As surely as the leaves change color every October, it’s time again for yogurt cups, sneakers, toilet paper and a slew of other products to turn pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer advocates are warning again this year that buying merchandise emblazoned with a pink ribbon or cotton candy-colored packaging is no guarantee that much of a shopper’s money will actually go to fighting the disease.
Some companies that use well-known symbols of breast cancer awareness on their products have legitimate agreements with reputable fundraising groups to donate a fixed share of the proceeds. But others only promise vaguely to donate to breast cancer causes without specifying how much or to whom.
Fundraising groups and critics can agree, however, on some tips for shoppers. The bottom line: Shop smart or consider donating to a breast cancer organization directly. Consumers should ask the following questions:
- Does the package say how much the product maker will donate to charity? Try to judge if it seems like a significant amount. For example, if the seller plans to make a donation per purchase, what percentage goes to charity? Is there a minimum or maximum donation the company will give? Can you find out more details from the seller if the package itself is not clear? (Sure, we will donate a "percentage" of our 2 million profits this month to Komen - exactly what percentage are you going to donate? Or we will donate "a percentage up to $20,000 - why put a limit on your donation if it is based off how many products are sold?).
- Check how the donation works to see if your purchase alone will result in a contribution or if additional steps are needed for a charity to get the money. For example, Yoplait plans to donate 10 cents to Komen for every yogurt cup lid that is sent back into Yoplait, up to $2 million. (So they will donate 10 cents per lid, but you have to spend how much on the stamp to send in that lid?)
- What organization will the donation benefit? Cohen-Boyar recommends a “donor-centric” nonprofit that can readily explain what percentage of its money goes to its charity versus administration. Check up on charities at www.give.org or charitynavigator.org. (The cashier always asks if I would like to make a donation to "breast cancer" yet they never seem to know what organization is benefiting.)
- What will the beneficiary do with the money? Will it go to public education and community programs? Helping low-income women get mammograms? Research? Consider what kind of program you want to support.
I would suggest instead of buying that expensive toilet paper with a breast cancer ribbon on it, or instead of donating $1 in the check out line, consider doing a little research of nonprofits and making a donation straight to the organization of your choice. In my opinion, that organization is going to benefit more from a straight up donation from you as opposed to getting a "percentage" of your purchases (but only up to a certain amount).
What do you think?
Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/framingham/news/x136291385/Shoppers-beware-Pink-ribbons-are-not-created-equal#ixzz1c1nYkAHb
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