50+ Lifestyles

On the Go With Joe Hutter

Seniors And Law
Enforcement Together (SALT)

By Joe Hutter

Beware Kind Hearts

Have you ever received a check in the mail from a non-profit organization made out to you? The National Breast Cancer Research Center, located in Washington D.C., sent out checks to people for $2.50 asking you to send it back with an additional donation. If you do send money, it goes to Topeka, Kansas. On the back of the letter, in small print, it says 51.7% of the $12 million raised goes to fundraising, 1% goes to administration, 4% to research and 43% to public education. They make no guarantee of the use of the funds. If you want more information you can contact their office in Aberdeen, Maryland. They are not affiliated with the American Institute for Cancer Research. Just look at the numbers in dollars, over $6 million for fundraising, not cancer research. The $480,000 goes to research. You should look at the dollars and see how they are spent.

We all probably receive something in the mail everyday asking for money. Seniors are the most valuable donors. We have a tendency to give to groups that help people that are less fortunate. Previous articles in this column have warned seniors on where they donate money. Please be careful with what you get in the mail. Read the small print and if you want to help someone, give to a local charity in your community, or your church. There will always be someone willing to take your money, even if they don’t deserve it, or if they use very little money for the cause. If you have doubts, call the Attorney General’s Office in your state.

If you would like to attend a Senior And Law enforcement Together (SALT) meeting or would like to have a speaker at your meeting, call Pam at the Scott County Sheriff’s Office at (563) 326-8217.

Beware kind hearts!

Take care.