Evening star., 1928-12-02

NOO%NN~ANASN~
Extremely proud-such as the Pennsyl-
ENania Hospital, which had care for
wounded soldiers during the American
Revolution-and to ask them partially
ITO merge their identity with a fedora
Htion was certain, it was felt, to meet
hwtth strong objections. Others con-
IBidered their fields as strictly local,
Ieharply limited to definite sections of
the city.
L A survey revealed that in 1919
1,7S0, 900 had been secured by all these
organizations from $4,000 persons. The
various drives" had been scattered
throughout the year. In some cases
there was q great deal of duplication.
ESolicitor followed solicitor from door
TO door. There was hardly a week in
fhe year, unless it was the middle of
fhe Summer. when some organization
Rwas not out asking for funds. Yet out Of
2,0o0, 900 individuals these 1875 organi-
EationS-and they included the largest
kand most efficient in the city-could
only find approximately 10000 who
would contribute to charity.
IE Contrast Is Striking.
K The pisare today is strikingly diff
Weren't. Last year, the first in which
Ay met. the $S,294, 900 was contributed
leoy $4,000 persons. OF course, the pop@
ellation has increased and possibly times
gere more prosperous, but PhiladelphianS
EHeel that the main influence in inter-
testing more than 100000 additional
individuals in charity has been the
work OF the federation.
4 The organizations benefiting include
~ hospitals, 27 dispensaries, so health
centerS, 81 hospital social service de-
EpartmentS, 6 public health nursing
Hgencies, 5 convalescent homes, home
for incurables, 5 child-placing organi-
cations, Z children's institutions. is dav
nurseries. preventive and protective
agencies, 2 maternity homes, 13 settle
sment houses, boys and girls clubs, 8
EScout organizations, Young Women's
Ehr1st1an Associations, % camps and
tSummer homes, day outing aSsocia-
Hion, family relief agencies, 6 special
felief organizations, 3 temporary homes
Hor men, 8 boarding homes for women.
homes for the aged, home and
Eorkshop for the blind and is educa-
Hional organizations.
z OF course, all the money for all these
organizations Is not contributed by the
kbe necessary to raise more than Sill
100000. Some Of them are almost self
supporting. Some have large endow-
RpentS. But all must rely for part of
Mheir support on public subscriptions.
ptherwise they face large deficits which
gan be met only by radical curtaiIment
pf service where it Is badly needed.
Z Since the community chest plan has
been in operation here another curious
thing has happened-the total earnings
IkOf the organizations have increased
more than 100000. This is largely
The result Of better bookkeeping Be-
Rore when they ran into the red they
simply asked the public for the amount.
~ they got it, so much to the good. If
they didn't get it, the sum was added
20 the deficit for the next year and
no on In an ever-growing vicious circle.
H5ut when they voluntarily agreed to
Submit their budgets to a central organ
EAzation and to forego their private ap-
peals for charity they found themselves
Norced into more effective accounting.
k The Welfare Federation goes over the
books of the member organization for
Ehe year in considering the amount
EeSked. 1t compares this amount with
hhat requested by the other organiza-
ttionS and comes to conclusion on the
basis of service rendered and earning
capacity. Many difficulties have been
Froned out during these past eight years
80 that today there is excellent team
I1gork among the different organizations.
+ The welfare organization has sought
eonsistently to impress on Philadel-
phians the thought that the individual
lwelfare organization is seldom a self
contained unit. When a person or
Family in distress comes under the care
of one organization it may mean that
as many as 20 other groups are called
into service before the case finally is
disposed of. Thus the hospital, the
Social agency, the orphanage, the out
patient clinic, the Summer camp and
many other agencies must cooperate.
Thus the most efficient charity consists
In giving to the whole interlocking or
Ranization rather than to one member
= The mechanics of the Philadelphia
organization are fairly simple. The city
lis divided into IA sections, each of
Which is placed under a prominent citi-
Ven. Each section chairman appoints
belts own division chairmen and under
Rach division chairman is a captain and
40 workers. These workers solicit per-
@onally. A record is kept of what each
berson has given the year before and
the worker urges that he at least du-
plicate that amount. In addition to
EniS there is group solicitation in the
manufacturing plants and stores.
y Pledges are accepted. The experience
6f the JaSt eight years has led to a
Edeductjon Of only 2 per cent from these
pledges as uncollectable. The Phila-
Idelphian who does not honor his pledge
Us very rare. A check is kept not only
Ion new residents of the city but also or
EGhoSe who have moved away, but who
etul consider the Quaker City as home
Esand maintain a local interest. Thus
feyery year several pledge cards are re-
turned from China and money Is re.
eeived from every State in the Union.
II The district chairmen and team
eNorkers are not necessarily connected
with any of the member organizations
Kbut work directly under the Welfare
Federation itself Many of them Alsc
baVe an interest in some OF the I'd, "A