Sponsorship/charities

[Hayles]

Hi

Has anyone adopted or sponsored a charity through their business? There's an article in our local paper about a charity that's based near us that works in Africa : www.beninchristiansupport.org

They were looking for someone to sponsor one of their orphans (who needs regular medicine) for £15 per month (which we're doing) but also had other info about their work. The average income in the country (Benin) is £53 per year, and £10 will pay for a child to go to school and have a meal each day for a whole year. They've recently 'taken on' an orphanage that looks after 44 children - although there's just one family on site looking after all the children.

We (our catering business) are thinking of sponsoring the charity in some way. We're thinking of donating 10p per person that we cater for and we could also have a collection box in our venue. We're going to meet the trustees next week.

Anyone any thoughts on this? Are there any tax/business benefits in doing it? Anyone done anything similar?

Hayles[/url]

 

Have you tried the NSPCC.

Many people think that its a central based charity, and its not, I guarantee there is a local place to you that is being run with funds from the NSPCC If you want to speak to someone at the NSPCC i can give you a contact if you want.

 

[Hayles]

I think we'd probably stick to the charity we've already got in mind but thanks anway! (I like the idea of being able to directly improve a child/children's life so dramatically.)

Hayles

 

[clairemackaness]

I dont sponsor a charity but do everything I can to raise money for the companies chosen charity HEAL

 

[creospace]

My wife works for a British charity here in Riga at a crisis support centre for children.

learn more at www.childrenourfuture.org.uk

Gary

 

[easyasit]

wen things pick up i will prob sponsor the WWF i think.

Al

 

[Cornish Steve]

I can recommend charities of this type. We've supported several children through the years via the Christian Children's Fund.

While speaking at a conference in New Delhi, I was asked to attend a meeting in Bangalore at short notice. Since one of the children we sponsor lives there, I called CCF a couple of hours before my flight. On arrival in Bangalore, I hired a taxi for the day, went to my business meeting, then gave the taxi driver some money and asked him to buy a cricket bat.

After the meeting, the taxi driver was outside grinning - with a bat in his hand (in how many countries could you trust a taxi driver to do that?). He gave me the change, then drove me to a hotel lobby where I met the local CCF project manager. I was taken to the child's housing unit where he was waiting for me; CCF had pulled him out of school for the day.

The experience was amazing. The child showed me around the housing area, pointed out the doctor's house, showed me the wall that was the public latrine (it's amazing what a child thinks to show you) and began to chat to me. His family (two parents, two sisters, and uncle, and a cousin) all lived in one room. I was the honoured guest and given a banana and a glass of a local cola (for them, very expensive). The room was decorated with two things: a picture of Gandhiji and a rubber Bart Simpson!

The real eye-opener, though, was something obvious that I overlooked: a cricket ball. I assumed that every child has a ball to play with but, by the time I left, the child was playing cricket with a rock. On a later visit, I took him a cricket ball (and also took the entire family to a local animal park.)

There's no way the charity could fake this meeting. I showed up with a few hours' notice, and they really came through. I saw things the way they really are. The work they do is very real and personally touches people in need.

I encourage everyone to sponsor a child. It's such a wonderful thing.

 

[fastfences]

Hi

Has anyone adopted or sponsored a charity through their business?

Not so much a charity, but I support www.growaforest.com by commitment to contribute a tree for every 100 metres of fence built. I see this a a small means of contributing to the ecological balance of using timber and then replacing it.

I don't think there's a lot of business 'mileage' in it; I do it as a moral decision, as you choose to suppport children. Good on ya!

Cheerz, Nigel

 

[Cornish Steve]

I support www.growaforest.com by commitment to contribute a tree for every 100 metres of fence built. I see this a a small means of contributing to the ecological balance of using timber and then replacing it.

When we lived in Florida, we learned of a state ordinance that requires a tree to be planted for every tree that is cut down. Sounded like a good idea to me.

 

[Pebble Communications]

I believe that certain types of charitable giving are tax deductable but you need to talk to your accountant about this.

The charity trustees will also be able to give you a lot of information at your meeting as most charities these days are well set up to encourage corporate sponsorships.

I think it is a very appropriate charity for a catering company.

Don't feel there is anything wrong with gaining a bit of PR through it too - make sure your customers know what nice guys you are!