October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, has just passed. In the spirit of "giving back", many stores are making new merchandise to lure buyers into purchasing these products with the guarantee that the company will give a percentage to breast cancer research.
These companies and stores are manipulating people's emotions, trying to assuage customer's guilt of spending just a little too much, and consoling themselves with the fact that an entire 0.0005% is going to a good cause. The stores draw in more customers, Americans get to lay aside their guilt, and the money that is sent to research really is beneficial, no matter how sarcastic I've been about it for the last paragraph. It's seems like a win-win situation for everyone, doesn't it?
Don't get me wrong- I'm all for supporting research for breast cancer and all cancer, as I have family members who are battling with these diseases at this current moment. However, I think it's unethnical to try and get people to donate to charities out of guilt. This will lead to a distorted view of what giving is really all about. The search for a cure shouldn't be about someone buying a pink ribbon bracelet during an afterthought, but should be about trying to help our fellow human beings have better quality lives.
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Ethics do not fund research.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
In some cases, it's better to donate your time than your money.
But in the case of Breast Cancer, unless you are a scientist specializing in this type of research... somehow I think you're better off donating and/ or volunteering at events raising money. I recommend the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
A word of caution: Do a little research first, and find out exactly how much money for the charity actually goes to the research / cause you are donating to. Otherwise you might find yourself in for a nasty surprise. For example- some United Way districts give less than 50% of the total money collected to the people and charities in need.
Either way the store is still profiting big, which is disturbing to me. If you are going to offer a product for sale for a research in your store, then I think a bigger portion of the money should actually go to that research.
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Respectfully,
Adam
A-Team Member
I agree here. The percentage that they are contributing is awfully low. I'd rather just send a check instead of buying a bracelet. That way I know exactly how much of my money is going.