Consumerist
-
charities
Save The Polar Bear Sweaters Are Nice, But Do The Bears Really Get The Cash?
So you're shopping and have a choice between Sweater A, and Sweater B, the one that saves polar bears. This so-called "embedded giving" where you buy something and part of the money goes towards a charity has become quite popular, especially during the holiday season, but did you ever stop to think if the polar bears are really getting the money? More » -
charity
Want Your Name On A Building? Now It Costs Less
Have you always dreamed of having your name on a building to honor your philanthropy and general awesomeness, but just didn't have the cash on hand? You may be in luck: the threshold for building or wing names at colleges, hospitals, and other nonprofits is falling as charitable giving slumps. If you have money, now may be the best time for immortality. More » -
peer pressure
Reader Isn't A Bad Person, Just Doesn't Want To Round Up His Grocery Purchase
Dustin isn't a jerk, really. He just feels like one every time he shops at his local Vons, because they're always pushing him to donate his change to charity. He wants to know whether your local Vons, Safeway, or other grocery stores do this to you, too. More » -
Share the gift of orange pasta! For every click on their "Share A Little Comfort" site, Kraft will donate ten boxes of Macaroni and Cheese to Feeding America (previously known as Second Harvest.) One click per person per day up to 1 million boxes, etc. There are also coupons on the site. [Kraft]
MORE » -
advice
Seven Reasons To Circle Up For Charity Giving
Charity circles are like book clubs for philanthropy. You get together with a group of like-minded pals and channel your powers of donation into one superpowered Care Bear stare that has more impact than your piddling donations would on their own. More » -
class divide
When It Comes To Charity, Poor Give Too Much, Get Too Little
One reason rich people stay rich is they don't go wasting it on silly things such as charity. Likewise, a factor that keeps poor people poor is they give too much of what little they have away. More » -
lawsuits
Florida Attorney General Sues Maker Of Caylee Anthony Doll
The Florida Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Showbiz Promotions, LLC, maker of the Caylee Anthony doll and the Michael Vick dog chew toy, claiming that the company promised to donate the profits to charity — but did not follow through. More » -
tough times
Is It Ok To Give Cash To Needy Friends?
Yes, it's ok to lend cash to needy friends, but only if you have a clear understanding of your gift and its effects. Money undeniably alters relationships, and giving can greatly complicate, if not entirely undermine, a valued friendship. Yet, money is also one of the most direct ways to provide help. The Times provided several questions to consider before making a gift... More » -
-
taxes
H&R Block Screwup Costs You $10,000
Last year H&R Block told the IRS that reader Tuyen made $33,000 in charitable donations. Tuyen, who earns $60,000 per year, collected a huge rebate, but when he returned to H&R Block this year, he learned that thanks to the screwup he now owes the IRS $10,000 in back taxes. More » -
Want to read more about the banker President Obama mentioned tonight who gave $60 million to his employees past and present? [The Miami Herald]
MORE » -
confusing
Texas Family Sad That The Buyer Of All Their Possessions On eBay Will Pay But Not Take Their Stuff
Meet Gregg and Brittiny Peters. They've had a pretty terrible year. Two of their children were diagnosed with costly medical disorders, and as the bills began to mount, they decided to start over by selling all their worldly possessions on eBay. Enter Donnia and Keith Blair, who upon learning of the Peters' plight, bid $20,000 and won the auction. Here's the catch: the Blair's are willing to pay, but they don't want to take any of the Peters' things. This has apparently infuriated the Peters.
The Peters spent Friday morning trying to persuade the Fort Worth family to accept their belongings, which include a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe. They even tried to retract the couple's bid.
More » -
habitat for humanity
Save Money On Your Next Refurb Project, Shop At A Habitat ReStore
Did you know Habitat for Humanity operates retail outlets where they sell used and surplus building materials? Habitat ReStores are located in 47 U.S. states and 9 Canadian provinces. More » -
charity
Salvation Army: Some People Who Used To Be Donors Are Now "Clients"
If the Salvation Army is a charity that you usually support, they could really use your help this year. Donations are down and, according to a press release issued Tuesday, former donors are now "clients." More » -
heath insurance
Charity Founded To Help People In Remote Areas Obtain Basic Medical Care Sets Up Shop In The United States
Getting your basic health care from a charity organization isn't just for people in remote areas anymore, according to 60 Minutes. Meet RAM — Remote Area Medical — a charity founded to bring basic health care: vision, dental, and mammograms, for example, to remote parts of the world. What remote areas are they working in now? Try Knoxville, Tenn. More » -
us airways
U.S. Airways Refunds $2200 Tickets For Recently Unemployed Man
Travel expert Christopher Elliott says US Airways refunded a couple $2200 on a pair of nonrefundable tickets to Ireland after the wife wrote to the COO and explained their situation. They tried Expedia first and were refused, and although they had travel insurance it wouldn't cover unemployment. The wife, Jennifer Bush, says the US Airways rep who responded to their plea "told me that they all felt for my situation and decided to refund the amount of the airfare." More » -
heartless
Castle Toyota Rescinds Scholarships After Students Decide To Mourn Their Dead Teacher Instead Of Staging A Commercial
Poor Howard Castleman. All he wanted was a little PR for his car dealership. Castleman planned to give four scholarships to students at Patterson High School in Baltimore, but instead of honoring Castleman's charity by inviting the media and displaying his dealership's banner at the senior's farewell ceremony, the school instead decided to honor a long-time teacher who recently died of a heart attack...
More »
-
charity
Asking the Boston Symphony Orchestra For Donation Information Apparently Commits You To A $25 Pledge
Reader Ian told a Boston Symphony Orchestra representative to mail him information about donating. The orchestra somehow mistook his request for a $25 pledge, and is now accusing Ian of making a "fraudulent pledge" and demanding that he immediately pay up. More » -
stubborn
Guy In Wisconsin Is Refusing To Buy Any More Damn Gasoline... For A Month
Brian LaFave of Sheboygan, WI has had enough of high gas prices, so he's parking his truck and biking to work... for a month. Brian used to put 300 miles a week on his trusty pickup truck, but no longer. He's biking to work, not accepting free rides unless his friends are already in his neighborhood, and taking the money he saves and donating it to charity. More »
charity
New York, 3:35 PM
Mon Nov 9
15 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
tips@consumerist.com
tipline: 347-42C-ON95
Co-Managing Editor:
Ben Popken
Email | AIM | Twitter
Co-Managing Editor:
Meghann Marco
Email | Twitter
Senior Editor:
Chris Walters
Email | Twitter
Weekend Editor:
Laura Northrup
Email | AIM | Twitter
Associate Editor:
Alex Chasick | Email
Associate Editor:
Phil Villarreal
Email
