Costs: $26,276,563

And in the same year they spent $105,850,408 on programs.

That basically means that in 2001 69% of what they took in in revenue was paid out for their programs. While I agree that this percentage may be lower than some other charities, it's also higher than some others.

Yes, 69% is lower than I would have expected, and yes I am a little disappointed in that. That being said, I still firmly believe in what the MDA is doing - Muscular Dystrophy and the related diseases are horrible things, and I applaud the MDA for helping people who suffer from those conditions. I have seen the MDA at work in our local community and I cannot think of any other charity that does the same things for the same people.

Yes, this revelation is disappointing to me. 69% is lower than I'd have expected.

But it's not so low as to cause me to pull my support. And I hope no one else does, either. This is absolutely a worthwhile cause and a worthwhile charity. Tina, if you know of another charity that does what the MDA does, and puts more money toward it, please let me know. I would be more than happy to support it. But I'm not going to pull my support for a worthwhile cause just because of my disappointment in the charity charged with helping that cause.

Thank you,

Jason

I have personal experience with the MDA. Email me at tpeters@affordablehost.com if you'd like details. I'm not bitter...just disillusioned. :(

--Tina

Would you rather no money went towards curing MD?

Just that MDA fails to meet the standards set by most states. The best fund raising associations use over 90% of their donations to help the charity involved. The worse (like some of the "Police Associations" use less than 10%. While the work of the MDA is quite worthy and admirable, the percentage of the funds not going to that work is deplorable and has long been so. In the year cited above, an additional $32 million should have gone toward programs.

Does that mean no one should contribute. No. The work is still good. Just continue to press the association to change their ways. Or, better yet, find a local center which assists those with MD, become directly involved, and contribute knowing exactly where your funds go.

While I personally look for charities with better standards, the MDA would make the following argument. They would argue that their methods are more expensive than most, but enable them to raise far more money. They would argue that 69% of $152 million is better than 90% of $75 Million.

Guess I just encourage you to make your own decisions as far as giving, but do not make excuses to give to no charities. You can always find excuses not to give. Instead, find reasons to give to the charity of your choice.

I admire Jason for taking an active approach to helping people and for listening when questioned by Tina, researching, and making an informed decision.

I admire Tina for her research as well, and taking a proactive approach to see that her charity dollars accomplish what she wants.

I admire all who make their individual and personal efforts toward helping others.