Bad Taste
Okay, I can't really go into details here, because they would be too identifying. But let's say you were invited to a tzedakah function that was raising money for... say, people who didn't have enough money to put food on the table. Do you think it would be in bad taste to throw a lavish party with fabulous food served by well-dressed waiters? How about a carving station? Huge floral centerpieces? Designer martinis and a full open bar?
I do too.
I do too.
posted by orthomom at 10:21 AM
21 Comments:
Wow.
Sounds like a great party in the poorest of tastes.
I hope they at least saved the leftovers for the family they were collecting for... (how totally brainless...)
sounds like you live in lawerence
who said I was there?
"who said I was there?"
no one. D.FEN.SIVE.
We throw events like that in my community. The Syrians like to throw lavish parties, even if we are raising money for the hungry and sick. Last year we made a womens' spa day in Deal. It was fabulous. We had tents and mimosas and massages and facials and mani-pedis. We raised a ton of money. I don't see anything wrong with it if it get's people to give money to sedakah who otherwise would not.
Thanks for calling me on that,SW. But I was taking issue with the stab-in-the-dark by the anonymouse about my 'hood.
I don't disagree, anonymouse #2, but let's just say this was a crowd that WOULD give the tzedakah regardless.
everyone likes a party. Even the hypocritical and ego-centric
I wish that would work, Linnie. Unfortunately, those fundraisers RARELY make the kind of money that a personal appearance garners. But I just wonder whether they really made that much more than they woould have made had it been a cake-and-fruit event.
Linny. Fundraising is hard work and people are funny. the whole charity concept is balance on ego and power. Without full page ads in the NYTimes touting "Who Wasn't There," with plaques and photo-ops to follow, the 'non-event' is generally a non-starter. Don't quit your day job.
Would you be upset if a fund raiser to help the handicapped featured athletes?
Don't really have a problem with this one.
Maybe you had to be there. Which of course, I wasn't.
I think our chat last night helped. Today's blog is much improved.
Thanks, AT, I aim to please!
I wish.
I have an idea.
How about setting a reasonable percentage limit on how much can be spent on an event compared to how much money is raised. So if an event is raising over a million dollars then maybe a lavish event would be alright...
When I give money to a charity I'm always interested to know what percentage goes to the needy and what percentage goes to administrative fees. For example I was recently horrified to discover that the DRIVERS who take shnorrers (excuse my language, I'm sure many of them are truely needed or collecting for the needy) around town to collect money take 20% or more off the top of all the money the people collect.
Ok now I'm slightly off topic...
I also think this post is pretty tame. It's just your opinion, and a pretty conservative one at that.
:)
Mirty, you may be right, but OrthoDad gets queasy about offending our friends and neighbors. And no, these kinds of events are NOT that common in my neighborhood.
Our cheder is having a fundraising dinner on Monday night. It will be a fancy affair. Most of the parents can't afford the $100 a person. The school is willing to help them out just so they can be there. But I think the idea behind a big, fancy dinner is that you have to spend some money to make some money. The people with the bucks like nice affairs. I'm waiting to see who shows up to ours.
The issue of conspicuous consumption is a difficult one. The group that supplies food and needs to the poor here in our town has a pretend dinner. They send out invitations, get donations, but there is no dinner(they tell you it, it isn't a fake out where people show up all dressed up and nothing to eat). It just has the trappings of a dinner. Seems to me the best way. However, some groups do better wining and dining the big donors. It is a sad commentary on our society when donations depend on entertainment value. I am not against fun and entertainment, but moderation is the key.
Post a Comment
<< Home