The Jade effect on fundraising

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The Jade effect on fundraising 7

Fundraising | Lucy Harvey | 19 Mar 2009

The Guardian ran a story on its website yesterday about the latest issue of OK magazine, dubbed ‘the tribute issue’ which talks about Jade Goody in the past tense.

Now I don’t think PF is the place to discuss the wider issues of this case, but in terms of fundraising a comment by Guardian reader Sassyj101 caught my eye.

She writes: “I feel sorry for the (sadly it seems) vast majority of British people who buy into all this rubbish. I feel most sorry for all the hard working cancer charities who won't benefit the way they should from this spectacle. Instead I suspect it will make a millionaire of the lovely Jack….”

The facts as I know them are: all cheques from magazine and newspaper deals are going to a trust fund Jade has set up for her young sons. All cheques being sent to Max Clifford’s officer from well-wishers – and more arrive everyday – are also going to the trust fund. A percentage of profits from a book detailing her battle with cancer, described as a “love letter” to her two sons, will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Does the public have a right to comment on Jade’s decision to channel the majority of the money – earned and donated – to her sons? And should her decision be compared with that of Jane Tomlinson, also a mother of young children, who channelled £1.5m to charity?

I'm undecided.

Discuss

Directory: Marie Curie Cancer Care

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KL
26 Mar 2009

Jade has donated £100,000 to poor kids in India in a "secret will" it seems.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Late-Jade-donates-100k-pounds-for-charity/articleshow/4313358.cms

I don't know how true it is.

[Reply]

Cliff Rawlinson
25 Mar 2009

She made her desision and she is right, a lot of the time these charities spend too much time idling over whether they want your money or not.

Only yesterday I offered H4H £400,000 from my competition but they refused it. Perhaps there is another charity happy enough to take this money. It is legal ! Maybe Jades children should have it ?

[Reply]

Susan Rawlinson
25 Mar 2009

I have all ways been told charity starts at home. Isn't that what Jade Goody was doing? Securing a future for her beloved sons. Thats all any of us want, is a good life for our children, unfortunately she will not be around to provide that love and security. so she did what she could do, while she was alive.

She put herself in the media limelight while so ill, she was very brave and determined. I admire her, for her loyalty and devotion to her sons.

Charities should be thankful for whatever they get. On red nose day the nation went all out and donated millions, if an individual wants to secure her own family first before giving to charity then thats the way it is.

[Reply]

Trevor
25 Mar 2009

I am currently channeling upto £750,000 from my business into charities that I choose. (one is a cancer charity). However when we approached a v famous cancer charity in the UK and offered a no strings no cost (to them) £250,000 they said it had to be guaranteed otherwise they just didn't want it. So who is to blame, maybe the fat salaried heads of charities in London should bear some of the blame.

[Reply]

Julie Hall
19 Mar 2009

If the public choose to throw money at Goody who am I to argue?

I've always admired her. The girl's done nothing of lasting value, yet she's been one of the most talked about people in Britain for the past five years. She'll always remain an enigma....

Instead of complaining about the money she's justifiably raising for her boys, charities should think about why she arouses such great public outpouring instead of them.

[Reply]

Chris Marsden
19 Mar 2009

Unfortunately the public is too consumed with guilt that someone they previously mocked and vilified is now going to die young.

People want to make themselves look good by showing how compassionate they are, while satisfying their voyeuristic tendencies. The media knows its in its interests to now paint her as a heroine.

Jade should be doing more for charity but unfortunately she's not very intelligent. At the end of the day its her choice I suppose, and indeed the choice of the people who send her money rather than to charities where it might do some good.

[Reply]

Anon
19 Mar 2009

Charities have no "right" to any money and the longer they keep believing the do, the longer they will be stuck with a hand-out mentality.

Goody should do with her money whatever she wants. Charities should be thankful for whatever they get.

[Reply]

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