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Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press, March 16, 1951, page 2
By Albert Hutler, Executive Director, United Jewish Fund
This column normally concerns itself with philanthropic organizational life of
the community; trends throughout the country in Jewish social welfare; the
executive director's interpretation of events in that field, and the local
community. However I'd like to have you bear with me today while I discuss with
you question of the many solicitations that take place in the Jewish community.
Let's put it under the headline, "Get the Facts Before You
Give." a few weeks ago five men were arrested in New York City on
charges of operating a "boiler room"—racket term for promoting
non-existent charities, or for appeals where most of the money goes to the
promoter. This brought to the fore once again the question of dishonest appeals,
and use of letterhead committees. San Diego, like other communities, has been
subjected to fly by night raids of fund solicitors whose campaigns were not
recognized or authorized by any of the central offices such as the Jewish Agency
for Palestine, or the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. We're
fortunate in San Diego in that we have a city ordinance which provides for the
licensing of all campaigns, and "any cost in excess of 35 percent of the
amount collected is deemed unreasonable unless special facts are presented to
justify higher costs. Our law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with
racketeers who trade on the normal generous impulse of well-meaning persons.
What is important, however, is the fact that there are many fringe causes as
well as appeals of dubious merit, and we owe it to ourselves, as well as to the
good causes, to investigate carefully before we contribute to drives whose
purposes are questionable. How can you be sure that the cause for which you are
giving, working or lending our name is on the up and up? Call the office of the
United Jewish Fund which maintains a file on hundreds of organizations, and they
will tell you the facts without making a recommendation. If the information is
not immediately available the office will secure it for you through the Jewish
Agency for Palestine or the Council of Federations and Welfare Funds, and ask
the solicitor if the organization has a license to solicit funds in San Diego.
But if there is the slightest doubt in your mind—get the facts before you lend
your name or give your money.