Philanthropy

I would like to address the question "Does giving to charity cause more harm than good?" After watching the Ted Talk (linked below), I would still answer no. I do completely agree that we need to be "charity wise", as the speaker said. Often times we do tend to look for a more hands on approach which is why we like to make kits or things of that nature. It feels like we're doing more, but realistically we could be taking away from what those people actually need. If we exclude the fact that those people may be able to get the items in that kit at a fraction of the cost, the argument would still stand because it means we are assuming what any one of those people might actually need. The items in the kit could be useless. What if someone already has a multitiude of that particular item. Or even worse, what if they have an allergy to something you provided and now it goes to waste regardless? I think we tend to over complicate donating to charity and that is what can do the harm. Often times it really is just as simple as sending off the money and being done with it. We need to understand that that in itself is helpful! But always make sure to do research on the charity you are giving to. Ensure that your values align with theirs and they aren't just getting you with the promise of doing something good. An example would be big companies like fast food chains or Walmart will often request donations around the holidays by asking you to "round up". Most people don't realize that these companies just use these donations as a tax write off to benefit themselves. It would be best to donate directly to said charities! Practice strategic philanthropy by doing a little digging, and be "charity wise"! 

Because we have already covered all of the community partners at this point, I have chosen the one I feel best fits this topic, which is Sego Lily. They are a nonprofit focused on providing services and aid to the abused Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind within Utah. I was able to further research the history of this organization through an article written by Jodi Becker. I discovered that Sego Lily helps 30-60 people a year, on average. This includes both victims and their families. 

They align perfectly with the topic of philanthropy because it is their entire goal to provide resources to their community. Firstly, these services are completely free, making it accessible. Another way they provide this resource is by creating community outreach prevention and awareness initiatives. They do things such as safety fair activities which provides the community with information on how to get help to those being abused in the Deaf community. They also established Deaf Women's Day. Sego Lily also hosts an annual Gala event to raise funds to help them achieve their goal. This is one great way to get involved and aid their efforts! They typically need volunteers for this. 

I recently volunteered for them at SLC Pride by helping them to run a booth that was selling accessories. All of the proceeds go directly to helping their cause. It was my first time working with them, and I can't wait to do so again in the future. They are a great organization with great people behind it!