Evening star., 1928-01-15
REVIVED COMMUNITY CHEST PLAN
WINS SUPPORT AS WORK GOES ON

the 500 donors TO these agencies. The
Board Of Trades committee on chari-
ties and correction has recommended
favorable action by the board ON the
proposal, and the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association within the
last month passed resolution favor
ing II. The subcommittee held another
large meeting on December %. and Is
now planning a meeting Of business
men and others TO discuss the actual
formation OF plans Of what further to
do toward bringing about definite action.
1t may be seen from this brief resume
OF the movement here that those who
advocate the community chest plan for
washington are setting about their task
OF building UP sentiment 10 support
them with great care. They are avoid
ing any step which might be interpreted
as an attempt to foist the community
chest on Washington before the city Is
informed and interested in what Il
means. so far, there has been little
opposition expressed. Father OGrady
of the Catholic Charities has declared
that Washington is not ready for the
chest yet. and points TO the fact that
failures OF the scheme in some cities
should be as carefully studied as the
success with which 1t has been worked
in others. Nor has there yet been any
attempt to find out the sentiment OF
all the citys social agencies in regard
to the plan. Fourteen Of the largest
agencies have responded favorably, and
six others which were requested 70 COM
NIT themselves have not done so. But
this group is only a nucleus. There
are some 200 social agencies in Wash
ington. 76 Of which are indorsed. Most
of then receive their maintenance
funds from public subscription, al
though some of them a-e supported bv
endowment. Their senIiH. .cnt as
whole toward the chest plan IS as yet
unknown.
John Joy Edson, vino spoke az the
community chest meeting early n De-
cember. gave a view OF the matter
which proponents of the plan believe IS
shared by many other leading business
men OF the city. Mr.. Edson said that
his conversion TO the movement has
been rather recent, but he believes that
any plan which has been successfully
adopted by $50 cities in the United
States-this number now maintaining
community cheSts-must Dc success
full plan. Every year. it IS pointed out.
finds more friends among the business
men Of the city for the community
chest. for every year shows an 1ncreas-
ing demand upon their support Of social
work here IN all lis varied phases.
Fundamentally. the community chest
plan 10 based on the advantages which
come from systematiZing and planning
IN advance the social work Of city.
II cuts down the multitude OF annual
drives" and financial campaigns cor-
Quoted independently By the cIty's So
cial agencies Il submits the financial
BUDGETS Of such agencies 20 the careful
scrutiny Of an impartial committee.
empowered 70 cut down unnecessary ex-
pense. and the approval OF the budgets
by such q committee increases public
confidence in the value Of work 20 oe
done. The community chest Plan con-
tains an educational value. tor Il
centers the attention o. the city On It's
social work, il increases e4c.ency. and
it cuts down much of the overhead
found necessary n the independent
work OF OF raising funds Il has been
found not only 20 increase the money
available tor social wo-k. but 20 increase
the number o. contributors. II Pr.la-
delphsa. for instance. .he ctiT's Soc,ai
agencies collected Si.T50.0o0 n 1871 -
their individual appeals 20 the pubic
Last year the same organizations oy
their united appeal through ne cc-1-
munity chest. collected So eS9 600, l.:
Detroit. before the community cheSt
was adopted there. 1900 contributors
gave $500. 900 for social work Through
the community chest. fast year. rs 900
g:yers contributed s. 400, 900. The
psychological effect Of one co1cs--e7
money raising campaign iS 10 increase
the number Of contributors. Hundreds of
persons viii contribute once wear 20
community chest who rov give nothing
because OF the multiplicity o. demands
upon their attention and the.- pocket
bpoks.