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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
_________________
Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK
Last edited by Bill Greenwood on Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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.
