WARBIRD RIDES AND CHARITY

[Bill Greenwood]

If you wonder what charity has to do with warbirds, there was another topic re a charity asking about a warbird ride, and I wante to expand on that.

I was curious about Make A Wish and looked up their fianancial reports, wondered if they had something to hide?
Do they pass scrutiny? The short answer is yes. The BBB says MAW meets their basice standards for a charity. Now BBB is not Consumer Reports, they may have less than strict standards, but however MAW meets the basics.
Some facts: They help children who have "life threatening medical condition." Those words are off their home site, before anyone starts attacking me for writing them.
They have helped 88,000 kids. They are big, $57 million and I think 60 chapters.
They spend 75% of the money on programs. That figure is ok, not great, some charaties are over 90% spent direclty on the cause, like I think the Salvation Army may be. There are some real scam ones, a few of those late night evangelical things where less than 10%, if any really, goes to do anything other than enrich the head of the group.
MAW spends 8% on administration, which doesn't seem too high. The CEO, Williams, is paid $332,000. Now that may seem like a lot of money that could be helping kids is going to one salary, but it may not be out of line. Elizabeth Dole, wife of former V P Bob Dole, recieved $800,000 when she was head of Red Cross, ( I think I recall this as correct, not guranateed.) obvioulsy running a group that has a $57 million budget requires some business skills.
MAW spends about 14% on fund raising, maybe a little high, but it may be necesary to do the job.
CEO Williams is an U of H grad, so that passes ok, not one of them barbarians on the Brazos types.
There can't be too many things more painful for a parent than having your child taken by a disease that the child does not deserve, or understand and that you can't prevent. And when we are able to help, even for a few hours it is a good thing. Their website has the story of two of their first kids,one wanted to be a policeman, one a fireman. Both got their own custom made uniforms, and at least had something to brighten their last day. Go read the story of the child that wanted his uniform hanging where he could see it from his hospital bed for his last thing.
If there has to be evil in the world it should not fall on kids,and thanks to those who try to help them

Last edited by Bill Greenwood on Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Nathan]

My sister got to make a wish from "Make A Wish". She lost her life from Cancer in 2006, she was only 14. Her wish was to go to Disney World and we went there back in 1999. It happened to be the same week as the Mustang gathering. To which I was able to watch P-51's fly all day as my sister lived out her wish. A great group of people they have. We also wrote back to a couple in New Zealand who lost their son. His wish was to meet Steve Irwin from the "Crocadile Hunter". Steve was nice enough to visit the sick boy in the hospital bed before he died. Truely the "Make A Wish" is a worthy cause.

Oddly enough Steve Irwin(who my sister and my family adored) died only a week or two after my sister. It was a very strange and sad time for my family.

My family went through hell and back. And no one understands what it is like unless you live it out yourself. My sister was sick all her life . Can't tell you how many times I've lived in a hospital weeks on end. It is a nasty thing that can break families apart. After my sister died sadly some people in the family blamed us for her death and that hurts really bad when we did everything humanly possible for her.

-Nathan

[Bill Greenwood]

Nathan, I was moved by your story. I have been writing mostly in the abstract, while you and your sister had to deal with this in real life.
I am glad that Make A Wish was able to help, at least give her some enjoyment. It says on their site that going to Disney is one of their most requested experiences. At least she would have known that there were people that cared about her, even strangers.
I hope this didn't bring up too many painful memories for you, and thank you for sharing this.

[mustangdriver]

Out of my time with the medical helicopter company, the events that I can never seem to get out of my mind was when we had to deal with kids that were sick or injured.

[Warbird Kid]

Nathan,

Thank you for sharing your story. As Bill said, I was moved. I never knew that about you. Im so sorry for your loss. Even though it was years ago Im sure its still something that stays with you forever. Im sure going to Disney Land helped her spirits, but I guess the cruel fate of what were dealt in this life wins out sometimes.

Blue skies my friend.

[Nathan]

Thanks for all the well wishes. My mom lives her days the best she can but she took it the hardest and there hasn't been one day where she hasn't cried since my sisters death. I don't hear much about my father anymore. But, I won't go too much into my personnal life. I miss my sister but I know she would want me to go on and try to live out my life the best I can. She was a cute little girl and very inocent. Sometimes the good is taken away sooner then the bad.

Thanks,
Nathan

[mustangdriver]

I am sorry that you had to go through that my friend.

[Nathan]

I am sorry that you had to go through that my friend.

Happens, I guess. Life isn't always a slice of cake.

Thanks,
Nathan

[Bill Greenwood]

There is a lot of research being done on cancer and for some types, there has been a lot of progress as for as cures or at least treatment.

I don't know the cause or causes of most types, but some types have been around a long time. Some are likely due to environmental factors like pollution, lead paint or lead in exhaust, or other forms or water or air pollution.There are a couple of types, lung, and mouth and throat cancer that you can do a lot to prevent by not smoking or using chewing tobacco. I really hate it when I see some teenager or young person smoking, often when I travel to a city. Where I live it is really rare, most people are pretty well educated about the dangers, and there's not that much oxygen to waste anyway, so only perhaps 10% of people smoke.. It is illegal in restaurants, hotels, and most public places in this state. One exception is Denver airport which is mostly non smoking, but has a few smoker rooms. You can imagine what the carcinogenic concentration is with a dozen smokers in one small room, but they don't seem to notice, especially people from some foreign countries, where it is still thought of as normal. It's a bad and dangerous habit that fortunately I never got caught up in when I was young. When I first tried one, it tasted as awful as it smelled. My vices are more along the line of of chocolate chip cookies.

[Jack Cook]

Sometimes the good is taken away sooner then the bad.

how so very true............................

[Steve Nelson]

I'm very sorry for your loss, Nathan. My wife's stepfather died of lung cancer a couple years ago (even though he never smoked) after wasting away for two or three years..it's a horrible disease.

SN