1.5 BILLION given to Salvation Army

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2004-01-20 05:02pm

Salvation Army Getting $1.5 Billion Gift
By HOPE YEN

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Salvation Army announced Tuesday that it is receiving the largest gift ever given to a charity - a donation likely to exceed $1.5 billion from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, widow of the founder of McDonald's Corp.

Salvation Army officials say the exact size of the gift won't be known until administration of Kroc's estate is complete, which could take several months.

The gift is for development of community centers across the country, similar to the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center that opened in San Diego in June 2002. The Kroc center offers educational, recreational and cultural arts programs.

``We are obviously thrilled, but genuinely humbled by the exceptional generosity of Joan Kroc,'' said W. Todd Bassett, national commander of The Salvation Army.

``We recognize the deep sense of trust she has placed into our hands with this gift,'' he said. ``Mrs. Kroc was a wonderful friend of The Salvation Army and we miss her. Her passion for children and families, and her hope for community peace will live on forever through this incredible gift.''

Kroc's gift is the largest ever to a charitable organization, and ranks ninth overall in terms of gifts to nonprofit organizations. The largest ever was Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates' $6 billion donation to his own group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Kroc, the widow of McDonald's restaurant founder Ray Kroc, was known for giving away hundreds of millions to promote world peace, education, health care and the arts. She died Oct. 12 and bequeathed $200 million to National Public Radio and $50 million apiece to peace institutes at the universities of Notre Dame and San Diego that bear her name. Other organizations and charities received lesser amounts.

Bassett said the donation to his organization specifies that half of the money be for construction of the new centers and the other half be placed in an endowment with the earnings used as income to partially support the centers' operations.

Still, the charity will have to raise an additional $40 to $60 million per year to support the centers' entire operating costs, Bassett said.

None of the gift is to be used for existing programs, services or administrative costs.

``She wanted to make a real impact, especially on low-income families,'' Bassett said.

On the Net:

Salvation Army: www.SalvationArmyUSA.org

Kroc Center: www.kroccenter.org

All I can say is, WOW

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-20 05:07pm

That's a lot of green.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-01-20 05:16pm

Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.

revprez · Post by **revprez** » 2004-01-20 05:43pm

Durandal wrote:Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.

That's how it goes in the free marketplace of ideas.

Rev Prez

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-01-20 05:45pm

Durandal wrote:Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.

And? So? Therefore? It goes to charity regardless. Its her money; she can choose who to give it to, how much to give, and whether to give to charity at all.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-01-20 05:56pm

I notice that she waited until she died.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-01-20 06:10pm

I assume the Salvation Army didn't write her will for her.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-20 06:13pm

HemlockGrey wrote:I notice that she waited until she died.

That's the best thing to do. It'll gain interest, so you'll have more money to give.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-01-20 08:55pm

Yeah, I read that in the Wall Street Journal today (or at least skimmed the first page of the article).

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2004-01-20 09:23pm

The Salvation Army has both a very low admin costs to total budget ratio, and one of the highest sucsess rates for rehabilitating.
It runs so lean, it makes United Way look like Anna Nicole Smith standing next to Karen Carpenter.
This was both a generous and smart gift.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-01-20 09:48pm

So it's safe to tell the Salvation Army people on the streets to go away now?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-20 09:55pm

I've donated stuff (toys, clothes) to the local Salvation Army place. But I've also donated to my alma mater, and MADD, and a few others. I try not to be too exclusive. It's not like donating to the Catholic Church, which you know will misuse your money. Probably end up paying for some pedophile's moving costs as he's relocated to a new parish.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-01-20 10:06pm

I have donated small sums of money to the RCC which I know went to feeding people (as in I saw them buy the stuff).

Mike, the situation is not quite that black and white. I know you get your jollies off bashing religious organizations, and you probably meant that only as a joke, but I feel like I should clear that up anyway. God knows some people here would take your word for it 100%.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-01-21 02:38am

The Salvation Army has a good reputation and is one of the 3 charities that I donate money to (the other 2 are the Cancer Society and a local Handyman program for the elderly).

I'm pleased to see this donation happen. It will go a long way towards helping people who really need the help.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-01-21 03:15pm

I often donate stuff to charity, any spare change I have in my wallet goes into collection boxes. I do avoid panhandlers though, nearly got some environut asking me to give 15 quid a month. They obviously think students have money to burn. Always given old toys and stuff to a neighbour at home who runs a charity shop like Oxfam.

This is certainly a good move for charity though. Muchos monies for a good cause.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-01-21 05:15pm

Durandal wrote:Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.

Oh come ON. You can't be so unreasonable as to think that the Salvation Army isn't a worthwhile organization just because they have a religious founding.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-01-21 05:27pm

Nathan F wrote:
Durandal wrote:Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.
Oh come ON. You can't be so unreasonable as to think that the Salvation Army isn't a worthwhile organization just because they have a religious founding.

Apparently he can.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-21 05:29pm

Nathan F wrote:
Durandal wrote:Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.
Oh come ON. You can't be so unreasonable as to think that the Salvation Army isn't a worthwhile organization just because they have a religious founding.

Actually, he charged earlier that the Salvation Army refuses to render aid to single mothers for religious reasons. If this is true, then he has a very good point.

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2004-01-21 05:46pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Nathan F wrote:
Durandal wrote:Meanwhile, secular charities get bunk.
Oh come ON. You can't be so unreasonable as to think that the Salvation Army isn't a worthwhile organization just because they have a religious founding.
Actually, he charged earlier that the Salvation Army refuses to render aid to single mothers for religious reasons. If this is true, then he has a very good point.

Just a quick google got me all these:

http://www.townonline.com/marlborough/n ... 182003.htm

http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/en/Libr ... ildren.htm

Mother and baby units receive young single mothers having babies on the 'At Risk' register for assessment and help in parenting skills and preparation for independent living.

http://www.ontarioearlyyears.ca/oeyc/en ... /SASPP.htm

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/business/coles.asp

http://www.salvationarmysatx.org/text/programs.html

Apparently, Durandal is full of crap if he's saying that the SA refuses to help single parents.