As if a person needed another reason to tell the United Way to "stick it" when they come calling…
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Consider this little piece of news about United Way activities. Not content with bullying Boy Scouts, enticing companies to "shake down" their employees, paying exhorbitant executive salaries, and otherwise putting long-time charities out of business, now they’re playing politics.
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UNITED WAY HOLDS FORUM ON FEDERAL BUDGET: Proposed Changes Would Impact Area Children, Families, and Seniors
(Philadelphia, PA) United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania held a forum on Friday, February 23rd to discuss President Bush’s proposed 2008 federal budget and highlight its effects on health and human services both nationally and on a local level. Leaders from United Way and area non-profit agencies convened to learn about the proposed budget and the steps community agencies can take to protect the individuals and families they serve..Budget expert Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition on Human Needs, an alliance of more than 100 national organizations, explained the proposed budget. Also joining the forum was Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA), representing Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District..Thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on health and human services supported by federal dollars. The federal budget will affect the people who rely on these programs, and the community agencies that serve them. Among the programs facing cuts are Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, Head Start, WIC, and energy assistance (LIHEAP). The budget includes no new dollars to fund subsidized child care for low-income working families, despite a waiting list of 7,000 children in Pennsylvania alone..United Way’s goal is to cut through confusion about the budget process; provide accurate information about the President’s budget proposal; and engage the community in planning its response. In the upcoming year, United Way will be working with a variety of organizations and individuals to advocate for adequate social service funding and to educate the public about what it is at stake.
Funny, I always thought they claimed that their goal was helping people. I wonder how many people know that their "charitable" "donation" is helping to fund political activities? Spending money to advocate spending more money… what a concept! Me? My money goes to a REAL charity- Catholic Charities– you know, the guys that are doing real yeoman’s work in helping people while the others are otherwise occupied. Beware the charitable-industrial complex!