The Pink Stink
There is no way that most of us can know where our money goes when we donate to something. Oh, they can tell us that a significant amount goes to research but I suspect with so much money flowing in and out of hundreds of organizations there is ample opportunity for those who want to scam the public.
Does that make me want to stop fighting or raising awareness? Not one bit, but it is distracting.
I see the doubters point. Some of them say, “Stop with the awareness! The world is turning into one pink blob of awareness! Use the money for research!”
True, but what about the women who when I ask if they have had their mammograms they say “no.” Some of them think they are too busy. Some of them say, “I’d rather not know.” Some of them just don’t see it as being important. Truth is that even in a world that turns pink in October there are women out there who need to be nudged into taking care of themselves and I intend to keep nudging.
Yesterday I read a disgusting article about a porn site who was going to donate a percentage of the money they collect for viewing their porn. They wanted to donate to Susan G. Komen. This morning I read that the Komen foundation turned them down. I’m sure they will find some organization that will be glad to take their money.
So how do we know where to donate? Friends, I’m as confused as you are but here’s what I have decided.
Years ago a man came to our church and asked for money. Now everyone in the building knew the man was known to drink and had been to every church in the community asking for money to support his habit. Many people didn’t want to give the man a penny but my dad insisted it was the right thing to do. After church I asked him why. “The Bible says if someone comes to you in need you should give. If I don’t give, I am sinning. What he does with the money after I give it to him is his responsibility.” The man took the money and never came back and we never knew what he did with it. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter. Like daddy said, it was on him.
Does that mean we should give to anyone who sticks out their hand….that’s a very personal decision and every set of circumstances are different but in a way it applies to my NanaHood campaign to fight breast cancer. If I sit around and do nothing because I can’t decide which organization is the most deserving I am losing my opportunity to help others!
What these organizations do with our money when we donate to them is their responsibility, not ours. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t check them out and read their statistics. But there is simply no way to know where every dollar goes.
I asked a lady who blogs about her breast cancer experience where she prefers donations to go and she told me about an organization that is strictly research oriented. It’s called Stand Up To Cancer. According to information on their site,
At Stand Up To Cancer, we pride ourselves on financial transparency. Our mission is to fund collaborative, translational cancer research to bring treatments from the bench to the bedside faster, and save lives now.
Since Stand Up To Cancer was founded in May 2008, we have granted over 109 Million Dollars to seven Dream Teams of scientists and researchers, as well as to 26 high-risk, high-reward Innovative Research Grants.
100% of public funds go directly into research grants. A portion of the funds that are raised from major donations and third-party fundraising go towards administrative expenses and overhead.
Please visit their web site and let me know what you think. Stand Up To Cancer.
Do Something…
Having said all this I want you to know that I still believe that we need to Do Something. Throwing up our hands and saying, “All this pink stuff is driving me crazy! How do I know where my money really goes? Shame on marketers who use pink and women for their own gain!” will do NO good. In fact, it causes us to Do Nothing.
So please, ignore the Pink Stink and Do Something. Take the NanaHood pledge and find ONE thing you can do. Thank you!
1. Pray. For a cure, for better treatment, for strength for those fighting it and comfort for those who have lost loved ones.
2. Wear pink all month long to promote awareness. I did this last year and am going to do it again this year. By the end of the month you feel a little like a strawberry milkshake, but that’s no big deal.
3. Donate to research. NanaHood has a Friends and Family team and you can donate by clicking here.
4. Participate in a fundraising event like a race or walk.
5. Bake Cupcakes for a Cure. Thanks to all who helped with this last year! If any of you are bakers all we do is bake them, sell them for a dollar and donate to the NanaHood Team.
6. Tell someone to get a mammogram. Every where I speak I ask women if they have had their mammogram and every where I go, there are a handful who have never had one! So ask your mom, sister, friends and neighbors if they have had their mammogram and if they haven’t keep asking them until they go!
7. Do your own self exam. Here’s how….Click here to read about it.
8. Host your own office party or event to raise awareness and raise funds. It isn’t hard and it’s fun!
9. Send a card to a friend who is fighting cancer and let them know you care, or better yet, call them or go visit. None of us want to slay a dragon alone!
10. If you have a blog or Facebook page please give NanaHood.com a shout out this month. There will be tons of information, ideas, interviews and other things going on here to raise awareness.
