As we reach the middle of October, I'd like to remind all my fellow Observers that this month is dedicated primarily to Breast Cancer Awareness. I say "primarily" because despite all the media surrounding this affliction, the pink ribbons, the bumper stickers, billboards, pamphlets, the NFL and other sport teams wearing, marking their field or painting their cars pink, there is another colored ribbon (purple) that is trying to steal some of the proverbial mammogram thunder this month and it's name is domestic violence. As a matter of fact, if breast cancer or domestic violence doesn't speak to you, not to worry, banner wavers, because October offers up a plethora of social and medical awareness bandwagons to jump on. All of which insert "national" in front of and "awareness" at the end of their cause's or affliction's name. So maybe you could booster Dwarfism/Little People Awareness..... No? How about Eczema Awareness?.... Not your thing? Well, you could champion National Cyber Security..... Still not interested? Don't worry, we still have Down's Syndrome, Brain Tumors, Liver Disease, Infertility, Lupus, Celiac Sprue (I had to look that one up....By the way, it's gluten sensitivity). Physical Therapy, Rett Syndrome, Spina Bifida (my wife's favorite), Blindness, SIDS, Ultra Sound (medical and 3D) and to wrap it all up, Mental Illness. Yes, if you thought that the summer being over wasn't depressing enough, October offers more diseases we need to be "aware" of than you can shake a research test tube at. On a more positive note, October is also National Pizza, Popcorn Popping, Pork, Sausage and Cheese Month. So if food eases your depression, at least you've got some tasty choices.
I know some of you are probably wondering why everyone seems to have heard of breast cancer and domestic violence, but are a little less "aware" of some (or a lot) of the other issues on the fore mentioned list. One word, my loyal reader.... Marketing. Quite simply these two organizations have more money to spend to get their message out. They have the cash flow to get ads on TV, in newspapers, magazines, print bumper stickers, get sport endorsements and make ribbons. And that is the biggest problem that I have with these types of foundations. How could I possibly have a problem with charities? Well...I don't have "a" problem, per say....I have a few. According to the American Institute of Philanthropy, a good, highly efficient, charitable organization spends about 75% of the money it raises on it's cause while the remainder goes to operating costs. At the lower side of the scale that is still considered acceptable are organizations that give 60% to causes and uses 40% on internal spending. Trouble is that the more they spend on making you "aware" of their cause the less goes to it. It's bad enough that these groups have to scrounge funds for research, they also have to fight for every charitable penny they can get to manufacture those annoying ribbons.
Now, before all of you that have your finger poised over your mouse at the ready to click "unlike", please hear me out. According to the latest statistics, the percentage of the 11,000 charities researched that met the 75%/25% spending criteria is around 11%. The 60%/40% split fared a little better at 16%. That's still a pretty charity sobering fact and the primary reason for high overhead cost incurred by charitable foundations is promotion. Some charities go as far as spending millions on public relation firms to market their cause to the masses. Those ribbons that are so popular cost money to make even if you got the one your wearing for free. The only awareness your raising is the fact that the cost to make and distribute it was taken out of the monies given to research a cure or the prevention of a social disorder.
Have you ever heard of The Cancer Treatment Research Foundation? What about The National Christian Foundation?.... Not ringing a bell? Well, there is The Program for Appropriate Technology in Health..... Still at a loss? I'm not surprised. I hadn't heard of any of them either until I started researching this article and realized that these organizations are listed on Charity Navigator's top ten charities to donate to. These charities, along with others, meet or exceed the 75%/25% split and spend little to no money on promotions. The fore mentioned CTRF reports that 99 cents of every dollar donated goes to cancer research, which is probably why you never heard of them. Ones that you may have heard of include, The Breast Cancer Relief Foundation, an organization that out of 63.9 million dollars it raised last year only 2.2% went to breast cancer research. The Cancer Fund of America, 1% out of 86.8 million. Children's Wish Foundation, 10.6% out of 92.7 million. The Firefighters Charitable Foundation, 7.4% out of 62.8 million. Project Cure, 0% out of 53.8 million. That's right, they lost money due to operating costs and promotions. How do you feel about the awareness of that ribbon now?
Most of these charities mean well and actually do have legitimate overhead costs. I realize that every organization, non-profit or not, costs money to operate and that there is no such thing as true charity without monetary expenditures, but it's the way we approach charity and the attitude we have about them that bothers me. Causes are something that should mean something to you, not something that's trending this month. Not that we don't have enough of them to choose from. We have plenty... and the ribbons to go along with them whose purpose is to make us aware of their plight. What I don't recall is exactly when all this "call to awareness" started. In the late 60's and early 70's I do remember people using yellow ribbons as a token of remembrance for our troops in Vietnam. A way to communicate that we were waiting for a family member of friend to return and that they were not forgotten. We were already "aware" of where they were, "aware" of why we displayed the ribbon and well "aware" that the person the ribbon was for may not come home at all. So just how did we get from "remembrance" to "awareness". Don't you have to be aware of a cause in order to champion it? It's all very confusing. Not only in the words we use to describe our actions, but the sheer number of causes can be mind numbing. My research revealed that there are 62 different colored or patterned ribbons that represent 241 different awareness campaigns. (And that's the short list) We don't have enough colors in the spectrum or patterns at Joanne's Fabrics to go around and some causes have to share. Purple, for instance, is the most popular color with 31 causes using it. Tinky Winky will be happy to know that his color represents Victims of Homophobia Awareness. Green is a close second with 23 causes that includes Dwarfism and Tourette Syndrome Awareness. (Now that would be an interesting combination). And some of these causes that attach themselves to ribbons are just ridiculous, if you ask me. I mean, seriously... how would you like to explain to someone that the ribbon your wearing is to raise awareness for Hernias? Maybe you'd be more comfortable offering your stand on Gastric Disorders, Orca Whales, Genital Integrity, Software Freedom, Wiccan/Pagan Rights, Narcolepsy, Aging Research, Loin Pain, Pedestrian Safety, Stalking, Chronic Migraines, Choking Games, Stiff Person Syndrome, Distracted Driving and don't forget Dance Away Dementia.
Charities that we feel drawn to often have to do with something that has affected us in our lifetime. What speaks to one person may be looked upon by another as trivial. No matter what the reason, it makes the cause no less important to the person that feels they are helping by pinning a ribbon to their jacket or slapping a bumper sticker on their car. The problem is that raising awareness in this fashion actually takes donations away from what is most important... research and support. If we look at awareness ribbons in that light, we may see them for what they really are. Feel good tokens. A way to give ourselves a pat on the back for all the good we are doing and the ability to show our efforts in doing so by wearing a status symbol on our lapel. Hopefully, one day, we will all become "aware" that the only thing these ribbons are helping is our egos. Strictly an Observation. If you'll excuse me, there's someone from Borderline Multiple Personality Disorder Awareness at my door and I have to speak to both of them.
To all my fellow Observers,
I will be taking the next two weeks off to spend a long overdue vacation with my family. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for "Observing" with me these past 10 months and sharing your thoughts. Enjoy the rest of October, have a Happy Halloween and I will return with my next article on November 7th.
"Never Stop Observing"
With Thanks,
J.
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