Solicitations for charities

[Tony Radford]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that receives solicitations in the mail for the multitude of charities seeking contributions. Since the marketing companies who capitalize on these scams are contributing 15% of their revenues to the charity and keeping the rest for "admin expenses", I never participate (I contribute religiously to Children's International). I got one last night that caused me to throw a rod.

The charity is Macular Degeneration Research. The intro goes like this:

Dr. Mr. Radford,

Macular degeneration is the #1 cause of legal bllindness in older Americans. A staggering 1 out of 4 people over 65 are showing symptoms and it is spreading at an epidemic reate. It strikes without warning to steal its victims' straight-ahead vision. Until we stop it, none of us are safe, not me, not you, not your neighbors there in (my town). Please send your $25 donation bla bla bla.

This is unbelieveable. When they call me on the phone I climb their butts and accuse them of scamming people in the name of charity. This really pisses me off! Am I alone?

[Doug Axelrod]

I'm sorry, I could only see the periphery of your message. Could you rearrange the words?
Thanks!

[PSB]

What made you think it was a scam? This is a real condition: http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/macula...armd_facts.htm , although it sounds like they were aggagerating a bit about how many people are affected.


Pete

[Tom T.]

Pete,

I think he's focusing on the small amount that actually gets to those who need it? I didn't know it was only 15 percent, though.

TT

[Tony Radford]

Tom, you got the jest of it. I've been blindly contributing to the multitude of charity phone callers for years - but for some reason, I recently started asking each caller how much of my money actually went to the charity. Every one of them say the same thing "minimum of 15%". This is obviously a requirement. Now I feel stupid for putting so many scammers into big houses and BMWs.

[Tony Radford]

Pete, thanks for the link. I read it and saw in the opening statement "people rarly go blind from the disease". The letter I received refered to the disease as the leading cause of "legal" blindness. NOW I'M REALLY PISSED!

[bmercer]

Tony
Ifind it interesting that they referred to "legal" blindness because this is probably the only way they could make the condition sound so dire (and I'm sure it is to those who suffer from it). If I'm not mistaken, "legal" blindness doesn't mean that you can't see, only that your vision has deteriorated below a certain level. On't know what that level is - couldn't read the fine print!

[GeorgiaSnake]

Tony

I need your help and know you are a generous soul. I suffer from LHP and CRS. Both of these conditions lower the quality of my life, with your help I can overcome both.

I need $4,000 sent directly to Southern Automotive to pay for the additional HP I need to rid me of the dreadful and dibilitating low horse power (LHP) problem.

Any amount over $10,000 should be sent directly to me as a start to cure can't remember $hit (CRS). You may have already contributed I can't remember, however additional funding is always welcome.

I assure you not one cent of the money will be wasted.

Thanks for your support

Randy

[casaleenie]

randy,

You don't have it on the road yet and you're crying for more horsepower....
The check is in the mail......

YIC

[Tony Radford]

Randy, I see a plan coming together. I too suffer from LHP Syndrome. If we could appeal to the entire Cobra family, it wouldn't take a large contribution from everyone to get us into a couple of aluminum 427s. If we package it right, maybe Bill would donate the engines. Just think of the glowing warmth that each compassionate soul would experience knowing how happy a couple of Cobra-crackers could be!