User blog comment:Jenburton/2016 Tournament of Giving/@comment-29423614-20161006144309

The United Way is one of the most respected and effective organizations. They don't give money to just one organization but rather spread it around to different organizations in the local communities in which each office is located.

I happened to do volunteer work for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, a recipient of United Way funding. I had planned to help out on one project they were working on but after I saw how dedciated the people were I ended up working there at least 40 hours a week for a year - and I wasn't a paid employes.

The United Way I have no personal bias in promoting, but the other organiztion I would suggest - The Boys and Girls Clubs of America - I do. Though my grandfather has since passed, he was Executive Director for BGCA and worked until he was 75 before the board finally forced him to retire. They didn't force him out because he wasn't effective - they created a special award and had a ceremony in Atlanta with a few thousand people in attendance - but because of his dedication for, among other things, making sure each Club stayed in the neighborhoods that most needed an alternative to the gangs and other bad temptations of being on the streets after school, etc. He used to take me to the first Club he led in Detroit when I was around 5, and regularly until his later years (he lived just short of 100 years) and over those 20+ years I saw so many real life examples of kids who, because of the Club, learned skills the poor public schools never provide and go one to tech schools and colleges with BGCA scholarships.

Both respecitve orgaizations run lean, spending very little on overhead and maximizing the funding that goes directly to the programs they run - which is the ultimate test of any charitable organization. I hope the two can be considered for funding as they are important and make sure the money gets to the people who really need constructive help. I appreciate your consideration, and thank you.