Your Charity of Choice?

[Bobblehead]

Heart and Stroke - it seems I have a lot of family members who have had issues. Then we were also paired with them for Calgary Corporate Challenge for a few years and got to know the people working there.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - A few years ago I just decided to do their walk and have done it every year since.
I also buy tickets for the Foothills lottery, but my reasons for that can't really be considered altruistic.

[DuffMan]

I will donate to pretty much anyone who does something at work, as far as fundraising goes.
I do a bike ride in the summer and raise funds for Heart and Stroke. People here at CP donated some money last year to my bike ride, and I also donated to a few people here that were doing walks etc.
The week after that some other people I know do a 150k bike ride for MS, so I give them a donation
If people come to my door, I always give $20, to whatever they are fund raising for. I personally can't stand rejection so don't canvas for anything myself, so giving to anyone who does makes me feel better.
I'm not sure if anyone saw the people doing the longest hockey game in Sherwood park to raise funds for Cancer. They played for 10 days to raise funds, and when you consider the first 2 days were -35C, it seems like something you may want to donate to, if you are looking to donate to something.
here's their website.
www.worldslongestgame.com

[FireFly]

Canadian Cancer Society and the Make a Wish Foundation.

When my sister was dying of cancer, the Make a Wish Foundation sent her with a nurse to a family reunion in New Brunswick.

[troutman]

Drafting wills for people, I see a number of bequests made to charities.

Curiously, no charity gets mentioned more than SPCA (Humane Society). I suppose this is noble, but when did we start caring about animals more than other human beings? The amounts being gifted to SPCA are staggering.

Often mentioned as well is Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke, STARS, Women's Shelter and Children's Hospital. Some make substantial gifts to Universities to establish scholarships and bursaries.

[Locke]

The Salvation Army and the Alberta Disables Association.

Plus I volunteered as a cub leader for a few years and now I coach a kids soccer team.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I personally can't stand rejection so don't canvas for anything myself, so giving to anyone who does makes me feel better.

All the charities that phone our company usually get passed through me (1 or 2 calls a week), and I make a point to be pretty polite and give them a soft no, that we have 3 charities that we support and don't go outside of them. I actually thought everyone was nice to these people (I mean, they are usually volunteers working for a cause). That was until I had a guy actually go out of his way to thank me over the phone for being so nice, and that he appreciated my honesty and respectfulness. I could only surmise that people either hung up on him all the time, or told him to f-off whenever he got through to somebody.

After that I really had second thoughts about ever doing phone solicitations for charities.

[DuffMan]

At home I don't answer the phone unless I recognize the number(love call display), I get minimum 5 calls/night from 800/866/unknown/out of area etc. numbers.

[Engine09]

WPSA - World Society for the Protection of Animals

[Bobblehead]

I once canvassed for the Lung Association, about 3 months after I moved to Calgary. It was a cause I believed in and a good way to meet my neighbours.

I was so disenchanted with the way I was received, I will never canvass again. As a new Calgarian at the time, I wondered what sort of place I had moved to.

[DuffMan]

here's my bad canvasser story.

When my kid was still young enough to have naps during the day, i was home with her on a Saturday afternoon, and just got her to sleep. I was pretty tired myself, so was starting to doze off on the couch.
Heard the front door bell 2X, and I didn't answer, which generally means to the person, no one is home and they should move on.
So then the person went to the back door, and knocked on it a couple of times, which woke up the kid and got me pissed off. So went to the back door and lit into the woman standing there, telling her if I don't answer the door after ringing the bell twice to get lost etc. I was mad, and i usually don't get like that.
Anyway, her charity? battered womens shelter. I felt bad and apologized profusely, and gave her a good donation, but also advised not to harrass people.

[Robbob]

I don't really have one charity but at certian times of the year I make sure I go out and donate to a few (Veterans, SPCA, meow foundtion, MS). Through my wifes work I also donate my time to the various charites they support (habitat for humanity, rainbow foundation).

[J pold]

Epilepsy association of Calgary

[troutman]

Trout Unlimited

[J pold]

Originally Posted by troutman

Trout Unlimited

What chapter?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by J pold

What chapter?

Frenchman's Creek

[J pold]

Originally Posted by troutman

Frenchman's Creek

Zing! I only ask because I used to work at TU...Bow River Chapter that is

[Azure]

Originally Posted by troutman

Curiously, no charity gets mentioned more than SPCA (Humane Society). I suppose this is noble, but when did we start caring about animals more than other human beings? The amounts being gifted to SPCA are staggering.

Its sad actually.

I've seen the same thing.....SPCA fundraisers get more money and support than the Stars fundraiser down the street.

[Burninator]

Canadian Cancer Society.

It's affected my family greatly.

[rubecube]

I have automatic donations come off every paycheck for Canadian Cancer Society and Doctor's Without Borders.

[OILFAN #81]

Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta Children's Hospital, Stollery's Children's Hospital and MADD.