THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200362
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICHARD GRIMES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Whether it's the Salvation Army bell ringer outside a store or church organizations selling candy bars door-to-door, consumers in Hampton Roads are likely to be approached by an organization working hard to make it easy for them to give.
What's not easy, warns the Better Business Bureau, is giving wisely.
The bureau has already fielded 148 inquiries on charities this year, most of them from people checking the validity of donation-seekers. The bureau found problems with only one organization, and it quickly went out of business.
Still, con artists using sound-alike charity names and appeals for nonexistent causes are a big enough problem nationwide that the bureau is distributing a special holiday edition of a pamphlet called ``Give But Give Wisely.''
The pamphlet explains how consumers can avoid Scrooging their generosity without being scammed.
``Donors need to remember the basics of holiday giving,'' said Jerry Grohowski, president and chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau.
These basics include always writing a check, making the check out to the charity's full name and never feeling pressured to give money on the spot.
Consumers, Grohowski says, should never hesitate to ask for detailed written information about a charity's programs and finances before they give money.
``If a charity is not willing to provide information, it's a red flag.'' he added.
Charities also urge donors to be careful with donations.
The Joy Fund, a charity administered by The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, places warnings in the newspaper every year to prevent con artists from taking advantage of people's generosity.
Roberta Cake, the Joy Fund director, warns people to be careful with door-to-door collections, particularly involving the Joy Fund.
``There are no solicitations for the Joy Fund except through the media,'' she said. ``If anyone comes around door-to door, that's not approved.''
Also, because the newspapers pay the costs of running the Joy Fund, all of the donations go to benefit children in Hampton Roads.
Some charities hire companies to do their fund-raising; these companies may contract to provide that charity a specific amount.
If the fund-raising organization collects any money over that specific amount, they may be able to legitimately keep it.
Grohowski said this kind of fund-raising is entirely legitimate, provided the fund-raiser is honest about its role in collecting money for the charity. ILLUSTRATION: BILL TIERNAN
Staff
Thomas Moore, in Santa hat above, was a volunteer Monday at the
Salvation Army's toy giveaway in Norfolk. Moore is a Navy petty
officer 3rd class stationed at Oceana. At left, other Navy
volunteers help with boxes of clothing that are to be given out
through Thursday at Salvation Army headquarters in Norfolk.
KEYWORDS: CHARITY DONATIONS by CNB